Recently, scholars in the humanities and geological sciences at the
University of Charleston, S. C., began a collaboration to create a publicly
accessible geographical information system (GIS) of Western Thebes that
combines geographical, geological, and Egyptological data. The result is
Geographical Information System for the Theban Necropolis (OLGIS-TN)
.1 With this tool, scholars can research the Theban
necropolis, query the integrated database, and actively manipulate the
geographical data to reveal new information.
The basis of the GIS is a satellite photo-map to which is added
archaeological and historical information on each of the private tombs.
The map is based on ultra-high resolution satellite photographs of the
necropolis generated by the new QuickBird satellite, owned by
Corp. In the visible light spectra, the color photographs yield a
ground resolution of 1.4 meters, while panchromatic (black and white)
images yield a remarkable 62-centimeter resolution.2 With this
technology, and using earlier Theban maps as a guide, project investigators
began mapping tombs on the satellite map through a process of geo-referencing.
These earlier Theban maps include those of Baraize (1904), Schweinfurth
(1909), Survey of Egypt (1924), and the more recent plans of Kampp (1996).
3 They also began to geo-reference the old maps to the satellite
photo. In this manner, entire map-sheets are overlaid on to the satellite
map and linked together for comparative purposes and to locate tombs
previously mapped but now lost.
The project began the mapping effort with the tombs on and about the hill
of Sheikh abd el-Qurnah, including the Upper and Lower Enclosures, the
plain below, and el-Khokha. In a preliminary projection, 508 tombs and
burials were located and plotted in the GIS, and their historical data was
input into the system. Work on this preiminary map has since shifted to
other areas of Sheikh Abd el-Qurnah and will continue until the entire
necropolis of private tombs is completely mapped and documented in the GIS.
One consequence of the project is that OLGIS-TN freely provides to any West
Bank expedition hi-resolution satellite images of its concession area, and
has advised expeditions outside the region on how to procure their own
1See abstract of paper, P. A. Piccione, A. K. Fronabarger and N. S.
Levine, "The On-line Geographical Information System for the Theban Necropolis: http://www.cofc.edu/olgis/," ARCE Annual Meeting, Tucson, April 2004.
2A 62-centimeter ground resolution means that each individual pixel
of the digital photograph records an area on the earth as small as 62 cm. x 62
cm. The result is an image fine enough often to see individual persons walking
on the ground (image enlarged).
3É. Baraize, Plan des nécropoles thébaines, Service des
Antiquités de l'Égypte (Cairo: General Survey Printing Office, 1904-1913); G.
Schweinfurth, Karte der westlichen Umgebung von Luksor und Karnak (Theben)
(Berlin: Reimer, 1909); Survey of Egypt, The Theban Necropolis, map series
1:1,000 (Cairo: Government Press, 1921, rev. 1924); F. Kampp, Die Thebanische
Nekropole. Zum Wandel des Grabgedankens von der XVIII. bis zur XX. Dynastie.
Theben 13 (Mainz am Rhein: Verlag Philipp von Zabern, 1996).
© 2005-2006. Peter A. Piccione. All rights