Fabio Fabiani

Acquisition of archaeological, geomorphological and stratigraphic data for the urban and peri-urban area of Pisa and preliminary analysis

Pag. 59 Introduction The collection of archaeological, sedimentological and geomorphological data is a preliminary phase to our research. This phase is anything but mechanical: examining a sample, performing acquisition procedures and evaluating the quantity and quality of the data deeply influence subsequent analysis. For this reason, we believed it essential to take into careful consideration the acquisition procedure by analysing the knowledge already acquired and the problems inherent to the areas of investigation. To begin with, the area of intervention was delimited; this did not simply include the historical centre or its immediate suburban area, but a larger area of the plain where the city stands. This is, indeed, the area usually considered more suitable for analysing subsurface geomorphological and sedimentological data. The implementation of a map of archaeological potential for such a large area also provides an urban planning tool for areas where rapid expansion is to be expected in the near future. The team members examined, each for their own area of investigation, the state of knowledge, type of data and acquisition procedures – ranging from complex archival systems that preserve heterogeneous and dissimilar archaeological documentation, to micro-relief, photo-interpretation and remote sensing techniques for the reconstruction of the geomorphological context, and to the analysis of subsurface data belonging to the urban and peri-urban area of Pisa – with the aim to develop a preliminary stratigraphic-depositional model and to identify the areas for new continuous coring. These activities will allow us to obtain new Acquisition of archaeological, geomorphological and stratigraphic data for the urban and periurban area of Pisa and preliminary analysis

MAPPA Project. Methodologies Applied to Archaeological Potential Predictivity

Like many other Italian cities, Pisa is a settlement that goes well back into history. Its subsurface conceals the remains of walls, floors, tombs and roads, as well as the fragments of tiles, vases, lamps and sculptures: briefly, the more or less solid traces of the lives of the people who have inhabited the city over its almost three thousand years of history. By studying the city’s archaeological artefacts and its pollen, coal and human/animal bone remains and by analysing the area’s geological and geomorphological features and its resources, it is possible to reconstruct the landscape, or better the landscapes, that have evolved over time and have influenced the city’s economic and cultural development, and in turn have been influenced by them. The ground on which we walk, build and live today is an extraordinary palimpsest where uncountable traces that have been left by our predecessors evolve, merge and overlap. Yet since these traces lie under the ground, the vitally important needs of the city’s life and development need to be taken into account: safeguarding archaeological heritage does not mean fighting development, on the contrary, sustainable management models should be proposed and solutions should be studied which do not simply safeguard but enhance archaeological heritage in terms of cultural enrichment and of further development of the supply of tourism services. They should also aim to recover technological experience and rediscover traditions and trades which could be extremely helpful to today’s community. The “Map of Archaeological Potential” is an answer to the problem of finding appropriate tools for making archaeological research demands coexist with present day and future needs. The Map of Archaeological Potential is the technical but above all conceptual development of common archaeological maps. All the information taken from excavations (casual or planned), ancient literary sources, archive documents, and aerial and satellite photographs are included in an archaeological map (and in the database connected to it). Archaeological maps, therefore, are of key importance in providing an overview of the knowledge already acquired about an urban or rural MAPPAproject Methodologies Applied to Archaeological Potential Predictivity