Rock-Cut Monuments at Macedonian Philippi – Taking Image Analysis to the Religioscape

A groundbreaking study at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Philippi introduces a novel approach to analyzing rock-cut monuments, revealing their significant role within the city's religious landscape. By leveraging 3D modeling and spatial analysis, researchers have documented over 100 reliefs, predominantly featuring Artemis/Diana, providing unprecedented insights into their distribution, inter-visibility, and reachability. This method offers a more comprehensive understanding of the monuments' context and their potential for female ritual practices in ancient Macedon. The study also highlights the vulnerability of these archaeological sites to natural corrosion and vandalism, underscoring the importance of digital documentation for preservation and future research.

Graml, C., Diosono, F., & Hunziker, M. (2024). Rock-Cut Monuments at Macedonian Philippi – Taking Image Analysis to the Religioscape. Open Archaeology, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2024-0018