Preliminary results from remote sensing surveying at the Abbattija tad-Dejr Catacombs (Rabat, Malta)

Abstract

Multidisciplinary remote sensing surveying techniques were employed at the site of Abbatija tad-Dejr Catacombs in Rabat (Malta) as part of a collaborative research project of University of South Florida's Institute for Digital Exploration (IDEx) and Heritage Malta aimed to map the complex for interpretation and conservation purposes and to assess the eventual presence of further hypogea in the areas surrounding the site. In this study, terrestrial laser scanning and hand-held digital photogrammetry were employed to map the entire complex in 3D and digitize specific architectural and artistic features found in the Catacomb I, in particular. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) were used to verify the presence of hypogeal structures and tombs and the preliminary results have showed how the prospection has identified anomalies of possible relevant archaeological interest.