On the Use of Google Earth Engine and Sentinel Data to Detect “Lost” Sections of Ancient Roads. The Case of Via Appia

The currently available tools and services as open and free cloud resources to process big satellite data opened up a new frontier of possibilities and applications including archeological research. These new research opportunities also pose several challenges to be faced, as, for example, the data processing and interpretation. This letter is about the assessment of different methods and data sources to support a visual interpretation of EO imagery. Multitemporal Sentinel 1 and Sentinel 2 data sets have been processed to assess their capability in the detection of buried archeological remains related to some lost sections of the ancient Via Appia road (herein selected as case study). The very subtle and nonpermanent features linked to buried archeological remains can be captured using multitemporal (intra- and inter-year) satellite acquisitions, but this requires strong hardware infrastructures or cloud facilities, today also available as open and free tools as Google Earth Engine (GEE). In this study, a total of 2948 Sentinel 1 and 743 Sentinel 2 images were selected (from February 2017 to August 2020) and processed using GEE to enhance and unveil archeological features. Outputs obtained from both Sentinel 1 and Sentinel 2 have been successfully compared with in situ analysis and high-resolution Google Earth images

Multitemporal 2016-2018 Sentinel-2 Data Enhancement for Landscape Archaeology: The Case Study of the Foggia Province, Southern Italy

This paper is focused on the use of satellite Sentinel-2 data for assessing their capability in the identification of archaeological buried remains. We selected the “Tavoliere delle Puglie” (Foggia, Italy) as a test area because it is characterized by a long human frequentation and is very rich in archaeological remains. The investigations were performed using multi-temporal Sentinel-2 data and spectral indices, commonly used in satellite-based archaeology, and herein analyzed in known archaeological areas to capture the spectral signatures of soil and crop marks and characterize their temporal behavior using Time Series Analysis and Spectral Un-mixing. Tasseled Cap Transformation and Principal Component Analysis have been also adopted to enhance archaeological features. Results from investigations were compared with independent data sources and enabled us to (i) characterize the spectral signatures of soil and crop marks, (ii) assess the performance of the diverse spectral channels and indices, and (iii) identify the best period of the year to capture the archaeological proxy indicators. Additional very important results of our investigations were (i) the discovery of unknown archaeological areas and (ii) the setup of a database of archaeological features devised ad hoc to characterize and categorize the diverse typologies of archaeological remains detected using Sentinel-2 Data

Towards an operational use of remote sensing data (satellite, drone, and ground) for Cultural Heritage: from discovery to documentation, monitoring, and valorisation

The research work was developed starting from the idea of an operational and practical use of remote sensing data from satellite, drone, and ground, as suggested by the title. “Towards an operational use of remote sensing data (satellite, drone, and ground) for Cultural Heritage: from discovery o documentation, monitoring and valorisation” was carried out as part of a PhD at the University of Basilicata, but a fundamental contribution was made by the possibility offered by the National Research Council (CNR) - Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis (IMAA), and Institute of Heritage Sciences (ISPC) - to carry out the research as part of their projects. The CNR has been useful and fruitful for the development of new ideas, and access to otherwise inaccessible technologies and tools. Above all, the National Research Council was useful for the people and researchers who provided the author with expertise, advice, experience, and support in times of need. For this reason, the work proposed within the individual chapters follows the same idea and is the result of research carried out in Italy and all around the World, over the last three years. The main aim was to research methodologies, theories and tools useful for real case studies, which could support archaeological research both in its phases of discovery and knowledge, and in the phases of planning and prevention of events damaging the cultural and natural heritage. The activity focused on the predominant use of open source and freely accessible (open) and usable tools and data, where available. In particular, on the use of large databases and powerful calculation platforms made available online free of charge by large service providers such as Google, the European Space Agency, the Italian Space Agency and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). The choice of structuring methods and workflows based on opensource and open-data was also dictated by the desire to be able to reapply the same methodologies on a global scale to (i) test their robustness, and (ii) provide a reusable and replicable tool. The chapters focus on (i) the use of the ESA (European Space Agency) Copernicus Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-1 satellites, and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Landsat-7 TM and Landsat-8 OLI satellites for the discovery of CH and preservation of the CNH; (ii) the use of tools for the management of Big and Open Data; (iii) the use of the new PRISMA (PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa) hyperspectral data of the ASI (Italian Space Agency) for the discovery of new archaeological sites; (iv) the use of close-range technologies such as UASs (Unmanned Aerial System) for the discovery of buried structures; (v) the integrated use of different RS technologies (satellite, UAS, and geophysics) for the discovery and reconstruction of ancient contexts; and, of course, on the use of the related pre- and post-processing methodologies. On the other hand, used methodologies and previous studies on specific topics are set out in more detail in the individual chapters. This choice has been made because it is considered more explanatory and didactic in the context of a global reading of the entire work. The chapters are structured in the form of a paper, some of which have already been published in peer-reviewed journals (e.g. Remote Sensing, IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing, etc.). The topics covered are Remote Sensing (RS) and Earth Observation (EO) applied to the discovery, protection, and safeguarding of Cultural and Natural Heritage, with several methodologies and different hardware and software tools

Multitemporal–Multispectral UAS Surveys for Archaeological Research: The Case Study of San Vincenzo Al Volturno (Molise, Italy)

Unmanned aerial vehicles are currently the most used solution for cultural heritage in the field of close range and low altitude acquisitions. This work shows data acquired by multitemporal and multispectral aerial surveys in the archaeological site of San Vincenzo al Volturno (Molise, Italy). The site is one of the most important medieval archaeological sites in the world. It is a monastic settlement that was particularly rich during the early Middle Ages, and is famous for its two full-frescoed crypts which represent a milestone in the history of medieval art. Thanks to the use of multispectral aerial photography at different times of the year, an area not accessible to archaeological excavation has been investigated. To avoid redundancy of information and reduce the number of data to be analysed, a method based on spectral and radiometric enhancement techniques combined with a selective principal component analysis was used for the identification of useful information. The combination of already published archaeological data and new remote sensing discoveries, has allowed to better define the situation of the abbey during the building phases of the 8th/9th century and 11th century, confirming and adding new data to the assumptions made by archaeologists

Preventive Archaeology Based on Open Remote Sensing Data and Tools: The Cases of Sant’Arsenio (SA) and Foggia (FG), Italy

Sentinel-2 data have been used in various fields of human activity. In cultural heritage, their potential is still to be fully explored. This paper aims to illustrate how remote sensing and open source tools are useful for archaeological investigations. The whole issue revolves around the application of satellite (Sentinel-2) and accessory tools for the identification, knowledge and protection of the cultural heritage of two areas of southern Italy: Sant’Arsenio (SA) and Foggia (FG). Both study cases were selected for a specific reason: to demonstrate the usefulness of open data and software for research and preservation of cultural heritage, as in the case of urban sprawl, development of public works (gas- and oil-pipelines, etc.) or intensive use of land for agricultural purposes. The results obtained are relevant for the knowledge improvement and very useful to operate in the field of preventive archaeology, for the evaluation and management of risk, the planning of city-expansion or infrastructures that could damage the buried heritage

La ceramica dal casale in località Céscole a Itri (LT): nuove fonti archeologiche per lo studio della società bassomedievale tra la contea di Fondi ed il porto di Gaeta /The Pottery from the Casale at le Céscole in Itri (LT): New Archaeological Sources for the Study of the Late Middle Age Society between the Countship of Fondi and the Harbour of Gaeta

L'area del golfo di Gaeta sino ad ora non è stata interessata da sistematiche ricerche di archeologia medievale. In particolare, ben poco si conosce della cultura materiale bassomedievale, soprattutto della ceramica di uso quotidiano. In questo contributo si vuole fornire una descrizione dei materiali rinvenuti all’interno e nell’area circostante il casale in località Céscole in Itri (Lazio, Italia), consistenti principalmente in anfore di varia dimensione di riutilizzo e in altre forme di ceramica acroma e dipinta. Nella prima parte sono raccolte informazioni sul contesto storico regionale del XIV secolo ed alcune brevi note sulla topografia dell’area del casale. La seconda parte fornisce uno studio dettagliato dei materiali condotto col fine di interpretare al meglio quelle che sembrerebbero essere attestazioni di particolare interesse per le produzioni tardo medievali dell’area costiera campano-laziale, nonché i primi di questo tipo documentati nell’area di Itri. Il casale con torre in località Céscole costituisce con i suoi materiali un nuovo contesto che, a seguito di ulteriori e più approfondite indagini, potrà in futuro fornire dati di natura archeologica utili alla ricostruzione del paesaggio rurale orbitante intorno al Castrum Ytri tra XIV e XV secolo.  To date, the area of the gulf of Gaeta has never been involved in systematic Medieval Archaeology research. Very little is known, for instance, about the late Medieval material culture of this region, especially concerning pottery for everyday use. The aim of this paper is to provide a first description of the pottery found in and around the casale located at le Céscole in Itri (Lazio, Italy). This material consists mostly of amphorae and other painted wares. In the first part of the paper we provide information about the regional historical context for the XIV century. The second part includes a detailed study of the pottery found in the casale and aims to give a first interpretation of it. The pottery could be an important attestation of the late Medieval production of the coast between Lazio and Campania and the first of this kind ever to be reported from Itri. The casale at le Céscole, together with its pottery, represents a new context from which, through further investigations, we can hope to extrapolate more archaeological data in the near future. These data will surely aid us in reconstructing the rural landscape orbiting around the Castrum Ytri between the XIV and the XV century

Correction: Elfadaly, A.; Abate, N.; Masini, N.; Lasaponara, R. SAR Sentinel 1 Imaging and Detection of Palaeo-Landscape Features in the Mediterranean Area. Remote Sens. 2020, 12, 2611

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [1]: Due to mislabeling, replace: Figure 6Typical Neolithic settlements in the Tavoliere delle Puglie: (a) settlement of Masseria Schifata; (b) settlement of Passo di Corvo [36] [...

Il castello di Rupecanina e il cantiere didattico di Archeologia Medievale. Stato delle ricerche e proposte future per lo studio delle fasi post-antiche della Media Valle del Volturno

Il contributo sintetizza le fasi edilizie e di frequentazione del sito fortificato di Rupecanina, in comune di Sant'Angelo d'Alife (CE). Segue un approfondimento sulle principali classi di materiali archeologici: ceramica, metalli, vetro, monete

Multitemporal, Multispectral UAS Surveys for Archaeological Research: The Case Study of San Vincenzo Al Volturno (Molise, Italy)

Unmanned aerial vehicles are currently the most used solution for cultural heritage in the field of close range and low altitude acquisitions. This work shows data acquired by multitemporal and multispectral aerial surveys in the archaeological site of San Vincenzo al Volturno (Molise, Italy). The site is one of the most important medieval archaeological sites in the world. It is a monastic settlement that was particularly rich during the early Middle Ages, and is famous for its two full-frescoed crypts which represent a milestone in the history of medieval art. Thanks to the use of multispectral aerial photography at different times of the year, an area not accessible to archaeological excavation has been investigated. To avoid redundancy of information and reduce the number of data to be analysed, a method based on spectral and radiometric enhancement techniques combined with a selective principal component analysis was used for the identification of useful information. The combination of already published archaeological data and new remote sensing discoveries, has allowed to better define the situation of the abbey during the building phases of the 8th/9th century and 11th century, confirming and adding new data to the assumptions made by archaeologists