La Marmotta: CAD/GIS Documentation of Neolithic Underwater Surveys, Lake Bracciano

CAD/GIS Documentation of Underwater Archaeological Surveys at the Neolithic Village of La Marmotta, Lake Bracciano (RM), 1992–2006

The Neolithic underwater site of La Marmotta is a unique and complex archaeological site, distinguished by its richness and extensive area. The management of the excavations and the subsequent study of archaeological survey data—essential to advancing research into prehistory—were made possible through the development and use of ArcheoGIS, an application designed to transform data into knowledge. Since 1997, ArcheoGIS has supported scientific investigations by on-site archaeologists and Superintendency staff, including anthropologists, archaeologists, palaeobotanists and archaeozoologists. It enables data entry, management, querying and publication of catalogue records and reports based on the models developed by the Superintendency. It also supports the management and coding of archaeological data represented across different digital layers. In addition, ArcheoGIS provides tools for alphanumeric and spatial analysis, comparative analysis of data from different disciplines, and predictive analysis for reconstructing ancient environmental models. The GIS covers the entire excavation area of the La Marmotta site in Lake Bracciano. Its digital cartography includes all archaeological layers excavated from 1992 onwards, covering approximately 1,300 m², or around 558 squares measuring 1.5 metres on each side. The base mapping comprises the IGM map at 1:25,000 scale, the Lazio Region technical maps at 1:10,000 scale, and the general plan supplied by ACEA in 1989. A topographic map of the excavation area was produced and integrated into the base mapping to accurately georeference the site and its archaeological layers.

Client: Ministry of Cultural Heritage – Superintendency of the L. Pigorini National Prehistoric and Ethnographic Museum, Rome, 1996–2006.