Application of GPR and ERT in the archaeological site of “Palazzo di Teodorico” in Galeata (Forli’ – Italy)

Galeata is located on the Bidente’s river valley (Tosco-Romagnolo Apennines), in the province of Forlì. The ancient urban area was located on a busy mountain pass. The first evidence of human presence at Galeata goes back to the prehistoric age, but the most ancient settlements are dated between the VI and IV century B.C. In the III century B.C., the Romans occupied the Celtic centre of Mevaniola, which became an important Roman municipality. The collapse of the Western Roman Empire caused the disappearance of the Roman town so the inhabitants moved downhill to what is now Galeata. During the Second World War an equipe of the German Archaeological Institute of Rome, led by Siegfried Fuchs and Friedrich Krischen, made excavations to find Teoderico’s Palace. The goth king raised his palace in order to use it as hunting resort in the beginning of VI century, A.D. The location of some shallower foundations can be partially identified in the area during the harvest time when the crops assume a lighter colour on the ancient walls, the picture suggests plan of the goth palace. The excavations had been resumed in 1998 by the Archaeological Department of the University of Bologna. Stratigraphical excavations revealed the existence of two main building periods: the first related to the Roman age, probably at the beginning of I century B.C., with an extensive installation of a large villa; the second period related to the late-ancient age. The activity of the Italian archaeologists partially confirmed the German excavation results and additionally found other important structures. These structures include a building with a complex planimetry, with polygonal rooms, apses and heated rooms which are probably the thermal area of a late-ancient “Palace” (extensive excavations in this zone are continuing and so the data are not confirmed yet).