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Introduction to the conference

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.

This paper reports preliminary outcomes of the 'Hidden Landscapes of Latium project', applied to the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano, an exceptionally well‑preserved coastal landscape in the central Mediterranean and, concurrently, a highly challenging forested context for landscape archaeology. The study area, about 60 km², characterized by dense and continuous vegetation cover, was surveyed by airborne LiDAR acquisition at very high point density (in average 350 pts/m²), with the goal to facilitate under‑canopy archaeological detection in a highly challenging Mediterranean environments. We provide a critical appraisal of the acquisition strategy, with particular attention to sampling density and flight design as determinative factors for the detection of subtle anthropogenic micro‑topographies. The acquired dataset was subjected to a semantic‑segmentation processing pipeline that integrates multi‑level and multi‑resolution machine‑learning techniques for the automated classification of ground, vegetation, and structural elements. Results indicate that the combination of archaeologist-addressed, high‑resolution LiDAR acquisition and advanced semantic classification substantially enhance the interpretability of forested archaeological landscapes and enables the identification of features previously obscured by vegetation. Castelporziano thus constitutes a valuable testbed for evaluating the applicability, transferability, and limitations of LiDAR‑based methodologies within Mediterranean landscape archaeology.

This paper presents the results of an interdisciplinary archaeological research on the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano (Rome) carried out within the PRIN HiLL project. By integrating archival sources, historical cartography, high-resolution LiDAR data and GISbased spatial analysis, the research produced a substantially updated reconstruction of the site’s historical and topographical development. The systematic correlation of remote-sensing data with unpublished archival documentation enabled the identification, spatial definition, and verification of previously undocumented archaeological contexts. LiDAR-derived terrain models proved particularly effective in detecting linear and areal anomalies related to ancient road networks, funerary landscapes, and architectural complexes, subsequently confirmed through targeted field surveys. Significant results include new evidence for the course of the via Laurentina, a reassessment of the western extension of the necropolis of Castel di Decima, the identification of a monumental porticus at Capocotta and a refined understanding of the imperial villa at Tor Paterno. The integration of heterogeneous datasets allowed a multitemporal and scalable analysis of landscape transformations, demonstrating the critical role of archival research and digital tools in enhancing archaeological interpretation and topographical research in complex, densely stratified territories.

This paper presents the first integrated palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Malafede Pool, a temporary freshwater wetland located within the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano (Rome, central Italy), based on the interdisciplinary analysis of sedimentary, geomorphological, chronological and palynological data from sediment core CPZ2. Temporary pools represent highly sensitive environmental archives, where hydrological variability, sedimentary processes and vegetation dynamics interact at local and landscape scales, yet their long-term evolution remains poorly documented in Mediterranean coastal contexts. The stratigraphic sequence records the transition from high-energy Pleistocene alluvial deposits to fine-grained Holocene sediments deposited under persistently hydromorphic conditions. Five AMS radiocarbon dates, three of which were retained, constrain the analysed portion of the core between ca. 5004 BC and 1554 AD, indicating substantial depositional continuity throughout the Middle and Late Holocene. The age-depth model further reveals variable sedimentation rates along the profile, with slower accumulation in certain intervals, reflecting fluctuations in local depositional dynamics. Palynological analyses, including pollen and fern spores, reveal high floristic richness and variable pollen concentrations across four pollen zones, reflecting changing environments and hydrological regimes. Overall, the results highlight the value of temporary pools as coherent and sensitive palaeoenvironmental archives and provide a robust framework for future comparisons with archaeological evidence and additional cores from the Castelporziano estate, contributing to a more integrated understanding of long-term landscape transformations in the Roman coastal plain.

As part of the HiLL ‘Hidden Landscapes of Latium’ project, funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) Mission 4-Component 2-Investment 1,1 ‘PRIN Projects’, a high-resolution geophysical survey, employing the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) method, was designed and developed. The purpose of this survey was to characterize the Tor Paterno archaeological site (Castelporziano, Roma) in terms of the location of archaeological structures present at various depths, in some unexcavated sectors. The areas selected for the geophysical surveys include the Tor Paterno (A) and Tor Paterno Laghetti (B) areas, and are based on hypotheses about the presence of structures, deduced from literature. The aims of the geophysical surveys are, on the one hand, to increase knowledge of the archaeological structures still present underground and, on the other, to contribute to protecting and enhancing the physical and cultural integrity of the aforementioned site, within its broader environmental context. The archaeological area was investigated using high-resolution Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) during the prospecting campaigns conducted in September and November 2025. The objective of the investigations was therefore to verify the existence of archaeological structures still buried, at various depths, in the areas being investigated.

The paper offers a historical and topographical synthesis of the Castelporziano estate, highlighting its exceptional preservation as a coastal landscape protected from modern urbanization near Rome. It emphasizes the strong integration between environmental and archaeological research, showing how tools such as LiDAR contribute both to mapping ancient remains and to understanding vegetation and land use. The study reconstructs the long-term evolution of the area, from protohistoric occupation and lagoon-based economies to the development of a coastal route later formalized as the Via Severiana, along which numerous villas and settlements were established. Particular attention is given to the strategic control of the coastline in the Republican period and to the transformation of the territory in the Imperial age, including the emergence of the Vicus Augustanus and elite residential complexes. In Late Antiquity, imperial landholdings were redistributed to the Church, contributing to changes in settlement patterns and management structures, eventually forming the basis of early medieval domuscultae. Despite gaps in later evidence, the study outlines a continuous reorganization of the landscape. Overall, Castelporziano emerges as a key case study for understanding the interaction between environment, infrastructure, and settlement in the Roman coastal context.

The paper is focused on the research activities carried out for the archaeological map of the Messapian, Roman and Medieval settlement which was located on the site where the historic centre of Lecce stands today. The research aims to produce a knowledge base useful for the reconstruction of the diachronic development of the settlement and to support protection interventions and conscious planning policies. The research methodology, the history of the excavations and findings, the characteristics of the archaeological map integrated into a GIS project and a summary of the historical development of the settlement between the Iron Age and the Late Antiquity period are illustrated.

This paper presents the recent results of archaeological research conducted at Suasa as part of a long-term project led by the University of Bologna. It focuses on the methodological discussion of the combined use of remote and proximal sensing techniques and stratigraphic excavation in reconstructing urban layouts and their diachronic transformations. The research focused on two main areas: the central zone known as the ‘Tappatino’ and the southern and eastern margins of the ancient city. In the ‘Tappatino’ area, a combination of historical and recent aerial photography, geophysical prospection, stratigraphic excavation, building analysis, topographic surveys and 3D reconstruction revealed a multi-phase monumental complex. Integrated analysis of traces, architectural remains and digital documentation has clarified construction sequences and functional transformations within this central urban sector. Recent investigations along the urban margins, primarily guided by non-invasive data and only partially verified through excavation, are still in the early stages. Preliminary results suggest the presence of water management systems and areas that may correspond to productive quarters. However, no clear evidence of a continuous defensive circuit has emerged. Overall, this case study highlights the importance of an integrated methodological approach to investigating minor Roman towns.

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Introduction to the Conference

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.

This paper presents an integrated geophysical and UAV-LiDAR investigation of the Rusellae (Roselle) hinterland, carried out within the Emptyscapes framework aimed at moving beyond site-based approaches toward a continuous, landscape-scale reconstruction of settlement and land-use dynamics. While extensive field survey, aerial imagery and large-scale magnetometry are effective in the open agricultural portions of the Ager Rusellanus, densely vegetated hill slopes remain a major source of knowledge bias. To address this gap, we combined (i) new magnetic prospections (ca. 70 ha) in the south-western sector of the study area with (ii) a drone-based high-density LiDAR survey (ca. 550 ha) acquired with a RIEGL miniVUX-3 at low altitude and controlled speed, achieving an average density >700-800 pts/m². Point clouds were processed through a multi-level, multi-resolution semantic segmentation workflow, using a Point Transformer deep-learning architecture to classify ground, vegetation and above-ground structures and to produce high-resolution DTMs and DFMs for GIS-based analysis. Results reveal a markedly more structured landscape in wooded areas than previously documented, including extensive terracing systems, mobility corridors, funerary districts with rock-cut hypogea, and traces of later productive activities. The study highlights both the potential and the limits of high-density UAV-LiDAR and ML-based processing, stressing the need for targeted ground validation in Mediterranean under-canopy contexts.

As part of the GreatT ‘Global Research on Environmental and Territorial Transformations’ project, funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) Mission 4-Component 2-Investment 1.1 ‘PRIN Projects’, a high-resolution geophysical survey survey, employing the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) method, was designed and developed. The purpose of this survey was to characterize the Roselle archaeological site (Grosseto) in terms of the location of archaeological structures present at various depths, in some unexcavated sectors. The areas selected for the geophysical surveys include the southern sector of the Forum, the Basilica giulio-claudia, the northern sector of the Forum, the North Portico, and the Domus ‘dei Mosaici’, and are based on hypotheses about the presence of structures, deduced from the literature. The aims of the geophysical intervention are, on the one hand, to increase knowledge of the archaeological structures still present underground and, on the other, to contribute to protecting and enhancing the physical and cultural integrity of the aforementioned site, within its broader environmental context. The archaeological area was investigated using high-resolution Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) during the prospecting campaign conducted in July 2025. The objective of the investigations was therefore to verify the existence of archaeological structures still buried, at various depths, in the areas being investigated.

The application of high-resolution drone LiDAR reveals new potential to detect and interpret subtle archaeological features in Mediterranean forested landscapes, where dense vegetation and low-relief topography strongly limit traditional survey methods. This paper presents preliminary results from an integrated archaeological and geomorphological analysis of drone-derived LiDAR data over the urban landscape of Roselle and its environs (southern Tuscany). Using high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) and digital feature models (DFMs), supported by targeted ground verification and geomorphological mapping, we identified and mapped a previously unknown western necropolis comprising more than 50 round barrows, features that were entirely invisible in conventional aerial imagery. By contrast, a known southern necropolis shows markedly lower visibility in the LiDAR data despite comparable data quality and vegetation cover. Comparison of these two funerary areas demonstrates that funerary architecture, substrate lithology, and geomorphological processes interact to govern archaeological visibility. Round barrows cut directly into outcropping bedrock produce stable, long-lived microtopographic anomalies, whereas masonry tombs affected by colluvial processes tend to be progressively obscured and smoothed. These results underscore the necessity of integrating geomorphological analysis into LiDAR-based archaeological interpretation and highlight geomorphology as a key control on the long-term preservation and detectability of funerary landscapes in Mediterranean settings.

This paper proposes an updated reconstructive hypothesis of the structures that form the forum of Roselle (GR) in its last monumental phase (Trajan-Hadrian), drawing on new data from the PRIN PNRR GreatT project. The area underwent a gradual process of regularisation and monumentalisation from the Etruscan to the Roman period, with frequent reuse or modification of pre-existing structures. The buildings were therefore digitally modelled as three-dimensional volumes. This reconstruction proved crucial for evaluating – through simulations – structural interpretations concerning the articulation, form and dimensions of the various structures as well as for clarifying uncertain chronological aspects of the remains. Moreover, visualisation through graphic rendering and real time 3D navigation interfaces contributes to an immediate understanding of the spatial layout of the area and the visual perception of the structures. The preserved remains, together with the presence of an excavation trench in the centre of the square – which currently makes the space appear divided into two distinct sectors – complicate the diachronic interpretation of the complex. The proposed reconstruction enabled further visibility analyses applied to the 3D models in order to investigate topographical choices of location and orientation, as well as to test metadata management systems required for the reconstruction process, particularly within the web3D environment.

The reconstruction of the main features of the past landscape surrounding the archaeological site of Roselle-Salica during the Etruscan, Roman, and Medieval periods was achieved through targeted stratigraphic sampling and detailed palynological analyses. The archaeopalynological research carried out for this study included field surveys and pollen sampling, stratigraphic descriptions, and laboratory palynological analyses. Interpretation was developed through the integration of geomorphological, chronological, archaeological, floristic, and vegetation data. The pollen samples from test excavations 1000 and 2000 (pollen series T10 and T20) made it possible to document generally low woodland cover, the widespread distribution of heathlands, the presence of wet environments and Mediterranean elements, thus delineating a partially anthropogenic landscape characterised by limited cereal cultivation and more extensive areas used for grazing. The environmental reconstruction, defining forest-cover transformation and specific landscape features, is also discussed in relation to occupational phases and land use by the populations inhabiting the area within the chronological framework of the project.

The paper presents a historical and topographical synthesis of the city of Roselle and its surrounding territory, integrating results from recent research with earlier scholarship. It emphasizes the methodological challenges arising from the different investigative approaches applied to urban and rural contexts – excavation in the city and surface survey in the countryside – and highlights the need for their integration to reconstruct coherent historical narratives. From the Archaic period, Roselle emerges as a structured landscape characterized by organized settlement patterns, funerary areas, and a significant wetland system that played a key ecological and economic role over many centuries. During the Late Republican period, the forum area underwent important transformations, including the construction of early basilica-likestructures and elite residences, while the surrounding territory saw the gradual development of villa-based production systems. A major phase of urban reorganization occurred in the Augustan and Julio-Claudian periods, marked by monumentalisation of the forum, construction of public buildings, and increased investment in infrastructure such as water supply systems. This process continued through the Flavian and Trajanic-Hadrianic periods, reflecting sustained prosperity and local elite involvement in urban development. Overall, the study offers a long-term reconstruction of the interaction between city and territory, underlining Roselle’s evolution within broader socio-economic and environmental dynamics.

The contribution presents the analysis of the works carried out within the Sapienza Archaeological Mission in Gortys of Crete, focused on the urban and topographic reconstruction of the city and its surroundings. Specifically, the results, still not conclusive, of the most recent phase of this research are presented (2024-2025), within the framework of a PRIN 2022 funding. The work involved the systematic acquisition of aerial survey images with the aim of producing an orthorectified cartography of the Gortine area and to process the Digital Elevation Models, in order to implement the GIS system, the core of the PRIN project. The archaeological mission also provided the opportunity to experiment with acquisitions in the field of proximity remote sensing through the use of thermal sensors and the application of vegetative indices elaborated on single electromagnetic bands, in a peculiar climatic context such as that of Gortys. The implementation of all this data in the GIS allowed us to analyze the organization of urban spaces in different sectors of the ancient city. Specifically, data relating to the relationship between the two main macro-phases of the city are presented: the hellenistic planning and the roman adjustments.

This chapter presents the results of geophysical survey campaigns carried out in Tusculum between 2023 and 2025. The new research substantially expands our knowledge of urban topography by combining ground-penetrating radar (GPR), magnetometry, and other digital terrain analysis methods. This initial approach allows us to reinterpret key areas of the ancient city, such as the public area of the forum, the Hadrianic bath complex, and the residential sectors, and contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between the main monuments and the urban layout.

This paper presents the ongoing Atella (Campania) project. Located between Capua and Neapolis in the central Campanian Plain, the Roman site still lacks a consolidated archaeological topography. To address this gap, the research integrates legacy data with targeted non-invasive investigations. Bibliographic and archival work is combined with multi-source remote sensing (historical aerial photographs, satellite imagery, and high-resolution DEMs), intensive field survey, UAV-based SfM photogrammetry, and geophysical prospection (magnetometry and GPR), followed by planned stratigraphic testing. The main output is a GIS conceived as the backbone of a landscape-scale digital twin: not a mere ‘digital replica’, but a dynamic knowledge system that links georeferenced 2D/3D datasets, structured metadata, and explicit semantic relationships to support analysis, annotation, and collaborative interpretation. Preliminary results indicate a substantial increase in recorded contexts (from 44 to 232) and provide new evidence for road infrastructures and for the southward extension of the ager Campanus, while the archaeological visibility of other proposed cadastral grids remains limited. Overall, the project delivers an interoperable digital platform for multiscalar and diachronic reconstruction, heritage management, and predictive planning.