Advanced technologies such as photogrammetry, airborne ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and drone thermography have revolutionized the study of archaeological sites, enabling the collection of large volumes of data. Today, these techniques are mainly used to document the condition of structures and guide excavations. However, a more ambitious use of these data could improve our understanding of urban design logics in specific contexts, such as those of pre-Columbian cities in South America. This methodological reflection proposes to extend the analysis beyond traditional Western frameworks.

1. Exploiting Digital Data: Beyond Recording Building Condition

3D Modeling and Virtual Reconstruction: 3D models can be used to reconstruct and simulate ancient structures, providing a view of missing or ruined parts and facilitating the exploration of hypotheses on social and functional organization.

Stratigraphic and chronological analysis: GPR and thermographic data reveal buried structures, enabling us to reconstruct the chronology of the site's construction and transformation phases.

2. Urban Design Logics: Enriching Knowledge

Study of traffic patterns: Reconstruction of traffic networks and analysis of public spaces to understand social hierarchies and ritual practices.

Urban Morphology and Social Organization: Analysis of the layout of buildings and public spaces to identify clues to social structure and the centralization of power.

3. Urban analysis methods: going beyond Western frameworks

Deconstructing Western paradigms: Questioning Western concepts such as centrality and spatial hierarchy to better understand the urban logics of pre-Columbian cities, integrating ritual or cosmogonic aspects.

Alternative Methodological Approaches: Development of adapted methods, such as the integration of ethnographic knowledge and the study of local traditions, for a more precise understanding of specific urban logics.

Towards a Holistic and Contextualized Approach

The exploitation of digital data must go beyond the simple documentation of structures. By using these data to explore urban design logics, we can enrich our understanding of ancient cities, especially those that don't fit into Western analytical frameworks. An interdisciplinary and critical approach is essential to offer a complete and contextualized vision of the civilizations studied.

Keywords: Architectural representation, survey, digital, architectural heritage, thermal survey.

Pachacmac - Overlay of orthophoto and contour lines

Pachacamac - Overlay of orthophoto and contour lines

Pachacamac : Crossed results of the various surveys of building E3 with potential buried structures (white tilled lines)

Orthophotography from drone scanning / Digital Elevation Model (DEM), the elevation scale goes from blue (lowest) to red (highest) / Level curves from DEM. Area of study in the red rectangle.

Superposition of a DEM and a curvature map. The idea is to combine several types of complementary morphological information into a single image.

Crowd movement generation test. Image: Mathieu Jonckheere.

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Exploitation de numérisations hétérogènes pour la représentation et l'analyse d'un site archéologique de grande échelle : Pachacamac 1532