Geophysical surveys at the Aragonese Castle of Taranto (Italy)

The Aragonese Castle is located in the south-westernv most part of the island, corresponding to the acropolis of Taranto during the Magna Grecia period. It is at the top of a calcarenite body ascribed to the Last Interglacial time (MIS 5). Its building was completed in 1492, but there aren't indications of an official beginning; some architectonic particulars, including the structure of the church inside, seem to indicate that the building started during the X/XII century. Calcarenite ashlars present in the wall have size characteristic of the Magna Grecia/Roman time; therefore, it is possible that parts of the current fortification were built up the Magna Grecia/Roman one or, at least, reworking their parts. The present structure of the castle is the result of different phases, not yet well documented, of improvement and re-utilization that occurred during the century of life. The channel that separated the past acropolis from the centre of Taranto was cut at the end of the XIX century, on the occasion of the realization in this city of the biggest base of the Italian fleet; however, old documents indicate that in this area a small valley could limit the acropolis from the outside. The goals of the present work are: I - to individuate the original topography of the natural environment; II - to individuate past structures covered by new ones or sediments. The preliminary results are encouraging and point out the presence of different structures that could be of archaeological interest.