Articles by Roberto Montagnetti

The archaeological site of Poggio Gramignano (Lugnano in Teverina, TR) represents a complex, multi-period settlement sequence, spanning from the Orientalizing-Archaic period to Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. This paper presents the results of an integrated research strategy combining non-invasive methodologies, namely aerial remote sensing, analysis of historical aerial photographs and satellite imagery, magnetometric survey, and 3D ground-penetrating radar (GPR), with targeted stratigraphic excavation data. The application of these techniques has significantly enhanced the understanding of the site’s spatial organization, architectural development, and diachronic transformation beyond the limits of the excavated areas. Remote sensing and geophysical surveys have revealed a previously unknown extent of the Roman villa complex, including peripheral structures, retaining walls (basis villae), and a large summit cistern connected to a hydraulic distribution system. Photointerpretation has also identified features attributable to a pre-Roman settlement, possibly enclosed by a ditch, corroborating evidence recovered during recent excavations. The integration of geophysical data with stratigraphic observations has allowed the recognition of multiple construction phases characterized by different orientations, suggesting significant architectural reorganization over time. Particular attention is devoted to the Late Antique phase, during which parts of the Augustan villa fell into disuse and were partially reused, including the establishment of an infant cemetery within abandoned rooms. Overall, the study demonstrates the critical role of non-invasive approaches in reconstructing complex archaeological landscapes and refining historical interpretations at multi-layered sites.

In archaeological projects, the acquisition, management, and implementation of excavation data are crucial to the success of the research and the accurate understanding of the historical and cultural context of the sites investigated. Field data acquisition, especially, is the first step in any archaeological research project. This paper will describe the main technologies and methodologies for three-dimensional surveys of archaeological sites and digitization of data acquired in research projects led by the Department of Human Sciences at the University of L’Aquila. The same vector data are used as well in 3D modeling and virtual reality projects in order to make the results of archaeological research understandable even to a non-expert audience.

This contribution traces the history of pyArchInit, the first QGIS plugin created directly by archaeologists for the management of archaeological sites. The article describes the structure of the plugin, its features and the main innovations brought to the field of archaeological data management compared to the commonly used applications (CAD and Office package). Furthermore, practical examples of its use and potential will be provided through the description of the methodological procedure, based on pyArchInit, put into the field during the excavation of the archaeological site of Poggio Gramignano - Umbria - Italy. Such excavation is directed by Prof. David Soren of the University of Arizona and has revealed the remains of an important Roman villa reused in the Late Roman period as a cemetery for children.

This article offers an example for a quick and smart procedure for geo-referencing archaeological stratigraphy and managing it digitally in a GIS environment, through the open source software QGIS and pyArchInit. Specifically, the authors propose two ways of obtaining a geo-referenced survey of the archaeological features identified: 1) a handmade manual survey carried out with triangulation measurements; 2) a digital survey through Structure from Motion algorithms.