On the LiDAR contribution for landscape archaeology and palaeoenvironmental studies: the case study of Bosco dell'Incoronata (Southern Italy)

摘要

This paper focuses on the potential of the latest generation of Airborne laser scanning (ALS)for the detection and the spatial characterization of microtopographicrelief linked to ancient landscapes and palaeoenvironmental features.ALS is an optical measurement technique forobtaining high-precision information about the Earth's surface includingbasic terrain mapping (Digital terrain model, bathymetry, corridor mapping),vegetation cover (forest assessment and inventory), coastal, and urbanareas. Recent studies examined the possibility of using ALS inarchaeological investigations to identify earthworks, although the abilityof ALS measurements in this context has not yet been studied in detail.In this study, the investigations based on ALS survey and aerial photos werecarried out for the natural protected area, Bosco dell'Incoronata in theApulia Region (Southern Italy). The investigated area is an important sitefrom the naturalistic, historic and archaeological point of view. It is anancient lowland forest, still present in the medieval time, which has beencharacterized by a long and intensive human activity from Neolithic toMiddle Ages. The LiDAR based analysis allowed us to identify features notvisible from ground or from optical data set because hidden by forest canopyand dense understory. The DTM enabled us to identify some microtopographicrelief linked to traces of past landscapes, as in the case of the Cervaropaleaoriverbed. It is quite interesting to note that the river changed manytimes from North to South side compared to the present stream, and traces ofpast human activities can be still evident close to the diversepaleaoriverbeds. Nevertheless, intensive and systematic study of the ancientlandscapes of the Bosco dell'Incoronata is just beginning and so farquestions tend to be raised rather than answered.The current study emphasizes the potential of aerial LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) survey fordetecting surface discontinuities and microtopographic relief linked topalaeoenvironmental features, even hidden by under dense canopy andunderstory.