Articles by Giorgio F. Pocobelli

This paper enhances the archaeological mapping of the Castelporziano presidential estate through an integrated approach that combines GIS, multi-temporal aerial photo interpretation, GNSS-supported field surveys, LiDAR-derived DTM analysis and 3D laser scanning. The investigation, focused on the coastal area of Capocotta and the imperial villa of Tor Paterno, updates previous cartographic documentation (Carta della zona litoranea di Castelporziano) and records structures previously undocumented, primarily due to the significant constraints imposed by dense vegetation cover. The georeferencing of historical maps (Carta Topografica del Lazio) and the aerial photographs have enabled a redefinition of the ancient settlement layout and improved its spatial accuracy. At the same time, preliminary research conducted in the northern sector highlights the settlement potential of this territory, despite limited surface visibility. The currently available data point to a significant presence of rural villas dating from the late Republican to the early Imperial period.

The city of Rusellae and its surrounding landscape have undergone varying degrees of transformation over the centuries. These changes are most pronounced in the coastal areas, while the inland region, where the ancient settlement once stood, has seen more limited alterations. This study examines the evolving relationship between the city and its territory through an integrated approach that combines historical and contemporary aerial photographs with a critical analysis of cartographic materials spanning from the 15th to the 19th century. The goal is to provide a diachronic reconstruction of the landscape, emphasizing both continuities and disruptions in terracing systems, road networks, and toponymy. A key aspect of this research involves the use of RT3D, an open-source software developed by the LabGeo at the SAGAS Department of the University of Florence. This tool allows for the archiving, standardization, and integration of geo-spatial data from diverse sources, including core samples, surveys, excavations, and archival research. The result is a three-dimensional visualization of stratigraphy that enhances the interpretation of archaeological contexts, offering new insights for historical and archaeological investigations. The integrated analysis enabled the identification and reinterpretation of ancient road networks, terracing systems, and potential settlement areas no longer detectable at the surface, thereby enhancing the reconstruction of the urban layout and territorial organization of Rusellae through its Etruscan and Roman phases.

Introduction to the conference

On the basis of the research activity carried out as part of the Archeo 3.0 project ‘Integration of key enabling technologies for the efficiency of preventive archaeological excavations’, the authors explore the feasibility and limits of the automated approach for the recognition of archaeological marks. This approach is mainly motivated by the relevance that aerial photographs play in the reconstruction of ancient topography of human settlements. For this aim, a collection of historical aerial photographs of both the city and the necropolis of Vulci has been considered. These photographs, in colour and B/W, have been previously used in a PhD thesis in Ancient Topography in which the traditional methodology (photointerpretation and cartographic restitution) has been fully exploited. In this work, a systematic study is presented in order to compare the results obtained with Machine Learning techniques vs traditional ones. This comparison allows us to discuss the strengths and limits of both methodologies.