3-Dimensional Measurements of Historical Islamic Tombstones in Bahrain (Third season)
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties has been cooperating on excavation surveys and maintenance of historical sites in the tombs of Bahrain for many years. Although historical Islamic tombstones remain in mosques and cemeteries throughout the country, and about 150 tombstones can still be found in the country today, many are deteriorating due to salt damage.
In response to Bahrain’s request for help in protecting those tombstones, in 2023 and 2024, we conducted photogrammetric surveying using SfM-MVS (Structure-from-Motion/Multi-View-Stereo), a technology for creating 3D models from photographs. So far, we have completed 3D measurements of approximately 100 tombstones located in museums and modern cemeteries. The models created were published on Sketchfab, a platform widely accessible both domestically and internationally, and are being used as a database of tombstones.
A 3D measurement survey was conducted from February 8 to 12, 2025, covering cemeteries in the southern part of the country. Photogrammetric surveying was conducted and measurements were completed as in the past, this time for a total of 29 cemeteries: 2 in Tubri, 1 in Salamya Mosque, 12 in Hoora, 1 in Mahooz, 1 in Daih, 5 in Noaim, 2 in Al-Qadem, and 5 in Karranah. With the exception of buried and destroyed tombstones, this survey completed the measurement of all the tombstones in Bahrain.
This is the first database of 3D models of more than 100 tombstones with information on the dimensions, shape, and inscriptions of each individual monument, and it is highly expected that the results of this survey will be useful for future research on Islamic tombstones, in addition to preserving a record of their shapes.