Indagini non invasive per arricchire la conoscenza e la fruizione dei beni culturali

Responsabili di progetto

Raffaele Persico, D'amico Sebastiano

Accordo

MALTA - SM - Science Malta

Bando

CNR/UoM biennio 2018-2019 2018-2019

Dipartimento

Scienze umane e sociali, patrimonio culturale

Area tematica

Scienze umane e sociali, patrimonio culturale

Stato del progetto

Nuovo

Proposta di ricerca

Modern knowledge and valorization of cultural heritage is meaningful if based on multidisciplinary techniques ranging from geophysics to chemistry, petrography, virtual reality and so on. In this framework, the proposers of the present project, the Institute for Archaeological and Monumental Heritage IBAM-CNR and the University of Malta have started, since several years, a fruitful collaboration within which several monuments have been investigated by means of GPR, passive seismic techniques, Raman spectroscopy, georesistivity. Results have been merged by using virtual reality to create digital models of investigated virtual reality techniques. In particular, investigations have been performed in several places of the Maltese islands such as: Valletta (co-cathedral of St. John and Jesuits church ), Pembroke and Golden Bay watching towers La Ferla Cross area, Birkikara church, Mgarrand the historical Agrotti Botanical Garden in Floriana; in the late antiquity site of Scifì and in the church of St. Peter and Paul in Forza D'Argò (both in the province of Messina, Sicily) on the Italian side.
The proposers have also collaborated together within two schools, held in Valletta in January 2016 (http://gpradar.eu/events-dissemination/training-schools/malta2016.html) and in Messina in September 2016 (http://web-old.unime.it/scuola_nazionale_scienza_e_beni_culturali_dall_analisi_non_invasiva_alla_ricostruzione_3d/_pagine/-51988.html). The proposers have also presented, together with other partners an Interreg Italy-Malta project (acronym VISITACI) under revision at the moment.
So, the proposers mean to insert this project in the framework of a larger work, partially being already performed, aimed at gaining a deeper knowledge of monuments both in Malta and Italy. Incidentally, investigation, knowledge and valorization of the cultural heritage are explicit missions of the Institute for Archaeological and Monumental Heritage IBAM-CNR (http://www.ibam.cnr.it/en/the-institute/lo-statuto). In particular, on the Maltese side, we propose to perform a GPR measurement campaign in the Bartolotta cript and in the external yard (where an ancient cemetery is supposed to lie) of the Co-cathedral of St. John. These investigations will complete a prospection already performed in the main nave, in the lateral chapels, and in the crypt of the Grand Masters. We will perform also measurement of passive seismic within the co-cathedral, in order to study its natural vibrations, related to its conformation and stability. The same studies will be performed in the area close and/or within the St. Agatha's Tower, popularly called "red tower". St. Agatha's tower is an important monument built up by the Knives of Malta during the 17th century, and is also a renewed touristic resort. In particular, by means of GPR prospecting we will explore the possibility of the presence of under passages or cavities in general, or other structures under the monument or around. Also a geoelectrical prospection will be performed from outside, in order to explore the possible presence of cavities or meaningful water infiltrations at deep levels (5 meters or more), not reachable with a GPR. Passive seismic will be performed on the different floors of the monument in order to establish its stability conditions on the basis of its natural vibrations.
On the Italian side, we have identified the Greek ancient site of Gela, where a large unexcavated area is supposed to host underground at least part of the ancient town. In particular, here a magnetometer investigation will provide a large scale image of the underground presences of archaeological interest, and then some GPR investigations on smaller areas will provide more details and more information about the depth of the targets. Geological features can be investigated too by means of a integrated geophysical prospection and numerical modelling. Finally, we propose a prospection in the roman amphitheater of Lecce, Italy. In particular, this monument has been partially already investigated by IBAM-CNR within activities preliminary to an INTERREG project Italy-Albania-Montenegro (acronym of the project MYEARTH) presented by IBAM-CNR together with other partners and under revision at the moment. In particular, within the present project, we will perform passive seismic measurements within the ambulacra (not scheduled within MYEARTH), particularly relevant for this monument because the ambulacra are partially extending under the current planking level of St. Oronzo's square, and there is a meaningful interest in interpreting possible anomalous vibrations due to possible stability problems but also possibly to further culverts (possibly filled with lose materials) under the square related to the ancient amphitheatre. We will execute also a GPR prospecting of the arena and a geoelectrical prospecting in the area, in order to identify possible under passages or structures of interest. In particular, we will make use for this also of a prototypal stepped frequency GPR implemented by IBAM-CNR together with the University of Florence and the IDS-Corporation within the previous project AITECH (http://www.aitechnet.com/ibam.html), and already exploited also in part of the previous investigations performed in Malta.
In conclusion, we propose investigations in the framework of a larger work being conducted together (also documentable with several publications not reported here for sake of brevity), but without any overlap with already performed works, neither with future scheduled works. In particular, we propose monuments for which we have asked and achieved all the relative permissions of action, thanks also to the past collaborations with all the involved managing authorities. The deliveranle will be reports, but also illustrative panels that will enhance the cultural and touristic enjoyment of the monuments.

Obiettivi della ricerca

oTo gain knowledge on important archaeological sites and historical monuments in Malta and Italy, through active and passive geophysical noninvasive investigations inserted in larger study context.
oTo perform investigations and elaborations in collaboration with archaeologists and management authorities that have a deep specific knowledge of the sites and monuments at hand, so to retrieve as much as possible reliable interpretations able to enhance the knowledge of the investigated structures.
oTo provide detailed reports describing the performed measurements, the data processing and the retrieved interpretation of the results.
oTo provide illustrative panels with images and captions regarding the hidden parts of the prospected sites and monuments, so that also the tourists can have an idea of what is expected to lie under the current planking level in the prospected areas.
oTo enhance the collaboration between CNR and University of Malta, that the proposers have already started in 2015. Such a collaboration has involved in past researches and initiatives also other research institutions as the Institute of methodologies of the environmental analyses IMAA-CNR, the European Cost Action TU1208, the University of Messina, the University of Catania, the University of Roma3.
oTo make use of innovative technologies as the stepped frequency reconfigurable GPR, thanks to which we hope to retrieve information at different depth levels up to 3.5 m if favorable conditions are met.

Ultimo aggiornamento: 24/04/2025