applied sciences Article Roman Fortress Pitiunt: 3D-Reconstruction of the Monument Based on the Materials of Archaeological Research and Geological Paleoreconstructions Galina Trebeleva 1,* , Konstantin Glazov 1 , Andrey Kizilov 2 , Suram Sakania 3, Vladlen Yurkov 4 and Gleb Yurkov 5 1 Institute of Archaeology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117292 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] 2 Federal Research Centre, the Subtropical Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 354000 Sochi, Russia; [email protected] 3 Gulia Abkhaz Institute for Humanitarian Research, Academy of Sciences of Abkhazia, Suhum 384900, Georgia; [email protected] 4 Secondary School 171, 119270 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] 5 N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: The present study examined the references in the works of ancient authors to the ancient city and the Roman fortress Pitiunt, the geological aspects of the formation of the coastline in the Pitsunda Cape area in the first centuries AD and the results of archaeological research of the monument performed from 1952 to 1974. The creation of the 3D reconstruction of the exterior of the Pitiunt Citation: Trebeleva, G.; Glazov, K.; fortress during its prosperity in the IV century AD, along with the churches which were the first Kizilov, A.; Sakania, S.; Yurkov, V.; monuments of religious architecture in northwestern Colchis (northwestern Colchis comprises parts Yurkov, G. Roman Fortress Pitiunt: 3D-Reconstruction of the Monument of the territory of modern Russia, Georgia and Abkhazia) was carried out based on the excavation Based on the Materials of plans and the principles of fortification and temple architecture that were accepted in the late Roman Archaeological Research and times, paying special attention to the geological paleoreconstructions. Geological Paleoreconstructions. Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 4814. https:// Keywords: Pitiunt fortress; Pontic limes; roman time; 3D reconstruction; geological paleoreconstruction doi.org/10.3390/app11114814 Academic Editors: Mauro Lo Brutto and Valentina Alena Girelli 1. Introduction In the recent decade, 3-D technologies have been widely used in archeology in order to Received: 29 March 2021 protect historical and cultural heritage, aiming at creation of 3D models of various archaeo- Accepted: 20 May 2021 logical sites. The purpose of 3D models is not only to visualize and popularize scientific Published: 24 May 2021 knowledge but also to preserve and present scientific information. Methodologically, two main lines can be noted: fixing the modern condition of archaeological objects, site or Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral exhibits and reconstructing their original appearance. For the first line, various methods, with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil- for example, photogrammetry [1–7], laser scanning (TLS) [8,9], LiDAR technology [10], etc., iations. are applied when it is necessary to determine and investigate the present 3-D geometry of an object, i.e., to obtain a 3-D image of the current state of an archaeological site or exhibit with the aim of creating a virtual exhibition. The second line comprises the creation of 3-D geometry of a lost or destroyed site based on materials from archaeological research, historical descriptions and analysis of surviving analogies [11–18]. As the output of both Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. described methods, 3-D models used to create virtual reality (VR) in scientific, educational Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. and exhibition activities can be obtained [8,9,19]. This is consistent with the provisions of This article is an open access article the London Charter [20] distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons The aims, methods and dissemination plans of computer-based visualization should Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// reflect consideration of how such work can enhance access to cultural heritage that is other- creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ wise inaccessible due to health and safety, disability, economic, political or environmental 4.0/). Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 4814. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11114814 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 18 Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 4814 2 of 18 erwise inaccessible due to health and safety, disability, economic, political or environmen- tal reasons or because the object of the visualization is lost, endangered, dispersed or has reasons or because the object of the visualization is lost, endangered, dispersed or has been been destroyed, restored or reconstructed. destroyed, restored or reconstructed. The present study is anan exampleexample ofof thethe secondsecond lineline withwith thethe purposepurpose notnot onlyonly toto demonstrate thethe historicalhistorical sitesite butbut alsoalso toto carrycarry outout historicalhistorical research, research, which which means means study- stud- ingying narrative narrative sources, sources, archival archival data, data, doing doing exploration, exploration, readingreading thethe literatureliterature onon similarsimilar fortressesfortresses andand typestypes ofof militarymilitary campscamps [[10–18]10–18] andand kanabskanabs andand analyzinganalyzing reconstructionreconstruction paleolandscapepaleolandscape [[21].21]. The present work required in-depth analysisanalysis and supportsupport ofof eacheach statement in accordanceaccordance withwith thethe “principle“principle ofof transparency”transparency” toto eliminateeliminate oror minimizeminimize speculative conclusionsconclusions andand decisions.decisions. The Pitiunt Fortress, situated in thethe modernmodern citycity ofof PitsundaPitsunda (Abkhazia),(Abkhazia), alongalong withwith thethe otherother fortificationsfortifications ofof thethe RomanRoman EmpireEmpire suchsuch asas Apsar,Apsar, PhasisPhasis andand Sebastopolis,Sebastopolis, isis one ofof thethe mostmost significantsignificant classicalclassical monumentsmonuments ofof thethe RomanRoman expansionexpansion onon thethe EasternEastern Black Sea coast. The state of modernmodern preservationpreservation compares toto thatthat ofof thethe ApsarApsar fortressfortress whichwhich underwentunderwent severalseveral periodsperiods ofof reconstructionreconstruction andand waswas maintainedmaintained byby thethe OttomanOttoman Empire until 1878, resulting in its present perfect condition. However, the Pitiunt fortress, unlike Apsar, lostlost itsits significancesignificance afterafter thethe 6th6th centurycentury AD,AD, whenwhen itit waswas abandonedabandoned byby thethe garrison, andand sincesince thenthen has has not not been been restored. restored. In In this this regard, regard, at at present, present, the the fortress fortress can can be describedbe described as extended as extended remnants remnants of walls of walls and foundationsand foundations of internal of internal structures, structures, overgrown over- withgrown subtropical with subtropical vegetation, vegetation, which conceal which the conc greatnesseal the ofgreatness the site (Figureof the 1site). Meanwhile, (Figure 1). theMeanwhile, Pitiunt fortress the Pitiunt figured fortress prominently figured inprominently the chain of in Roman the chain fortifications of Roman in fortifications the Eastern Blackin the SeaEastern region Black in the Sea first region centuries in the AD, first and centuries therefore, AD, its and archaeological therefore, its study archaeological is of great intereststudy is forof great the historical interest for and the archeological historical and science. archeological A 3D reconstruction science. A 3D ofreconstruction the exterior of the fortressexterior duringof the fortress its prosperity, during 4thits pros centuryperity, AD, 4th will century highlight AD, thewill significance highlight the of sig- the fortressnificance at of that the time. fortress at that time. FigureFigure 1.1. TheThe RomanRoman fortressfortress Pitiunt: Pitiunt: ( a()a) localization localization of of the the site; site; (b ()b view) view of of the the site site from from a drone a drone (a red (a red rectangle rectangle marks marks the viewthe viewc of theс of ruinsthe ruins of the of temples; the temples; the yellow the yellow rectangle rectangle marks marks the view the viewd of the d of wall the wewall have we exposed);have exposed); (c) view (c) ofview the of ruins the ofruins the of temples the temples from the from west; the (west;d) Dr. ( A.d) Dr. Kizilov A. Kizilov stands stands on a fragment on a fragment of a stone of a wall stone discovered wall discovered by our by expedition, our expedition, which waswhich not was previously not previously marked marked on the existingon the existing plans of plans the castle. of the castle. Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 4814 3 of 18 For the purpose of achieving the aim, it is essential to draw a holistic picture of what the ancient city of Pitiunt was like and its position in the political and economic life of the Eastern Black Sea region in the first centuries AD and the reasoning behind locating a Roman fortress in the area. The earliest mention of the ancient city Pitiunt was found in the works of Artemidorus of Ephesus, a famous geographer of the 2nd–1st century BC, quoted by Strabo in his “Geography” (XI, II, 14). Even in those times, Pitiunt was referred to as the “Great”, thus proving the existence of a large city. It is obvious that the city was under the influence of the Pontic