Articles by Rodolfo Brancato

Introduction to the section Investigating Resilient Roman Agricultural Landscapes in Southern Italy. An integrated and open it approach for archaeological topography of centuriation. Proceedings of the final conference of the PRIN 2022 project ‘In.Res.Agri’ (Naples, 20th-21st November 2025)

This paper presents preliminary results of the In.Res.Agri (PRIN 2022) case study on the ancient topography of Atella (Campania, Italy). We integrated legacy archival datasets – standardised to ICCD/ICA models – within a QGIS environment and guided systematic surface survey (c. 130 ha) using mobile mapping (QField). Preventive archaeology trenches and sondages were digitised as MOSI records alongside newly documented features, enabling multi-scale analyses of settlement and infrastructure. The database now comprises 285 MOSI (≈548% increase over the pre-existing picture), with c. 69% of entries derived from archival review. Fieldwork refined the mapping of extra-urban axes, including the paved road at Sant’Arpino and a compacted path (UO 206) plausibly aligned with the ‘Acerrae-Atella I’ system. Re-oriented excavation drawings from the Frattaminore ‘Novio Atellano’ site reveal orthogonal roadways whose E-W axis accords with the ager Campanus, suggesting long-term cadastral persistence despite mantling by AD 79 and later tephras. The integrated workflow tests earlier hypotheses on centuriation, clarifies urban-rural relations, and delivers reproducible, georeferenced expectations for targeted verification. At project close, all geodata will be published via Digital Groma and the National Geoportal for Archaeology.

This study aims to reconstruct the long-term interactions between humans and the environment in the northern sector of Gricignano d’Aversa (CE), using historical data integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS). Legacy data from the Archaeological Museum of Naples were digitized as part of a project involving the National Geoportal and the development of a Territorial Information System (TIS). The latter is primarily based on the elevations of stratigraphic units, georeferenced in QGIS. The soil elevation data were obtained from both archaeological and geological surveys. These data sets allowed the development of a geoarchaeological section, created with AutoCAD, as well as Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) generated with QGIS. The results show that the site’s geomorphology was mainly shaped by volcanic events, first the Campanian Ignimbrite eruption (39,000 years ago), which had a strong impact on settlement patterns. Topographical variations resulting from these events played a key role in settlement choices. Moreover, the proximity to the Clanio River influenced settlement choices, with communities preferring areas far from the river to avoid flooding. This trend changed by the Roman period, when drainage techniques, evidenced by canalizations, allowed settlement closer to the river.

ASH investigates the role of Andosols, i.e. volcanic-ash soils, in four case studies in central and southern Italy (Southern Etruria/Northern Latium, the Campanian Plain, the Poro highplain in Calabria, and the Ionian–Etnean area of Sicily). It studies how the distribution and properties of these soils shaped agricultural productivity, settlement systems, and longterm landscape use from Late Prehistory to Antiquity. The research combines archaeological records (new fieldwork and legacy data) with pedological and archaeobotanical studies and multi-temporal remote sensing (historical satellite images, multispectral imagery, spectral indices mapping, sampling, integrated machine-learning and deep-learning analyses). A standards-based GIS supports cross-domain integration and spatial modelling. The project advances knowledge of human-environment relations, highlighting the strategic importance – and vulnerability – of volcanic-ash soils as a crucial subsistence resource. It also establishes a basis for transdisciplinary work linking archaeology, remote sensing, pedology, and environmental research, and provides evidence to inform responsible management of soil and landscape heritage today. Newly collected datasets and GIS mapping enable reproducible analyses and open deposition to benefit future research and heritage governance.

The aim of this paper is to present the results of the research undertaken through a series of on-site surveys (2021-2023) at the Sasso Pinzuto site, located approximately 1 km SE of Tuscania (Viterbo, Italy). Situated along the eastern side of the Marta river valley, the necropolis layout is little known but it is extensive, including ca. 100 rock-cut chamber tombs. The 2021-22 archaeological campaigns started with a new topographical survey of the site and investigated two areas conventionally defined the Northern and the Southern Area. In the Northern Area, specifically within the vicinity of Tumulus 1, fragments of mould-decorated architectural plaques from a building discovered. In the Southern Area, a small plateau about 90 m from the Northern Area, four burial graves (n. 126, 127, 128, 130) and two chamber tombs (125 and 129) were excavated. This study sheds light to the great potential of applying digital technologies for a new understanding of the Etruscan tombs. Indeed, by using various non-destructive prospecting methods (aerial photogrammetry, fieldwalking survey, architectural drawings), coupled with precise location using RTK GNSS, and integration of legacy data in GIS, the site underwent a comprehensive reexamination.

Introduction to "Linking Pasts and Sharing Knowledge. Mapping Archaeological Heritage, Legacy Data Integration and Web Technologies for Modelling Historical Landscapes"

The In.Res.Agri project aims to optimize the understanding of Roman agricultural landscapes in Southern Italy by integrating topographical, archaeological, environmental, and textual data within an innovative data-science platform. It focuses on examining the resilience of Roman agrarian landscapes, specifically through elements such as centuriation, route networks, and settlement patterns. The project employs both traditional survey methods and advanced technologies to recover, interpret, and manage archaeo-topographical data related to centuriation. Key methods include using Machine Learning for the automatic detection of centuriated fields, spatial analysis of both legacy and new data, and the use of annotated epigraphic and literary sources. All collected data will be implemented into the Digital_Groma platform, which will feature a digital archive and a webGIS for data display and querying; data will be exposed adhering to FAIR principles. In.Res.Agri will focus on regions in Campania (Vesuvian Area, Irpinia) and Puglia (Tavoliere), exploring the link between contemporary landscapes and Roman centuriated agro-ecosystems. This research is crucial for understanding the impact of environmental changes on Cultural Heritage, aligning with the priorities of the European Commission and UNESCO. The Digital_Groma platform will be accessible to researchers, tourists, and public institutions involved in archaeology, urban planning, and cultural heritage protection.

This paper presents the results of the research undertaken through a series of on-site surveys and studies (2019-2022) of the site of Castellito di Ramacca (Catania, Sicily). The site, located on the top of a low hill (106 msl), was partly excavated in the late 20th century and interpreted as a Roman rural building, possibly with a special function (road station). Its name is also attested in ancient sources (Capitoniana). The site was re-evaluated using various non-destructive prospecting methods (aerial photogrammetry, fieldwalking survey, architectural recording), precise location with RTK GNSS and integration of the legacy data in GIS. This approach confirmed a new addition to the already known villa complex and contextualized it as a focal point of the rural settlement system. Based on the topographical data obtained from the survey campaign, conducted by integrating of different techniques, we propose a reconstruction of the villa’s elevation at its peak in Late Antiquity. This study illustrates the great potential of applying digital technologies for a new understanding of Roman villa remains.