Creating a Digital Twin of the Early Helladic Cemetery of Asteria Glyfadas: Challenges and Innovations in Field Documentation

The Early Helladic cemetery at Asteria in Glyfada presents a key archaeological locus for understanding prehistoric Attica, combining evidence of metallurgical activities with a complex, multi-phase burial ground. This paper presents the creation of a 3D digital model of the cemetery, integrating advanced photogrammetry, terrestrial laser scanning, and GIS-based documentation with legacy excavation records. The resulting model enabled new spatial and analytical discoveries, including the identification of previously undetected clustering in burial orientation, artifact-specific distribution patterns (notably of Cycladic figurines and obsidian tools), and modeling of diachronic landscape transformation. Detailed comparative statistics demonstrate the respective advantages of CRP and TLS for archaeological surveying. These advances go beyond traditional documentation, supporting robust research analysis as well as educational and public outreach, with models made openly accessible via Sketchfab. By situating our work within current international practices in 3D digital heritage, this case study provides a replicable, high-resolution workflow for managing, analyzing, and disseminating complex archaeological datasets.