An integrated quantitative approach to assess the archaeological heritage in highly anthropized areas: the case study of Aesernia (southern Italy)

Abstract

The Latin colony of Aesernia was the seat of an important road junction for communications, especially to the south with Bovianum and Beneventum, to the north with Aufidena and the Sangro Valley and to the west with Venafrum and the Liri River Valley. While some archaeological contexts of this colony are documented by very detailed studies, others still require an overall analysis and a systematic study. Particularly, there is the lack of an organic and complete reading of the known data and a concrete need to acquire new data on still unexplored areas. The present paper illustrates the results of the integrated geo-archaeological research carried out at Isernia and based on the analysis of historical sources, archaeological surveys, geologic, geomorphological and topographic investigations and geophysical prospections. All data were stored in a Geographic Information System that allowed for spatial analyses and the production of thematic maps. The purpose of the research was to help fill the many knowledge gaps in the history of Aesernia and to add new data by using a multiple system of analysis. The integrated geo-archaeological approach allowed drawing up a new archaeological map that gives an updated view of the rich archaeological heritage of Isernia.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of the Temple of Athena in Poseidonia-Paestum (Southern Italy): New Geomorphological, Geophysical and Archaeological Data

“…In our case, we applied the probability-based ERT inversion (PERTI) method [34], derived directly from the principles of probability tomography [35,36]. As outlined in previous applications [37][38][39][40][41], the PERTI method can be considered a self-sufficient procedure, useful as a means of determining the location and shape of the most probable sources of the anomalies detected on the ground surface.…”

The modeling of archaeological and geomorphic surfaces in a multistratified urban site in Padua, Italy

“…The modeling of large, buried archaeological surfaces in alluvial and coastal plains, through a comprehensive geoarchaeological and geographic information systems (GISs) approach has been tested in several sites in Italy (e.g., Naples: Cinque et al., ; Sarno River Plain: Vogel, Märker, and Seiler, ; Grosseto: Citter and Arnoldus, ; Pisa: Bini et al., ; Como: Ferrario et al., ; Adria: Corrò, and Mozzi, ; Senigallia: Silani et al., ; Isernia: Amato et al., ). In this research, we attempted the reconstruction of buried geomorphic and archaeological surfaces in a large, multistratified urban site, through the spatial interpolation of elevation points representing specific archaeological occupation periods.…”

A Probability Electrical Resistivity Tomography Imaging of complex tectonic features in the Kissamos and Paleohora urban areas, Western Crete (Greece).

“…As outlined in previous applications [Amato et. al., 2016;Compare et al, 2009aCompare et al, , 2009bCozzolino et al, 2012Cozzolino et al, , 2014Rose et al, 2015], the PERTI method can be considered a self-sufficient procedure, useful to delineate location and shape of the most probable sources of the anomalies detected on the ground surface.…”