The third KV62 radar scan: Searching for hidden chambers adjacent to Tutankhamun's tomb

The existence of hidden chambers and corridors adjacent to Tutankhamun’s tomb (code name KV62) hasbeen long debated. In 2015 it was suggested that these chambers may host the as yet undiscovered burialof Nefertiti. In order to test this hypothesis, two Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys, conductedin 2015 and 2016 from inside KV62, were carried out, but gave contradictory results. To solve theseuncertainties and obtain a more confident and conclusive response, a third GPR survey was conductedby our team in February 2018. The results of this third radar scan are reported in this article. Three GPRsystems with multiple frequency bands (from 150 MHz to 3000 MHz) and very dense spatial samplingwere adopted. After careful data processing, no evidence of marked discontinuities due to the passagefrom natural rock to artificial blocking walls were found in the radargrams. It is therefore concluded thatthere are no hidden chambers immediately adjacent to the Tomb of Tutankhamun

Intrathoracic impedance and pulmonary wedge pressure for the detection of heart failure deterioration

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Permanent His-bundle pacing maintains long-term ventricular synchrony and left ventricular performance, unlike conventional right ventricular apical pacing

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Multi-modal/multi-resolution 3d data acquisition and processing for a new understanding of the historical city of Siena (Italy)

The paper presents the acquisition and data processing approach for the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and laser scanner surveys carried out within the SOS project (the acronym comes from ‘SOtto Siena’, in English ‘Beneath Siena’). SOS is a program aimed to overcome some of the problems and limitations currently present in the study of cities with long-term continuity of life, responding in particular to the need for a better understanding of the city’s ancient fabric and hence to improvements in its conservation by: GPR city survey full coverage (of all the public spaces, streets, squares, courtyards, gardens, etc.), GIS data entry of the historical-archaeological and geoarchaeological knowledge and the development of a 3D Archaeological WEBGIS. The paper discusses the procedure for the creation of a 3D viewer within an already active WEBGIS platform, specifically created for the visualisation and management of archaeological data. The GPR data, once acquired, were exported in 3D in the form of point clouds and subjected to a procedure of cleaning and filtering from noise, so as to eliminate geometries not referable to anomalies and therefore to the presence of buried structures or cavities, and then transformed into mesh to meet the needs of the subsequent process of semantic enrichment. The GPR survey of the underground was flanked by laser scanning of some of the most significant structures in the historic centre (e.g. the cathedral). All 3D geometries were then inserted into the new visualiser via a pipeline using open-source tools and libraries

Evidences for a Late Cretaceous continental arc in the Central Pontides: new insights on alternative geodynamic reconstructions for the Neotethys in Northern Turkey

The Intra-Pontide Suture Zone (IPSZ) is the less known one among the suture zones present in Turkey. The IPSZ is well exposed along the Daday-Arac-Kursunlu and Tosya – Emirköy geotraverses where several tectonic units can be recognized. Most of these units are characterized by the occurrence of basic rocks reflecting distinct tectonic origins and geochemical signatures. The study of the basic rocks emerges as an important tool for the geodynamic reconstruction as it can reveal the occurrence of of different types of oceanic basins, the development of a magmatic arc or the presence of rifting-related magmatism. The study of the geotraverses indicates that the imbricate stack of the IPSZ consists of four distinct tectonic units whose successions bear basic rocks: the Aylı Dağ ophiolite Unit, the Arkot Dağ Mèlange and two metamorphic units, referred to as Daday and Devrekani Units. This imbricate stack is probably the result of several episodes of out-of-sequence thrusts that affected the whole IPSZ. The Aylı Dağ Unit includes an about 5 km-thick ophiolite sequence topped by the middle Bathonian to early Callovian radiolarian cherts. In addition, a metamorphic sole is present at the base of the serpentinized peridotites. The geochemical evaluation of pillow-basalts and dykes highlights subduction-related characteristics, similar to IAT- and BABB-type lavas generated above intra-oceanic subduction systems. The Arkot Dağ Mèlange consists of an assemblage of slide-blocks, with different size and lithology, enclosed in a Late Santonian sedimentary matrix. The slide-blocks also include ophiolitic lithologies, mainly represented by basalts, but gabbros and peridotites are also found. The slide-blocks of basalts display affinites to IAT- and BABB-type magmas, signifying the involvement of subduction component, whereas no MORB-like basalt have been found. The Daday unit is characterized by metasedimentary and metabasic rocks deformed under blueschist to subgreenschist metamorphic facies conditions. The metasedimentary rocks include mica-bearing schists, fine-grained marbles and black quartzites. The metabasic lithologies, on the other hand, comprise actinolite-bearing schists and Naamphibole- bearing varieties possibly derived from basaltic and gabbroic protoliths. The metabasic rocks have a wide range of chemical compositions, displaying N-MORB-, E-MORB-, OIB- BABB- and IAT-type signatures. The Devrekani Unit is represented by an assemblage of amphibolites, marbles and micaschists showing a metamorphic climax developed under upper amphibolite facies in the Late Jurassic time. The amphibolites display EMORB-, OIB- BABB- and IAT-type signatures. The geochemical signature of the studied basic rocks provide the evidence that all the basic rocks from the tectonic units of IPSZ are derived by a supra-subduction zone. This finding can provide new nsights for the recostruction of the sgeodynamic history of the Intra-Pontide domain

Unidad Técnica de Geodesia, Geofísica y Magnetismo de Rocas: Laboratorio de Paleomagnetismo, Magnetismo de Rocas y Modelado Geomagnético

Trabajo presentado en la I Reunión Científica del Instituto de Geociencias (CSIC-UCM), los días 15 y 16 de septiembre de 2011.Peer reviewe

Il comprensorio della catacomba di San Callisto tra la via Appia e la via Ardeatina (Roma) alla luce delle indagini geofisiche estensive

The paper presents and discusses results from the integration of various methods of geophysical prospection on the plateau between the Via Appia and the Via Ardeatina on the ancient suburb of Rome. The use of large-scale magnetometry, georadar and electromagnetic survey in an area of particularly dense archaeological remains is a highly effective methodology for revealing important information on previously unknown archaeological features. Of particular interest in this case is the comparison between geophysical data and the results of previous excavations, and newly-targeted test investigations that suggest the survival of the documented but previously undiscovered basilica of Pope Damasus as well as unknown catacomb tunnels at San Callisto and elsewhere on the plateau