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The results of the geophysical surveys carried out in the city of Ugento, specifically in the St. Antonio area and into the Medieval Castle, are presented in this paper. The aim of this study is to integrate the results of Ground-Penetrating Radar and Electrical Resistivity Tomography surveys in order to support archaeological investigations aimed at the elaboration of a detailed archaeological map of the Messapian, Roman and Medieval settlement. Indeed, the obtained data were jointly analysed with archaeological data already known and were georeferenced on the general plans of the site in order to obtain an overall view of the anomalies detected by geophysical instrumentation and related to buried ancient structures. In particular, the geophysical surveys carried out in the St. Antonio area made it possible to reconstruct a stretch of the Messapian city walls and nearby necropolis, while the investigations inside the Castle allowed for the acquisition of very interesting data about previous phases dated to the Middle Ages (and maybe also the Messapian or Roman ages) and about the geo-morphological characteristics of the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we present the results of a geomorphological and geophysical investigation carried out in the Regional Park of Matera Murgia, also known as Park of the Rupestrian Churches (world site protected by UNESCO), in Basilicata region, southern Italy. The aim of this investigation is to support the scheduled restoration works in some rupestrian historical sites and the safety of the tourist route that connects the churches along the eastern side of Gravina river valley. In particular, a ground penetrating radar (GPR) prospection was conducted on frescoed surfaces in two rupestrian churches permitting the detection of different kinds of problems affecting the fresco surfaces, such as lesions and efflorescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objects of forensic investigations vary from illegally buried weapons and explosives, landmines and improvised explosive devices, drugs and weapons caches to clandestine graves of murder victims and mass genocide graves, environmental crime. Illegal excavations represent one of the main risks which affect the archaeological heritage all over the world. They cause a massive loss of artefacts but also, and above all, a loss of the cultural context, which makes the subsequent interpretation of archaeological remains very difficult. Various techniques are available for forensic crime search teams. These techniques allow for the detection of a hidden object successfully. Near‐surface geophysical search methods have been dominated by ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) but recently other techniques, such as electrical resistivity, magnetometric, time domain reflection have become more common. The geophysical investigation was required to investigate the presence of illegal looting in an area located 1 km north from the archaeological park of Pompeii. For this purpose combined GPR and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) were used. Results reveal the presence of an illegal tunnel and offered the opportunity to investigate such areas not previously systematically documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

The results of the geophysical surveys carried out in 2019 in the Abbey of Santa Maria di Cerrate (Lecce) are presented in this paper. The objective of this study was to achieve a better knowledge of the site, since it was only partially investigated by small archaeological excavation samples. The geophysical measurements were conducted inside and outside the church in order to identify buried ancient structures, using both the georadar and geoelectrical survey methodologies. The results of GPR (ground-penetrating radar), ERT (electrical resistivity tomography) and IP (induced polarisation) were jointly analysed with archaeological data already known and were georeferenced on the general plans of the site in order to obtain an overall view of the anomalies detected by geophysical instrumentation and probably linked to buried ancient structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results of the integrated geophysical surveys performed inside the Monastery of St Chiara in Nardó in southern Italy. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) investigations were carried out to find the tomb of Sister Chiara D'Amato, whose location has been lost over the centuries. Sister Chiara Isabella D'Amato was a charismatic and holy figure. She died in 1693. She was buried inside the monastery but her body has never been found. The data acquisition was performed along with a series of closely spaced lines for GPR and using a non-standard array for ERT. Data were processed and visualised as two-dimensional vertical sections and depth slices or three-dimensional volumes (GPR and ERT) to allow an integrated interpretation of the geophysical results. The analysis of the geophysical data sets revealed a series of anomalies that could be ascribed possible archaeological structures, probably related to the earliest ages of the sacred building as well as other anomalies (bedrock, fractures) of presumable natural origin. In particular, one geophysical anomaly was suspected of being connected to burial and consequently further investigated with the use of a video endoscope. The results reveal the presence of a void but it has not yet been clarified whether it is the burial of Sister Chiara or not as it is awaiting the excavation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]