Integrated archaeological and geophysical surveys for the knowledge of the Medieval cave village of Casalrotto (Mottola, Apulia)

This study concerns the main results of the research activity aimed at a new integrated knowledge of Casalrotto, a Medieval cave village (12th-13th century) near Mottola (TA). The research was based on archaeological and geophysical surveys performed in 2015 by researchers of the Laboratory of Geophysics applied to the Archaeological and Monumental Heritage and the Laboratory of Ancient Topography, Archaeology and Remote Sensing of CNR-IBAM in Lecce. In particular, archaeological investigations have allowed the upgrading the existing plan of the village through DGPS topographical surveys, while geophysical measurements, using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) have allowed a better delimitation of the necropolis and the detection of buried structures, both in masonry and carved in the bedrock.