A Multiscale Approach for Reconstructing Archaeological Landscapes: Applications in Northern Apulia (Italy)

This paper is focused on the joint use of multiscale remote sensing technologies for supporting archaeologicalprospection.Satellite imagery, aerialphotographs and high-resolutionmagnetic surveyswereadoptedforstudyingtheTavoliere, anextendedagriculturalregionlocatedinNorthernApulia (Italy) that is characterized by an abundant presence of archaeological sites. A first recognition of thearchaeological featureswasperformedbyhistoricalaerialphotographsandsatelliteQuickBird images were used to obtain an up-to-date synoptic view of the study area. Archaeological features extracted frombothaerialandsatelliteimages,werefurther investigatedbyhigh-resolutionmagnetic survey, which provided detailedidentification of buried remains.Alldatawere storedin a GISin order to integrate them properly. This database was used to cross-check information of different types and determine significant correlations.The multilayer analysis in the GIS environment allowed for a comprehensivereconstruction ofancient landscapesand their palaeoenvironmental context, aswell as the present geomorphological and territorial setting.Moreover it represents an open information system that could always be upgraded by inputting new data from future studies. Results from our analysessuggest that thismultidisciplinaryandmultiscaleapproach, inadditiontoitsimportant scientific implications, could yield meaningful information for the preservation, monitoring and management of the cultural resource, from a single site to a landscape perspective; thus this integrated tool could play a strategic role in defining proper policies of sustainable development in this region.