Blurb:

This chapter reports on data collection methods and 3D technologies employed at Çatalhöyük (Turkey). It explains how the data can be used in combination with GIS to assess the condition of archaeological earthen architecture visually and to strategize conservation interventions to help preserve it. The authors illustrate how an extensive and diverse corpus of at-risk earthen architecture information collected at Çatalhöyük was analyzed and finally integrated into a GIS platform to spatially visualize, comprehend and assess the state of preservation of the site and its threats. The authors then explain why a comprehensive approach to analyzing at-risk mudbrick architecture is important for conservators: (1) it aids in identifying which buildings require immediate intervention, and (2) establishes a foundation for future evaluation of the conservation actions undertaken. The detailed spatial understanding of the conservation issues that affect mudbrick walls in large earthen sites allows archaeologists and conservators to reflect on best practices for diversified data collection at an intra-site level.