A Comparative Study of Existing and Current On-Site Documentation of Anatolian Seljuk Kümbets

Abstract

During the Anatolian Seljuk period (1077–1307), monumental tombs known as kümbets emerged as a distinct architectural typology in present-day Türkiye. 2D drawings of these structures, produced since the early 20th century, contain inconsistencies that necessitate verification and accurate documentation. This study digitally documents Anatolian Seljuk kümbets in 3D to generate updated 2D sections reflecting their current condition and compares these with previously published drawings. The methodology includes collecting available 2D sections, digitally documenting kümbets through field studies, generating new 2D sections from 3D models, and systematically comparing these datasets. Two image-based metrics are employed in the comparison: the Exact Pixel Match Ratio (EPMR), which evaluates pixel-level alignment, and the Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM), a standard indicator for visual similarity. The results provide a comparative framework for assessing previous drawings and present a verified, up-to-date dataset of kümbet sections for future research. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.