The photogrammetry is a technique used to reconstruct three-dimensional scene from a series of photographs. This process is used for many years by the French National Geographic Institute to produce topographic maps from aerial photographs. However, the protocols previously used were extremely heavy, because the record three-dimensional topographical information had to be done manually by an operator. Today, with the significant development of digital photography and the computer power, the production of three-dimensional data from photographs can be almost automated.

In mining archaeology, access to three-dimensional data is a particularly important to understand the organization of a mine because it is a structure developed in the space. From a three-dimensional model of a part of a mine, it is possible to extract data previously collected on plan from archaeological surveys. However, the record of sections of a gallery, profiles of a working place and tool marks can be more easily recorded on a 3D model. Moreover, we also have access to new data about the volumes extracted and the organization in a mine. And 3D photorealistic models can be used as a tool for cultural heritage visualization and give the opportunity to present to the public archaeological mines, places usually difficult to access. Finally, given the simplicity of the presented survey method that only requires the use of a camera, a flashlight and spatial references, it is of great interest to be systematically implemented in mining archaeology.

The purpose of this paper is to present our photogrammetric method and its application in the study of archaeological mines. We will expose our experiments in different French mines to validate the efficiency of our process in different situations (narrow and large spaces, gallery, shaft, working place…). The accuracy of our 3D models will also be compared with the traditional archaeological survey plan. And finally, we will expose different examples of the interest to use a photogrammetric model in the study of mines: tool marks, fire setting technique.

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