Marta Cecchitelli, Giorgia Fiori, Gabriele Bocchetta, Federico Filippi, Fabio Leccese, Jan Galo, Salvatore Andrea Sciuto, Andrea Scorza
Dimensional assessment in bioarchaeology applications: a preliminary study on quality controls in 3D printing of human skulls

In the last few years, 3D printing has been used in archaeology and cultural heritage fields for different purposes, i.e., research, conservation and access to museum exhibitions. Among the different technologies of 3D printing, e.g., stereolithography or selective laser sintering, this study focuses on the quality assessment of printed models using fused deposition modeling technology. To simulate an anatomical archaeological find, a cranial model assumed as a gold standard has been printed from computed tomography (CT) data of a human skull. Eight 3D printed (3DP) models have been reproduced and CT scanned with the same protocol in order to quantify their congruence with the gold standard through an objective measurement method based on image analysis. Preliminary results show an increasing percentage error as the degree of model detail increases, from 1% to 15%. The experimental results are discussed and commented also from a metrological point of view.

Alessia Brucato, Rosa Lasaponara, Nicola Masini
Satellite automatic extraction and characterization of looting features in the Peruvian desert

Archaeological looting is a known threat and causes irreversible damage to historical heritage. In Perù, looting of the grave robbers is a diffuse and ancient problem, starting in the first centuries of the Spanish colonization: the search for gold of the Conquistadores. The desert areas of the Peruvian southern and central coast are the most affected by the relentless plundering of archaeological sites. To counter this scourge, in recent years, many studies succeeded in monitoring the archaeological contexts via satellite remote sensing and automatic digital workflows. In this paper we propose a further step of these studies, with the presentation of an automatic workflow to extract and classify the superimposed looting pits of heavily disturbed sites, establishing a relative chronology of the illegal activities.

Davide Tanasi, Katya Stroud, David Cardona, Dario Calderone, Paolo Trapani, Frederick Pirone
Multimodal 3D digitization of the megalithic complex of Borg in-Nadur (Malta): an archaeoastronomical perspective

The Maltese archipelago is home to megalithic structures of extraordinary interest for archaeo-astronomy. Some of those impressive prehistoric complexes have revealed significant architectural and topographic features reflecting a certain knowledge of the celestial bodies and astronomical phenomena by their ancient builders. While previous archaeo-astronomical studies of these Neolithic structures were primarily based on traditional methods, this paper presents an innovative approach for the case study of the Borg in-Nadur site. Through an ensemble of techniques, such as terrestrial laser scanning, aerial and terrestrial digital photogrammetry and 3D modeling, the prehistoric remains have been 3D digitized and inserted in a virtual environment to test archaeo-astronomical hypotheses via computer simulation.

Giancarlo De Pascalis, Lara De Giorgi, Ivan Ferrari, Francesco Giuri, Dora Francesca Barbolla, Lucrezia Longhitano, Chiara Torre, Giovanni Leucci
Ground-penetrating Radar survey at the Basilica of Santa Caterina D'Alessandria (Galatina-Italy)

The basilica of Santa Caterina D Alessandria was built between 1369 and 1391, by order of Raimondello Orsini del Balzo. These, on one of his many journeys, returning from the Crusades, went as far as the summit of Mount Sinai to pay homage to the body of Saint Catherine. The building, on Raimondello s death in 1405, will be completed by his wife, Princess Maria d Enghien, and then by his son, Giovanni Antonio Orsini Del Balzo. A study, using ground penetrating radar tecnique (GPR) was undertaken inside the Basilica in order to investigate the oldest structure of the church. The GPR analysis showed a series of anomalies that could be related to the old plant of the basilica.

Ilaria Carlomagno, Giuliana Aquilanti, Gangadhar Das
Synchrotron X-ray for Archaeometry: state-of-the-art and future perspectives

X-rays techniques present several valuable advantages in the field of archaeometry. Using X-rays, structural and chemical details can be obtained through a non-destructive and element-specific interaction. Synchrotron radiation sources can not only provide X-ray beams, but they can also offer extraordinary intensities and energy tunability, This results into unprecedented spatial resolution while maximising elemental selectivity and chemical sensitivity.
Archaometry, in its constant effort to interpret the past through the application of scientific techniques, has widely employed synchrotron radiation. Nevertheless, synchrotron facilities have evolved tremendously in the last decades. Thanks to the advancements in X-ray production, X-ray optics design, and to the acquisition of higher-level technical and scientific expertise, new frontiers have been approached.
In this contribution, we will present the recent achievements that could be of interest for the archaeometry field. After the analysis of the present situation, we will delve into future perspectives. Scientific case studies will be thoroughly discusses as well as technical potentialities yet to be fully exploited.