Project Overview

This project reconstructs the ancient Nabataean temple of Khirbet et-Tannur through digital modeling and terrain generation. Using real topographic heightmaps, the landscape was reproduced to reflect the authentic geographic conditions and the temple’s elevated location within the regional terrain.

​

Artistic & Research Concept

Architectural forms and spatial layouts were derived from preserved ruins, excavation reports, and archaeological hypotheses. Missing structures and incomplete artifacts were digitally rebuilt based on comparisons with related Nabataean sites and regional stylistic references.
The reconstruction aims to visualize the cultural and religious significance of the site while maintaining archaeological accuracy.

​

Technical Approach

Existing artifacts were digitized using 3D rotation video capture, producing base meshes that were further restored in ZBrush where missing portions were rebuilt.
Original textures were extracted from the rotation footage, then refined in Substance Painter to approximate the site’s historical materiality.
Terrain and environmental elements were generated procedurally using Houdini heightfields, integrating geographic data with archaeological inference for a coherent reconstruction.

​