The "Ancient Topography and Photogrammetry Laboratory" of Cultural Heritage Department of the Salento University was created to develop methodologies applied to the knowledge and cataloguing of the archaeological heritage existing on the territory, specific problems of the Ancient Topography studies.
The purposes of the Laboratory are those of using in the best way the exisiting technologies directing instruments, programs and technics to the needs of knowledge of the archaeological Cultural Heritage, to identify some easily applicable systems by research and protection institutions, on a large scale, with reasonable times and held down costs, with accessible technologies that constitute a precision and quality guarantee.
In short, the research activity consists in:
- Archaeological exploration by direct and systematic survey (territory and urban areas)
- Applications and use of aerial archaeological photography
- hotogrammetry for archaeological purpose
- Archaeological cartography with related systems of filling and documentation
- Development of information technology applications (data bank, GIS)
- Temathic cartographies useful for the historical analysis and for the management and protection
- Survey and technical analysis of the ancient buildings
- 3D Reconstructions and animation of the interior courses
Co-organiser in previous project “European Landscapes – Past, Present and Future" (2004-2007), the LabTaf taking role in Archaeolandscapes project (2010-2015). In accordance with the activities of the project, LabTaf co-organized a training school in "Geophysic and aerial archaeology" (Aquino -Fr- 13-19 June 2011); the school was divided into two parts: a "ground school" covering the basic principles of geophysics for archaeology, aerial survey and air photography; an "air school" aimed at providing first-hand experience in aerial reconnaissance and aerial photography.
On the inside of the consolidated activity focused to the reconstruction of ancient landscapes and the creation of thematic cartography of ancient settlements carried out by the Laboratory of Ancient Topography and Photogrammetry, are conducted many projects in different parts of central and southern Italy:
The Via Traiana Project
The topographical approach for the reconstruction of the route of the Via Traiana, allows us to face it an organic, systematic and analytic way. The researches have been carried out along all the ancient road, realized under the Emperor Traiano in the 109 AD in order to connect in an easier way - even if longer - Benevento with Brindisi, in alternative to the inner and winding route of the Via Appia. Beyond the activity on the ground with systematic archaeological survey, great space has been dedicated to the specialistic analysis of vertical and oblique air photographs, fundamental instrument for the acquaintance and the documentation in the studies of "archaeological aero-topography".
Aerial survey and ancient landscapes in southern Apulia
The project, involved during the European Landscapes project Culture 2000, explores the archaeology of the relationship between Lecce and San Cataldo, particularly as the landscape between the two sit es is rapidly changing because of aggressive agricultural development, the urban expansion of Lecce and tourist development along the coast.
The city of Lecce was founded during the pre-Roman Iron Age by the local Messapian culture. It soon became one of the major central places of the Salento peninsula (the heel of Italy), despite the fact that it was land-locked, lying some 12 kilometres from the Adriatic to the east and 25 kilometres from the Ionian Sea to the west. Its principal overseas commerce depended on ports sited along the Adriatic coast, particularly that of San Cataldo.
The aspects of the project in Salento are numerous:
- the creation of specific procedures for archaeological and landscape exploration, including for the first time in this part of Italy - active aerial survey from light aircraft.
- the combined use of traditional methods of ground-based survey alongside air photo analysis of the kind already taken to a high level by the University.
- the innovative study of infra-red and satellite imagery for its capacity to detecting and locate archaeological sites within the landscapes of antiquity and of the present day.
- the creation of a database and GIS environment for the dynamic management of the data to aid efficient landscape planning and conservation of the historic environment.
- the training of students (potential research workers or conservation archaeologists in the future) in the combined use of aerial survey, field survey and satellite data.
Contact Details
Laboratorio di Topografia Antica e Fotogrammetria
Dipartimento di Beni Culturali - Università del Salento
Via Dalmazio Birago, 64, 73100 Lecce
Tel: +39 0832 295514
Fax: +39 0832 295545
http://www.labtaf.unisalento.it
www.archeologiaaerea.it
The project ArchaeoLandscape Europe is funded by the European Union within the framework of the Culture 2007-2013 framework (CU7-MULT7, Strand 1.1 Multi-Annual Cooperation Projects). This website reflects the views of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.