Ground-penetrating radar prospections at the Roman Domus of Mdina (Malta)

Robert Brown; David Cardona; Lara De Giorgi; Giovanni Leucci; Benedict James Lowe; Raffaele Persico; Davide Tanasi; Andrew Wilkinson

doi:10.1080/08123985.2020.1865108

ISSN: 0812-3985
E-ISSN: 1834-7533

Ground-penetrating radar prospections at the Roman Domus of Mdina (Malta)
Authors Robert Brown^a, David Cardona^b, Lara De Giorgi^c, Giovanni Leucci^c, Benedict James Lowe^d, Raffaele Persico^c, Davide Tanasi^e and Andrew Wilkinson^f
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^a Australian National University, , Canberra, , Australia ^b Heritage Malta, , Kalkara, , Malta ^c Istituto di Scienze del Patrimonio Culturale – CNR, , Lecce, , Italy ^d University of North Alabama, , Florence, , AL, , USA ^e University of South Florida, , Tampa, , FL, , USA ^f Flinders University, , Adelaide, , Australia
Publisher: Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Source: Exploration Geophysics, Volume 52, Issue 6, Nov 2021, p. 612 - 623
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08123985.2020.1865108
- Received: 12 Jul 2020
- Accepted: 11 Dec 2020
- Published online: 02 Nov 2021

Abstract

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) mapping provides a three-dimensional analysis of archaeological features within the context of landscape studies. The method’s ability to measure the intensity of radar reflections from deep in the ground can produce images and maps of buried features not visible on the surface. A study was conducted in some areas near the Domus Romana in Rabat (Malta) in order to investigate the still uncovered archaeological structures. The purpose of the GPR survey was to guide the excavation operations (planned but postponed due to Covid-19) and to allow us to understand the development of the defensive walls of the city and any other structures related to the Roman mansion. The choice of the areas to be investigated was therefore guided both by previous archaeological excavations and by the considerations made above. The results obtained through the GPR made it possible to shed light on some of the aspects related to the questions posed by the archaeologists, highlighting part of the structures related to the defensive walls, part of the structures related to water supply and conservation and part of the wall structures related to the Roman mansion itself.

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Ground-penetrating radar prospections at the Roman Domus of Mdina (Malta)

Exploration Geophysics 52, 612 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1080/08123985.2020.1865108

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Article Type: Research Article

Keyword(s): Ground-penetrating radar; Malta; Melite Civitas Romana; Rabat; Roman Domus; urban geophysics

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Ground-penetrating radar prospections at the Roman Domus of Mdina (Malta)

Abstract

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