Marianna Figuera

This contribution offers the initial results of an ongoing multidisciplinary project aimed at exploring digital approaches to overcoming the complexities associated with certain archaeological monuments, such as the Hypogeum of Calaforno, one of the most interesting prehistoric monuments in Sicily. It is a unique sample of rock-cut architecture in terms of size and architectural features, in comparison with the Sicilian territory and the entire Mediterranean context. In addition to the usually rock-cut architecture characteristics, as the narrow spaces and the lack of light, the hypogeum also presents some practical problems due to the serpentine route of the rooms and the presence of water in some spaces. This case study highlights the need to pursue the development of digital products which have a clearly scientific value and can also improve the dissemination aspects. The paper also shows the development and experimentation of workflows to obtain viable 3D digital twin models through the use of low-cost techniques for the photogrammetric surveying of archaeological sites characterized by the presence of narrow and complex spaces. Thanks to the comparison with the laser scanner point cloud of a previous survey, it was possible to verify the accuracy of the photogrammetric model. This has been obtained through the use of the action cam GoPro Black Hero 6. This cam proved to be a highly useful instrument, with lenses offering fields of view somewhere between those of fisheye lenses and of traditional lenses. The aim of this work is the communication of cultural content to the public through immersive virtual experiences that can enhance real visits to stimulate public interest and improve understanding of the monument with the help of unique reception and observation structures based on innovative enabling technologies. The construction system is designed to integrate analogue and digital apparatus and allow the creation of privileged observation points to experience 3D reconstructions of the site.

The article presents the results of a wider research carried out by a multidisciplinary group (archaeologists and engineers) of the University and the CNR-ISPC of Catania in the South-Western Quarter of the Minoan Palace of Phaistos (Crete). The article focuses on two digital survey campaigns carried out respectively in 2014, laser scanning, and 2019, Structure from Motion. Starting from the point cloud by laser scanner, the most recent, low cost and user-friendly photogrammetric tools (GoPro camera and software Agisoft Metashape) have been used during the 2019 campaign in order to update and to improve the previous dataset, which was used as a grid for georeferencing and scaling the new virtual model. Special attention was addressed to the comparison of the two datasets and to the reuse of the first one for
georeferencing and scaling the second one. Furthermore, the research has been focused on the opportunity to exploit the obtained virtual model both for scientific purposes and for the outreach. The lack of accessibility of the South-Western Quarter of Phaistos Palace to the visitors attributes a special interest to this output. The virtual environment thus realized constituted an ideal starting point for the development of an educational fruition project based on a Serious
Game approach. The cooperation of archaeologists and engineers in the development of the Phaistos game ensures a gaming experience not only pleasant but also provided with a strong educational profile.

The Museum of Archaeology of the University of Catania (MAUC) is the place where the Guido Libertini’s collection (1888-1953), former rector of the Catania University, is exhibited: the exposition is a journey through the archaeology of the Catania region from the Prehistory to the Medieval age.
The collection’s remarkable core consists of classical antiquities collected by Libertini, to which other finds brought to light over the years of the activities of the Institute of Archaeology have been added. In its entirety, the Museum nucleus consists of 325 finds (fine and common wares, terracotta figurines, inscriptions), and hundreds of coins dating to the Greco-Roman era.
The choice to digitize the museum’s catalogue is based on the relevance of the Libertini collection, on the quality and consistency of the supporting documentation, on the significant presence of legacy data and on the cultural significance that the Museum has for the collectivity and for the University of Catania community.

Abstract – Calicantone is an archaeological area belonging to the Parco Archeologico di Cava d’Ispica, a 13 km long canyon exten􀀈ing from the territory of Modica (RG) to that of Ispica (SR) in So􀀉th-Eastern Sicily. The Archaeological Service of Ragusa/Parco Archeologico di Cava d’Ispica and the University of Catania undertook in 2012-2015 a research project which brought to a better knowledge of the local necropolis of rock-cut chamber tombs, to the identification of the village area (unfortunately in a now b􀀉ilt area), an􀀈 to the 􀀈iscovery of a Bronze Age hut, located between the village an􀀈 the necropolis. In this article the preliminary report of the excavation of the h􀀉t is presente􀀈. Three s􀀉bseq􀀉ent phases have been 􀀈iscovere􀀈: an occ􀀉pation i􀀈entifie􀀈 thanks to pole-posts (phase 0), the constr􀀉ction of a smaller biapsi􀀈al b􀀉il􀀈ing (phase I) an􀀈 the final h􀀉t (phase II). In this final phase the h􀀉t was 12,5x4,5 meter, ha􀀈 an elongate􀀈 biapsi􀀈al plan, oriente􀀈 N-S, with the entrance locate􀀈 in the eastern wall. The inner space was 􀀈ivi􀀈e􀀈 into two sections, 􀀈ifferentiate􀀈 by the floor level, higher in the northern part 􀀈􀀉e to a step in the rock, an􀀈 an artificially ma􀀈e, protr􀀉􀀈ing plat-form. Only few fin􀀈ings were fo􀀉n􀀈 in the so􀀉thern sector (two high pe􀀈estal bowls, one clay “an􀀈iron” an􀀈 a gro􀀉p of spin􀀈le-whorls). Here a shallow basin, line􀀈 with plaster, was 􀀈􀀉g in the floor. Parallel to the short si􀀈e of the basin, the skeleton of a 10-14 years ol􀀈 in􀀈ivi􀀈􀀉al has been fo􀀉n􀀈. This so􀀉thern sector was probably 􀀉se􀀈 for rit􀀉al or working activities. A h􀀉ge q􀀉antity of vases was instea􀀈 fo􀀉n􀀈 in the northern sector, which was probably a storage area: pithoi, 􀀈olia, 􀀈rinking an􀀈 po􀀉ring vases, high pe􀀈estal bowls, together with clay horns, miniat􀀉re axes, small i􀀈ols (?) an􀀈 a necklace. Among the vases, the skeletons of at 3-4 in􀀈ivi􀀈􀀉als in 􀀈ifferent post􀀉res have been fo􀀉n􀀈, mainly concentrate􀀈 (with the exception of two) in the northern apsis. Two more in􀀈ivi􀀈􀀉als lai􀀈 along the western wall, an􀀈 a f􀀉rther one half insi􀀈e an􀀈 half o􀀉tsi􀀈e a pithos along the eastern wall. The 􀀈isposal of the corpses an􀀈 their position s􀀉ggest that a s􀀉􀀈􀀈en an􀀈 violent event bro􀀉ght to the 􀀈estr􀀉ction of the h􀀉t. Some final consi􀀈eration will be ma􀀈e abo􀀉t the comm􀀉nal (an􀀈 f􀀉nerary?) f􀀉nction of the h􀀉t an􀀈 the historical significance of this war event.

The aim of this paper is to present the preliminary results of the 2012th-2015th archaeological excavations at the Early Bronze Age site of Calicantone, south-eastern Sicily, as it adds new data to our knowledge about the funerary traditions of the Castelluccio culture (ca. 2200-1400 BC). The research conducted on the rock-cut chamber tombs necropolis unveiled an unprecedented plurality of grave forms and types of external decoration within single cemetery, as well as the presence of rock-cut implements facilitating access to diverse tombs. In close vicinity to the upper part of that necropolis a hut of considerable size  (ca.5x10 m) and with a bi-apsidal plan is located, similar to the few other huts known from EBA Sicily (e.g. the building from the eponymous Castelluccio site).
The vast necropolis, located in Cava Ispica gorge, ca. 14 km from Sicily’s south-eastern coast, spreads over rocky terraces and inaccessible steep slopes surrounding a hilltop settlement towering on the western edge of the gorge. It consists of ninety-one chamber tombs clustered in several groups. Each group presents different level of accessibility and external elaboration of tombs’ façades, while the presence of small artificial cavities (tombe incoative, probably of votive purpose) recurs in several sectors of the necropolis. The presence of votive cavities implies that each bigger cluster stated an independent part of the necropolis, devoted to a chosen group/clan or used over a different period of time, whereas the location of particular tombs within the groups could hold the key to a social lecture of the funerary landscape. The largest group of tombs states the necropolis’ monumental façade. Broad repertoire of decorative motives, which include multiple rock-cut frames, pillared courtyards and false-pillared façades accentuates those tombs’ entrances.
A repeatable co-existence of chosen elements within the multileveled cemetery of Calicantone suggests a well organized funerary area with internal structure carefully planned and a system of tombs differentiation articulated by their location and set of external architectonic features.
The soundings in the nearby of the necropolis unveiled traces of a hut,  in use in the final stage of the Sicilian EBA (ca. 1600-1450 BC) and perhaps also in the transitory period to the MBA Thapsos culture (ca. 1400-1250 BC) when it was destroyed in an abrupt event such as an earthquake or a human attack. Until now it is the only known Sicilian building placed on the border of a funerary area and it yielded a large amount of finds, including both cult and luxury objects  and with more mundane ones, such as stone tools and weaving implements. A large amount of pottery has been found (round 80 vases) including small and middle sized vases, and many large clay containers (pithois, dolia). The presence of rock-cut channels and a large rectangular clay basin points to a special or specialized function of the space.
Surprisingly the debris also covered at least 8 individuals (both male and female, adults and young). While some of them were clearly killed by the event that destroyed the hut, one was apparently not a victim of the sudden destruction: the suggestion must be made that this body was placed in the hut before the violent end of the building and was probably being prepared for burial.
Taking into consideration its location and content, the proposed interpretation of the hut of Calicantone is that of a community house used also for funerary activities, including both rituals and the treatment of the body.