Abstract
Over the past decade, high-resolution noninvasive sensors have been widely used in explorations of the first few meters underground at archaeological sites. However, remote sensing actions aimed at the study of structural elements that require a very high resolution are rare. In this study, layer characterization of the floor mosaic substrate of the Pisões Roman archaeological site was carried out. This work was performed with two noninvasive techniques: 3D ground penetrating radar (3D GPR) operating with a 1.6 GHz central frequency antenna, which is a very high-resolution geophysical method, and photogrammetry with imagery obtained by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which is a very high-resolution optical method. The first method allows penetration up to 30–40 cm depth and 3D models can be obtained, and with the second method, very high detail surface images and digital surface models can be obtained. In this study, we analyze a combination of data from both sensors to study a portion of the floor mosaic of the Pisões Roman Villa (Beja, Portugal) to obtain evidence of the inner structure. In this context, we have detected the main structural levels of the Roman mosaic and some internal characteristics, such as etched guides, internal cracking, and detection of higher humidity areas. The methodology that we introduce in this work can be referenced for the documentation of ancient pavements and may be used prior to carrying out preservation activities. Additionally, we intend to show that a Roman mosaic, understood as an archaeological structure, does not consist of only beautiful superficial drawings defined by the tesserae, but these mosaics are much more complex elements that must be considered in their entirety for preservation.
Highlights
The Roman Villa of Pisões (Figure 1) is located 10 km south of Beja (Portugal)
Through this work we have presented a methodology to approach the study of mosaics from the point of view of their construction
The photogrammetry allowed for obtaining a digital surface model of the Roman mosaic, with a submillimeter sensibility in height, sufficient to detect the main units of the sinopia, the superficial cracks, and the differential settlements of the subsoil
Summary
The Roman Villa of Pisões (Figure 1) is located 10 km south of Beja (Portugal). This villa was discovered accidentally in 1967 and is considered by the academic and scientific community to be a heritage site of the greatest cultural relevance and was classified as a property of public interest in heritage site of the greatest cultural relevance and was classified as a property of public interest in 1R97em0o.tTe Sheense.x2c01a9v, a1t1i,o1n88s2made during the 1970s revealed a pars urbana (residential house) of a singu loafr monument of the Roman province of Lusitania composed of more than 40 divisions, distributed a1ro9u70n.dTahesmexaclalvpaetrioisntys lme aindethdeurtrinadgithioen19o7f0tshreevIteaalilaend atpriaurms u, rwbahnicah(riessgidaethnetiraeldhaoruosue)ndoftahesinfoguurla- r comloonnuamdeendt ospf tahce R(Foimguanrep1ro).vTinhcee osof uLtuhsiftacniinagc,olmarpgoesepdorotficmooesrewthitahn 4co0lduimvinsisonosp,ednisttoribfauctedaalraorugned waastemramlliprreorriswtyiltehina tlhenegttrhadoifti4o0n mof,tohneeItoaflitahnealtarriguemst, wofhtihchisitsygpaethinerperdivaartoeurnedsitdheenfcoeusrt-hcoroloungnhaoduetd thsepaIcbee(rFiaignurPee1n)i.nTsuhleaso[1u]t.hTfahceinagr,clhairtgeectpuorratlicdoesiwgnithancodlutmypnes oopfesntrtuocftaucreeas la[2rg],erwefaitneermmeinrrtoor fwtihthe a dleecnogrtahtiofn4, 0esmp,eocniaelloyf the lgaregaetstqoufatlhitiys toyfptehien fploriovratceorveesriidnegncmesatehrrioaulsg,hmouotsathicesIbanerdiamn aPrebnlienssu[3la,4[]1, ]. bTrihnegatrochmitinecdtuarlaulxduersiiogunsarnedsidtyepneceowf sitrhupctruorveesn[2o]c,cruepfianteiomnenbet towf ethene dtheeco1rsattaionnd, 6etshpecceinatlulyritehseAg.rDea. t [1q]u. aInlitaydodfitihoenfltoootrhceorveesriidnegnmcea,ttehreiatlsh,emrmosaalibcsatahnsdamreacrobnlessid[3e,r4e]d, btroinbge ttohemminodsat rluelxeuvrainout sexreasmidpelnesce owf pitrhivpartoevbeanthoscc[5u]p, awtihoinchbeatrwe ereenmtahreka1bsltyawndel6l-tphrecseenrtvuerdiesinAs.oDm. e[1c].omInpardtdmiteinotns,towitthhe arneseidnetinrcee, htehaetinthgesrymstaelmbatthhast alrleowcoendsitdherceidrcutolabtieonthoefmhootsatireblevtwaneet nexdaomubplleeswoafllps rainvdatuenbdaetrhtsh[e5p],awvehmicehnatsre orfetmhearrkoaobmlys.wTehlils-pcroemseprlveexdsyinstseommoefcbormicpkaarrtcmheendtsr,owofi,thknaonwenntairsehhyepaotcinagussty, sisteemxctehpattioanllaolwlyewdetlhle pcriersceurlvaetdio[n6]o.f hot air between double walls and under the pavements of the rooms. The Roman Villa of Pisões (Figure 1) is located 10 km south of Beja (Portugal) This villa was discovered accidentally in 1967 and is considered by the academic and scientific community to be a heritage site of the greatest cultural relevance and was classified as a property of public interest in heritage site of the greatest cultural relevance and was classified as a property of public interest in 1R97em0o.tTe Sheense.x2c01a9v, a1t1i,o1n88s2made during the 1970s revealed a pars urbana (residential house) of a singu loafr monument of the Roman province of Lusitania composed of more than 40 divisions, distributed a1ro9u70n.dTahesmexaclalvpaetrioisntys lme aindethdeurtrinadgithioen19o7f0tshreevIteaalilaend atpriaurms u, rwbahnicah(riessgidaethnetiraeldhaoruosue)ndoftahesinfoguurla- r comloonnuamdeendt ospf tahce R(Foimguanrep1ro).vTinhcee osof uLtuhsiftacniinagc,olmarpgoesepdorotficmooesrewthitahn 4co0lduimvinsisonosp,ednisttoribfauctedaalraorugned waastemramlliprreorriswtyiltehina tlhenegttrhadoifti4o0n mof,tohneeItoaflitahnealtarriguemst, wofhtihchisitsygpaethinerperdivaartoeurnedsitdheenfcoeusrt-hcoroloungnhaoduetd thsepaIcbee(rFiaignurPee1n)i.nTsuhleaso[1u]t.hTfahceinagr,clhairtgeectpuorratlicdoesiwgnithancodlutmypnes oopfesntrtuocftaucreeas la[2rg],erwefaitneermmeinrrtoor fwtihthe a dleecnogrtahtiofn4, 0esmp,eocniaelloyf the lgaregaetstqoufatlhitiys toyfptehien fploriovratceorveesriidnegncmesatehrrioaulsg,hmouotsathicesIbanerdiamn aPrebnlienssu[3la,4[]1, ]. DDesepspitieteththeererleelvevananceceatattrtirbiubutetdedtotoththisisvvilillal,a,ththe epparasrsrurustsitciacaananddpparasrsfrfuructcutuarairaiareremmaianin uunndderegrrgoruounnddanadndunudnidscisocvoevreerde.dT. heThkneokwnloewdgleedagbeouabt othuet tehxecaevxactaevdaateredasarreeams arienms apionosrpdouoer tdhuee sctharecsitcyarocfitdyoocfudmoceunmtateinotnatrieosnurletisnugltifnrogmfrothme tehxeceaxvcaativoantisomnsamdeadaet tahtatthatitmtiem, ea, laaclakckofosftsrtartaitgirgarpaphhicic sesqequuenencecse,sa, nanddththeeaabbsesnenceceoof fooththeerrstsutuddieiessppeerfroformrmeeddththeerereaaftfeter.r
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