Integrated Archaeogeophysical Approach for the Study of a Medieval Monastic Settlement in Basilicata

Abstract

The paper deals with the results of an archaeo-geophysical approach adopted for the study and the reconstruction of the architectural plan of the medieval monastery of San Pietro a Cellaria in Calvello (Basilicata, Southern Italy). The monastery is a remarkable witness to Benedectine architecture of the 12-13th century in Basilicata, built by monks of the Congregation of S. Maria di Pulsano, who were active mainly in southern Italy. The historical data and the diachronic architectural study, based on the analysis of building techniques, provide evidence for a long and intense history, during which the monastery underwent several architectural changes, including the demolition of buildings and the superposition of other constructional elements. The only preserved medieval remains are a church with a nave; the adjacent structures are more recent. This preliminary data prompted a research project to shed new light on the as yet unknown history of the medieval monastery. Specifically, a remote sensing approach around the monastery including aerial survey by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and geomagnetic survey in gradiometric configuration (MAG), was adopted in order to verify the possible existence of buried masonry structures and other possible features of archaeological interest, including channels and aqueducts. The GPR time slices were constructed from closely spaced parallel profiles. The time slices, computed by averaging radar reflections over vertical time windows several nanoseconds thick, are used to map subsoil features associated with the structures, probably of anthropogenic origin. To facilitate the interpretation of the results, a threedimensional image was constructed using closely spaced parallel profiles, which are linearly interpolated. The MAG survey was carried in gradiometer configuration, in order to study magnetic properties of the shallow subsoil. Ground-penetrating radar gives details about archaeological structures in a limited area where survey was possible, while gradiometer survey confirms GPR results and improves archaeological knowledge in the areas where GPR survey was impossible. This multi-sensor remote sensing program revealed a wide variety of archaeological features of interest, which may be targeted accurately with excavations in the future.

Discovery of buried historical structures in the Kaveri–Kollidam interfluve, southern India

“…Therefore, a plethora of literature on the principles and methods of archaeological exploration using GPR are available (e.g. Conyers, , , , , ; Conyers & Leckebusch, ; Leucci et al, ). In addition, open source software for processing the acquired GPR data are also available (e.g.…”

“…The geophysical (that have been in use in archaeology since 1946) and remote sensing methods (that have been in use since 1919), with simple instrumentation and short time span (Yalçiner et al, ) are well established techniques that are routinely and successfully used in the detection and mapping of concealed sub‐surface archaeological structures (Papadopoulos, Yi, Kim, Tsourlos, & Tsokas, ; Epov et al, ; http://www.heritagegeophysics.com/papers/wynn.htm). Furthermore, recent advancements in these techniques (e.g.Conyers, , , , , ; Conyers & Leckebusch, ; Leucci et al, ) have allowed the probing of sub‐surface through non‐invasive, yet, relatively precise characterization and have led to the discovery of buried geological and man‐made structures (e.g.Cardarelli & Filippo, ; Carr, ; Drahor, ; Drahor, Berge, Ozturk, Alpaslan, & Ergene, ; Epov et al, ; Papadopoulos et al, ; Ranson & Egloff, ) including tombs of historical and archaeological significance (Papadopoulos et al, ).…”

Searching for the History of the Ancient Basilicata: Archaeogeophysics Applied to the Roman Site of Forentum

“…Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is the highest resolution geophysical method for archaeological applications, and is concerned with the study of electromagnetic (e-m) reflections caused by variations of the three physical parameters that regulate the e-m behavior of the investigated medium. These parameters are electrical conductivity, dielectric permittivity, and magnetic permeability; they are the main factors of the attenuation phenomena and the velocity of propagation of e-m waves [7][8][9][10].…”

An Attempt to Integration of Different Geophysical Methods (Magnetic, GPR and ERT); A Case Study From the Late Roman Settlement On the Island of Rab in Croatia

“…A number of archaeological surveys integrating GPR, magnetic and ERT methods is systematically increasing (see among others; Brizzolari et al, 1992;Eder-Hinterleitner, 1997, 1997a;Drahor and Kaya, 2000;Piro et al, 2000;Gaffney et al, 2004;Luck et al, 2003;De Domenico et al, 2006;Drahor, 2006;Kvamme, 2006;Vermeulen et al, 2006;Strutt and Keay, 2008;Drahor et al, 2009;Cardarelli and Di Filippo, 2009;Keay et al, 2009;Leucci et al, 2015;Di Maio et al, 2016). In this paper we present results of research based on integration of three basic geophysical methods (magnetic, GPR and ERT) carried out at Lopar in the northern part of the Island of Rab in Croatia.…”