Acoustical prospecting in extremely shallow water for palaeo-environmental reconstruction in the Lagoon of Venice

In 2006 the joint project called ECHOS for geomorphologic reconstruction of palaeo-environments in the Lagoon of Venice (Italy) has come to its conclusion. Within this project an extensive survey over a wide area of the Venice Lagoon was carried out through acoustic methods together with geological and archaeological investigations. The measurements were performed in extremely shallow water (often < 1 m). A conventional echosounder was used for the prospection, after being modified for use in this environment. At the same time, in the considered area 30 cores were sampled and analysed to verify the nature of the morphologies identified through the acoustic investigation. The systematic direct comparison of the acoustical and geological data shows the potential and limits of acoustic methods for archaeological and geological research in the Venice Lagoon.