DOCUMENTATION OF OLD TURKIC RUNIC INSCRIPTIONS OF THE ALTAI MOUNTAINS USING PHOTOGRAMMETRIC TECHNOLOGY

Abstract. Old Turkic runic inscriptions of the Altai Mountains (8th–9th centuries AD) were digitized in the course of this project to be preserved in the current state on the Web and deciphered by linguistic experts. The ways the inscriptions were made as well as their location in hardly accessible areas required finding an inexpensive solution that would provide detailed 3D documentation of rock faces, while at the same time mobility and autonomy. Digital photogrammetry came as a quite affordable and optimal choice for getting high-quality outcomes using inexpensive software and further data processing using free software.