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Geophysical Surveys for Heritage and Archaeology

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A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 June 2023) | Viewed by 35616

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Dr. Raffaele Martorana

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Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Interests: geophysical survey; archaeological prospection; electrical resistivity tomography; inversion; seismic
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Dr. Patrizia Capizzi

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Guest Editor

Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
Interests: geophysical survey; archaeological prospection; seismic; site effect; ambient noise; microtremor
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The present availability of high-resolution geophysical techniques and their integrated use allows multiscale and multitemporal approaches in the study of archaeological sites and cultural heritage. In the recent past, various geophysical techniques—such as magnetometry, ground-penetrating radar, and electrical resistivity tomography—have proven useful to detect buried archaeological structures or to diagnose the state of conservation of parts of monumental buildings. In some cases, these techniques provide an accurate plan of archaeological remains, offering sufficient information for cultural resource management purposes. Geophysical surveys can now be integrated with various high-resolution remote sensing techniques, including satellite (optical and radar data), aerial (photogrammetry, infrared thermography and lidar data), airplanes, and UAVs, as well as ground-based techniques (DGPS topographic surveys). UAV produces high-resolution digital surface models (DSMs) of archaeological sites and allows reference maps to be constituted for better planning of geophysical prospections. It also enables the 3D reconstruction of archaeological objects. Furthermore, we note the increasingly frequent use of drones for the low-altitude acquisition of electromagnetic and magnetometric data; the increasing popularity of drones is due to their high acquisition speed. In addition, the development of microgeophysical techniques has allowed us to adapt some geophysical methods to indoor investigations of small-scale structures of heritage buildings, such as floors, walls, pillars, and columns. The most frequently used non-invasive methods used indoors are ground-penetrating radar, infrared thermography, sonic and ultrasonic surveys, and microwave reflectometry. However, the efficacy of these investigations may require the contemporary use of higher resolution remote sensing techniques such as the terrestrial laser scanner. This Special Issue aims to summarize the state of the art in the topics discussed here, by presenting a number of papers focused on the application of different geophysical techniques; included research will be supported by remote sensing data, introduce novel instrumentation and new data processing approaches, and will be oriented toward the development of archaeological target characterization and to cultural heritage diagnosis and conservation.

Dr. Raffaele Martorana
Dr. Patrizia Capizzi
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 6290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geophysical Investigation at the Santa Chiara Church in Nardò (Southern Italy)

by Lara De Giorgi, Dora Francesca Barbolla, Ivan Ferrari, Francesco Giuri, Chiara Torre and Giovanni Leucci

Heritage 2023, 6(3), 2978-2989; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6030158 - 12 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1344

Abstract

The church of Santa Chiara with its adjacent convent, whose foundations date back to the 13th century, is a monastic complex in the city of Nardò in the province of Lecce. The current church was built ex novo between the 17th and 18th centuries under the direction of Bishop Orazio Fortunato. Currently, there is no information about the presence of crypts or burials in the church and in the adjacent area. For this reason, a campaign of geophysical investigations was undertaken using electromagnetic, electrical resistivity and ground-penetrating radar methods. Geophysical investigations were carried out both inside and in the courtyard of the church. The results showed the presence of a series of anomalies, whose interpretation suggests important structures of probable archaeological interest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geophysical Surveys for Heritage and Archaeology)

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13 pages, 4875 KiB

Open AccessArticle

3D GPR Model in the Military District of San Giacomo Degli Spagnoli (Palermo)

by Patrizia Capizzi, Raffaele Martorana, Alessandro Canzoneri, Alessandra Carollo and Marco V. Majani

Heritage 2023, 6(3), 2601-2613; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6030137 - 28 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1593

Abstract

The georadar method was used to try to find some anthropic structures in a large square inside the Carabinieri barracks in the former military complex of San Giacomo degli Spagnoli in Palermo (Italy). These investigations are part of a broader context of a study of the entire area. The purpose of the investigations is to try to understand if under the ground there are the remains of an ancient horse passage that connected the Royal Palace of Palermo with the sea gate of the city. Furthermore, in the Middle Ages, on the site of the present square, there were most likely two churches, which no longer exist, as evidenced by numerous historical testimonies. One of the two, San Giacomo la Mazara, is known to have was placed right in front of the church of San Paolo, the subject of previous investigations. The investigations carried out on the main square of the military district allowed us to reconstruct a 3D georadar model in which numerous anomalies are highlighted. Some superficial anomalies have been attributed to the presence of sub-services, the deeper ones could be caused by the remains of the medieval underground way or those of the no longer existing medieval churches, but identifying their true nature requires further investigations and archaeological tests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geophysical Surveys for Heritage and Archaeology)

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20 pages, 112873 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrographic Drone Non-Invasive Underwater Investigations: New Archaeological Discoveries in Valle Fossa di Porto (Comacchio—FE, Italy)

by Giovanna Bucci

Heritage 2023, 6(2), 1804-1823; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020096 - 7 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1717

Abstract

During forensic archaeological research conducted in 2021 in the Comacchio Lagoon (FE), we detected new data concerning the ancient local hydrography to the west of Argine Agosta, an ancient bank, in Valle Fossa di Porto. A systematic campaign of geophysical surveys for heritage and archaeology was conducted with a hydrographic drone equipped with a single-beam bathymetric sensor echo sounder, sub-bottom profiler, and side-scan sonar. In combination with the indirect non-invasive investigations, systematic surveys of the walkable areas were also completed. These remote-sensing studies have relocated the River Vatrenus palaeo-watercourse, while visual census have brought to light a system of wooden palisades with floors made of wood associated with some scattered finds belonging to the material culture dating back to the Mediaeval and Renaissance periods. A preview of the results of this case study is presented here, contributing to the reconstruction of the ancient landscape and waterscape area of the Valle Fossa di Porto. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geophysical Surveys for Heritage and Archaeology)

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15 pages, 4801 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geomagnetic and FDEM Methods in the Roman Archaeological Site of Bocca Delle Menate (Comacchio, Italy)

by Enzo Rizzo, Rachele Dubbini, Jessica Clementi, Luigi Capozzoli, Gregory De Martino, Giacomo Fornasari, Francesca Romana Fiano and Matteo Lombardi

Heritage 2023, 6(2), 1698-1712; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020090 - 5 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1922

Abstract

The increasing use of geophysical investigations for archaeological purposes is now provided also by Italian reforms about preventive archaeology. They allow not only the discovery or the spatial definition of possible buried archaeological evidence, but they are also able to define the state of preservation of ancient structures. The Bocca delle Menate archaeological site is in Comacchio village territory, situated in Ferrara provence (Emilia Romagna region, Italy). The archeological site provides important evidence of the Roman presence in the Po Delta (Italy). The Roman villa was excavated between 1958 and 1959, during the reclaiming works in the Mezzano Valley (Comacchio, Ferrara). An archaeological preliminary survey and a geophysical field trip using Geomagnetic and Frequency Domain Electromagnetic Methods were carried out, following the aim to identify the planimetry of the villa previously excavated and eventually newly discovered archaeological remains. The geomagnetic results detected the archaeological buried structures, even if the original disposition of them is not completely highlighted. The electromagnetic method was able to depict the geological and geomorphological background surrounding the Roman villa. The obtained results highlighted that the applied geophysical methods are excellent tools for the preservation, protection, and monitoring of archaeological heritage previously excavated, adding to their already known importance as best tools for new archaeological buried remains detections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geophysical Surveys for Heritage and Archaeology)

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14 pages, 99048 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integration of Geophysical Survey Data for the Identification of New Archaeological Remains in the Subsoil of the Akrai Greek Site (Sicily, Italy)

by Sabrina Grassi, Gabriele Morreale, Rosa Lanteri, Angelo Gilotti, Federico Latino, Saro Di Raimondo and Sebastiano Imposa

Heritage 2023, 6(2), 979-992; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020055 - 24 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1821

Abstract

For more than a decade now, geophysical prospecting has been considered an integral part of archaeological research; the ability to quickly investigate large areas and locate objects buried in the ground without directly interacting with it is a key feature that makes such surveys essential for identifying and locating, with good accuracy, buried archaeological remains. In this study, two extensive magnetic and electromagnetic surveys were carried out in two different areas of the Akrai archaeological site, where given the distribution of archaeological remains already found at the site, it was likely that additional buried remains were present. The surveys were performed using a proton precession magnetometer and a multifrequency electromagnetic device with a frequency range of 2.5–250 kHz. By processing the data, the vertical magnetic gradient and electrical conductivity maps were obtained. Furthermore, 3D models of electrical conductivity distribution were reconstructed. On comparing the results, it was notable that many anomalies characterized by low vertical gradient values were identified within areas characterized by low electrical conductivity values. These anomalies detected by both surveys can be associated with good probability with buried archaeological remains made up of limestones. In fact, they exhibit shapes and sizes comparable to those of the wall remains already found at the site. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geophysical Surveys for Heritage and Archaeology)

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11 pages, 24110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geophysical Surveys for Archaeological Research in Urban Areas: The Case of the Roman Theatre in Padua

by Rita Deiana and Caterina Previato

Heritage 2023, 6(2), 946-956; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020052 - 22 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1843

Abstract

The Roman theatre of Padua stood in the area now occupied by Prato della Valle, a huge elliptical-shaped square with a central green part (Isola Memmia) surrounded by a canal, built in the second half of the 18th century and part of the modern urban city center of Padua. Some still-preserved remains of the Roman theatre stand at the bottom of this canal. Recently, in 2017, emptying and cleaning the canal and excavating these remains, which had been known in the past, new geometrical and archaeological information has been collected. To date, however, there are no specific indications about additional preserved buried parts of the Roman theatre and its overall extent between the central and the outer part of Prato della Valle. Therefore, several electrical resistivity tomographies (ERT) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) sections were collected in 2017 to gather new information. The results of geophysical prospecting with recent archaeological evidence and historical documents, even the complexity of the urban environment, provide further details on the possible extent and location of additional buried remains of the Roman theatre, opening new archaeological considerations and issues related to the use of ERT and GPR in urban contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geophysical Surveys for Heritage and Archaeology)

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18 pages, 8088 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Archaeological Efficacy of Bathymetric LiDAR across Oceanographic Contexts: A Case Study from Apalachee Bay, Florida

by Jessica W. Cook Hale, Dylan S. Davis and Matthew C. Sanger

Heritage 2023, 6(2), 928-945; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020051 - 21 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3020

Abstract

This study presents preliminary results from recent bathymetric LiDAR-guided surveys of submerged archaeological landscapes in the Apalachee Bay off the coast of Florida. We show how bathymetric LiDAR can re-identify previously recorded archaeological sites and identify new cultural deposits at shallow depths and help aid SCUBA surveys of submerged environments. While most prior archaeological applications of bathymetric LiDAR have focused on shipwrecks and historic era sites, our case study demonstrates that bathymetric LiDAR is capable of detecting Holocene and Pleistocene era archaeological sites as well. Detecting and eventually characterizing these ancient deposits will greatly expand our understanding of settlement trends when sea levels were lower and may provide insights into how some of the earliest coastal populations adapted to this novel and changing environment. Our SCUBA surveys also elucidate the impact of local environmental conditions of the applicability of deploying bathymetric LiDAR; specifically, eel grass cover does not hinder LiDAR capabilities, while high rates of sedimentation greatly reduce success in identifying archaeological deposits. Overall, our results show promise in the future of applying remote sensing to study shallow submerged archaeological landscapes, which can help improve our understanding of human–environment dynamics prior to and during periods of sea level change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geophysical Surveys for Heritage and Archaeology)

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20 pages, 5929 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geophysical Investigations within the Latus Dextrum of Porolissum Fort, Northwestern Romania—The Layout of a Roman Edifice

by Alexandru Hegyi, Vlad Lăzărescu, Michał Pisz, László Lenkey, Mihály Pethe, Alexandru Onaca and Mădălina Nica

Heritage 2023, 6(2), 829-848; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020046 - 19 Jan 2023

Viewed by 2104

Abstract

This paper summarizes the results of a recent geophysical investigation carried out at Porolissum, which is considered to be one of the most significant Roman sites in Romania. The geophysical survey was carried out within the latus dextrum of the fort, which is the same location that had been the subject of earlier geophysical surveys as well as older archaeological excavations (1970s) that had uncovered a multiroom building. A cesium vapor total field magnetometer and a multi-electrode resistivity meter for a dense Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) survey were used. Eighty parallel ERT profiles in combination with the emerging total field magnetic data and an antecedent magnetic survey allowed us to complete a more precise interpretation regarding the building that once existed on the left side of Porolissum’s Principia (the commander’s house). In contrast to the magnetic survey, which only reveals a part of the building’s architecture, the ERT survey provides a comprehensive view of the structure’s layout. More than 20 rooms could be positively identified, and the existence of further rooms might be deduced from the data. The ERT scan revealed the existence of the building’s northern external wall as well, which is not reflected on the magnetic map. Because some parts of the building are not visible on the magnetic map, we can assume that the building was constructed with at least two types of rocks (magmatic and sedimentary). In addition to the archaeological interpretation of the geophysical anomalies, a number of discussions concerning the connection between our survey and the geology of the area were held. The complementarity of the magnetic and resistivity results prompted us to conceive a preliminary 3D reconstruction of the building. Even if the building function is unknown in the absence of reliable archaeological data, it could have been a storage building, a second praetorium, a valetudinarium (hospital), or an armamentarium (weapons storage building). The illustrative reconstruction was completed taking into consideration that the building was a Roman military hospital, which, based on the available data, may be considered a credible assumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geophysical Surveys for Heritage and Archaeology)

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20 pages, 10751 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Applying Geomatics Techniques for Documenting Heritage Buildings in Aswan Region, Egypt: A Case Study of the Temple of Abu Simbel

by AbdElhamid Elbshbeshi, Ahmed Gomaa, Abdelmonem Mohamed, Amal Othman, Ismael M. Ibraheem and Hosni Ghazala

Heritage 2023, 6(1), 742-761; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6010040 - 16 Jan 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 11205

Abstract

It has recently become more popular to involve 3-D modeling and digital documentation in the conservation and restoration of heritage sites. The main objective of the current study is to develop a digital documentation process using laser scanning for Abu Simbel Temple, which is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Egypt. We focus on these techniques to replace traditional methods of building heritage documentation. To create the 3-D model with geographic coordinates and measure the rate of deformation, a precise geodetic network of five points was established around the temple. Then, 52 scans of the temple facade and its interior parts were taken using a Trimble TX6 laser scanner. This led to the creation of a 3-D digital model of the temple that includes geometric, structural, architectural, historical data, and non-engineering information (such as appearance, inscriptions, and material details). The 3-D point cloud model outputs exhibit a 6 mm spacing between the points with an error of 4 mm and a standard deviation of 5 mm. In addition, the temple’s virtual tour included 61 panoramic images. This virtual tour can help to increase heritage awareness, promote tourism, and aid in the future restoration of any parts vulnerable to damage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geophysical Surveys for Heritage and Archaeology)

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Review

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42 pages, 88692 KiB

Open AccessReview

An Overview of Geophysical Techniques and Their Potential Suitability for Archaeological Studies

by Raffaele Martorana, Patrizia Capizzi, Antonino Pisciotta, Salvatore Scudero and Carla Bottari

Heritage 2023, 6(3), 2886-2927; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6030154 - 9 Mar 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7748

Abstract

The need to study, protect, and conserve archaeological heritage has enhanced the application of geophysical techniques as non-invasive and reliable tools to investigate fragile and valuable assets. This review presents the most popular geophysical techniques suitable for archaeogeophysical investigations, namely, magnetometry, ground penetrating radar, and electrical resistivity tomography, together with a series of multiparametric measures taken from aerial platforms (UAS). For each method, we recall the basic physical principles, illustrate the operative procedures for field investigation, and provide indications about data processing and modeling. We propose a flowchart to address reliable and effective geophysical investigations, from its planning to the development of the final archaeogeophysical model. We underline the integrated approach, in which the combination of various techniques allows the best results in terms of resolution, coverage, investigation depth, speed, and costs to be obtained. We introduce a suite of studied cases in which this approach has been applied successfully. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geophysical Surveys for Heritage and Archaeology)

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