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Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) mapping provides a three-dimensional analysis of archaeological features within the context of landscape studies. The method's ability to measure the intensity of radar reflections from deep in the ground can produce images and maps of buried features not visible on the surface. A study was conducted in some areas near the Domus Romana in Rabat (Malta) in order to investigate the still uncovered archaeological structures. The purpose of the GPR survey was to guide the excavation operations (planned but postponed due to Covid-19) and to allow us to understand the development of the defensive walls of the city and any other structures related to the Roman mansion. The choice of the areas to be investigated was therefore guided both by previous archaeological excavations and by the considerations made above. The results obtained through the GPR made it possible to shed light on some of the aspects related to the questions posed by the archaeologists, highlighting part of the structures related to the defensive walls, part of the structures related to water supply and conservation and part of the wall structures related to the Roman mansion itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the international bilateral project "Non-invasive investigations to enhance the knowledge and the enjoyment of cultural heritage" (funded by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche and University of Malta), an integrated geophysical prospecting [1] were conducted in Malta in September 2018. Among the different sites investigated during the last campaign of measure, we focus on the results achieved close to the St Agatha's tower (also known as Red Tower), a fortified site located in the northern sector of the island.This monument was built in 1647 and is can be perhaps considered one of the most important watchtowers built by the Knights of Malta, aimed especially to identify the ships of the ottoman enemies. The tower has been also recently restored and now it has become a touristic attraction.The investigations were performed making use of the techniques of the ground penetrating radar and geoelectrical tomography. Specifically, since it was not possible to carry out internal measures of the tower, an unconventional ERT configuration surrounding the tower was used in order to investigate the possible presence of hypogeal structures below it. Such a configuration was already exploited e.g. in [2]. Moreover, in order to integrate the ERT measurements, some GPR Bscans have been also gathered outside the monument [3] and in particular overflying a cistern connected to the structure. The data show the possible presence of a cavity under the tower and the presence of connections between the cistern and the tower. AcknowledgmentsThis work has been performed thanks to the support of the bilateral project "Noninvasive investigations for enhancing the knowledge and the valorization of the cultural heritage", carried out by the Institute for Archaeological and Monumental Heritage IBAM-CNR and the Department of Geoscience of the University of Malta.References[1] Innovative Instrumentation and Data Processing Methods in Near Surface Geophysics, edited by R. Persico, S. Piro and N. Linford, Elsevier, ISBN 978-0-12-812429-1, 2018.[2] G. Leucci, L. De Giorgi, F. T. Gizzi, R. Persico, Integrated geo-scientific surveys in the historical centre of Mesagne (Brindisi, Southern Italy) Natural Hazards, 86, pp. 363-383. DOI: 10.1007/s11069-016-2645-x, 2017.[3] R. Persico, Introduction to Ground Penetrating Radar: Inverse Scattering and Data Processing, Wiley, 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]