UAV LiDAR Based Approach for the Detection and Interpretation of Archaeological Micro Topography under Canopy - The Rediscovery of Perticara (Basilicata, Italy)

This paper presents a machine-learning approach ad hoc devised for the LiDAR-based identification of archaeological sites under canopy in hill Mediterranean environments, characterized by complex topography, strong erosion, and covered by a dense vegetation cover. The presence of dense vegetation makes very difficult the reconnaissance of archaeological features and remains while the erosion, increased by slope, tends to adversely affect the micro-topographical features of potential archaeological interest, thus making them hardly identifiable. For the purpose of our investigations, a UAV LiDAR survey has been carried out at Perticara (located in Basilicata Southern Italy) an abandoned medieval village located in a geologically fragile area, characterized by complex topography, strong erosion and covered by a dense vegetation canopy. All of these characteristics pose serious challenge issues and make this site particularly significant and attractive for the setting and testing of an optimal LiDAR-based approach to analyse hilly/mountainous forested regions searching for subtle archaeological features. The results obtained from the LiDAR based analyses, confirmed by field survey, made it possible to identify the lost medieval village, that does represent an emblematic case of settlement abandoned during the crisis of Late Middle ages affecting most regions Southern Italy.