Geomagnetic and FDEM Methods in the Roman Archaeological Site of Bocca Delle Menate (Comacchio, Italy)

The increasing use of geophysical investigations for archaeological purposes is now provided also by Italian reforms about preventive archaeology. They allow not only the discovery or the spatial definition of possible buried archaeological evidence, but they are also able to define the state of preservation of ancient structures. The Bocca delle Menate archaeological site is in Comacchio village territory, situated in Ferrara provence (Emilia Romagna region, Italy). The archeological site provides important evidence of the Roman presence in the Po Delta (Italy). The Roman villa was excavated between 1958 and 1959, during the reclaiming works in the Mezzano Valley (Comacchio, Ferrara). An archaeological preliminary survey and a geophysical field trip using Geomagnetic and Frequency Domain Electromagnetic Methods were carried out, following the aim to identify the planimetry of the villa previously excavated and eventually newly discovered archaeological remains. The geomagnetic results detected the archaeological buried structures, even if the original disposition of them is not completely highlighted. The electromagnetic method was able to depict the geological and geomorphological background surrounding the Roman villa. The obtained results highlighted that the applied geophysical methods are excellent tools for the preservation, protection, and monitoring of archaeological heritage previously excavated, adding to their already known importance as best tools for new archaeological buried remains detections.

Automated summary

The increasing use of geophysical investigations for archaeological purposes is now facilitated by Italian reforms. These reforms not only help in the discovery or spatial definition of buried archaeological evidence, but also aid in determining the state of preservation of ancient structures. By conducting a preliminary survey and using geophysical methods, such as geomagnetic and electromagnetic techniques, the Bocca delle Menate archaeological site in Italy was able to identify the layout of a Roman villa and uncover potential new archaeological remains. The results highlighted the effectiveness of geophysical methods in preserving, protecting, and monitoring previously excavated archaeological heritage, as well as detecting new buried remains.