The RADIO-PAST Project
The project, which was launched April 1st 2009, will last 48 months and aims at developing so-called “open laboratories for research and experimentation”, where all expertises convey, analysis, and technical activities are performed, experimental techniques and new data processing tested, and formation activities are held. The place chosen for the principal “open laboratory” is the archaeological site of Ammaia in Portugal. Here, the Coordinator Institution (University of Evora) pilots an archaeo-topographical project named “Cidade de Ammaia”, centred around a deserted Roman town. This research is linked to several reference projects, mainly on Roman urban sites in Italy, where several of the partners are active since many years.
The website
This website wants to take Radio-Past online, by offering up-to-date and elaborated information on the aims of the project, the research techniques applied, the partners involved, and the results gained. Using the navigation area above, it is possible to address these specific project topics. Please, feel also free to comment on this Radio-Past project, as your input can be of great value to all the researchers currently involved. As frequently as possible, this site will be updated with more texts, and downloadable maps and pictures.
We are looking forward to meet you online!
The state of the art
During the last 20 years a set of methods of surface survey and non-invasive sub-surface prospections have been developed to investigate complex buried archaeological sites, aiming to limit destructive intervention such as excavation. Archaeological excavations, in fact, imply not only costly and time-consuming field campaigns but also require an endless effort in restoration and preservation of what has been brought to light.
For this reason, different “non-destructive” approaches have been successfully applied mostly to “deserted” complex archaeological sites, where the absence of continuity leaves great opportunities to test different techniques. These techniques include different kinds of remote sensing, ground based geophysics, systematic recording of surface materials, GIS-based analysis and visualisation tools, geomatic and geomorphological survey.
Our aims, objectives and goals
The aim of this project is to join resources and very different skills to tackle each possible aspect connected with “non-destructive” approaches, not only to have a “radiography” of what is still buried in the ground but also to work out new instruments for interpretation and visualisation of results, where a 3D vision of sub-surface evidence can provide a formidable medium to vehicle scientific information.
The Consortium will organize mutual exchange of researchers and will recruit new researchers for transfer of knowledge purposes and to develop the research plans.
The special characteristic of this project is that “open laboratories for research and experimentation” are developed, where all expertise’s convey, analysis and technical activities are performed, experimental techniques and new data processing tested and formation activities are held. The place chosen for the principal “open laboratory” is the archaeological site of Ammaia in Portugal. Here, the Coordinator Institution (University of Evora) pilots an archaeo-topographical project named “Cidade de Ammaia”, centred around a deserted Roman town. This research is linked to several reference projects, mainly on Roman urban sites in Italy, where several of the partners are active since many years.
