Excavation Area Research Articles

Refuse or Ritual Deposit? The Complexity of Wari Household Archaeology

The excavation of residential areas is a growing focus of research in Andean archaeology. Studies reveal that interpreting household remains from some prehispanic societies can be complex because of the nature of abandonment ritual, which may involve burnt offerings, the placement of valuables on floors, or the purposeful destruction of ceramic vessels that are distributed in patterned ways. The goods that constitute these offering practices can be confused with post-occupation refuse, especially when excavation units are relatively small. In this paper, I discuss the importance of assessing site formation processes in residential spaces and illustrate how different modes of household abandonment can make comparative analysis a complex exercise. I describe and compare several examples from Wari-affiliated residences at the sites of Cerro Baúl and Cerro Mejía, located in the department of Moquegua, Peru, to show how ritual depositions corresponding to house abandonment might affect the interpretation of daily domestic life. In particular, I examine how ritual assemblages have been interpreted as evidence of feasting to support propositions regarding the Wari political economy. I advocate that archaeologists interested in domestic areas, lifeways, and the political economy engage in large-scale horizontal excavations to ensure they can correctly distinguish between the remains of quotidian practices, the goods associated with ritual depositions, and refuse resulting from feasting, which is best substantiated with features and facilities to host empowering events.

Research on Underground Track Tracking of a New Type Shaft Boring Machine

A trajectory tracking control scheme is proposed in this paper to achieve unmanned underground construction of a new type of shaft boring machine. The body motion model is constructed, and the control relationship between the driving system and the body motion is deduced. MATLAB and Simulink simulate the joint of the track tracking process in the new shaft boring machine. The actual effect of the track tracking control scheme is validated by the track tracking field test of the new shaft boring machine. The results show that the new shaft boring machine can complete various complex track tracking tasks, with the maximum position error being less than 0.005 m. The running track and excavation areas of the boring machine are observed along with the track tracking field test of the new shaft boring machine, demonstrating that the track tracking control scheme makes the new shaft boring machine realize unmanned construction and verifies the co-simulation accuracy. The PID (proportional–integral–derivative control) algorithm can complete complex trajectory tracking tasks and promote the development of unmanned construction technology.

미륵사지 출토 供養 小塔에 대한 고찰

Excavations at the Mireuksa Temple site have unearthed eighteen small votive stupas across six sets, crafted from materials such as clay, stone, and metal. Each material group reveals a distinct historical context: the small clay stupas were discovered in 1997 during excavations in the pond area; the small stone stupas were found beneath a staircase in the drainage channel on the eastern stylobate of the large stone platform near the monks’ quarters on the West Side; fragments of metal stupas emerged during secondary excavations from the northern building site within the temple site, on the gapsuk (a flat stone laid on another stone) of the temple auditorium stylobate, and in the southern parts of the galleries. This paper aims to examine the religion of building stupas at the site of Mireuksa Temple where many small votive stupas were excavated. This is achieved through a comparative analysis of style in addition to a study on the characteristics and functions of the small votive stupas discovered at Mireuksa Temple. Thus, the research presented here is based on a review of the temporal evolution of sutras on stupa construction as related to small votive stupas and a comparative analysis of such sutras from small votive stupas unearthed at other contemporary temple sites. Small clay votive stupas were decorated according to the Paticca-Samuppada-Gata from the Sutra on Building Pagodas and Practicing Good Deeds. Inscribed with the Paticca- Samuppada-Gata in addition to depictions of alternating pagodas and Buddha statues, the stupas were circulated throughout the region. However, the clay votive stupa unearthed at Mireuksa features a relief of only three pagodas. The rest of the stupa is damaged, which suggests multiple possibilities for the missing portions. These include configurations with either pagodas alone or a combination of pagodas and Buddha statues. Likely intended as architectural components within temple structures or as decorative elements for pagodas, these clay stupas are estimated to date to the late 7th to 8th centuries. The small stone votive stupas, crafted according to the Pure Light Dharani Sutra, were typically produced in specified quantities and enshrined en masse. From the 9th and 10th centuries, the practice evolved to incorporate circular openings at the base of the stupas for Dharani offerings. The stone votive stupas from Mireuksa, similar to those enshrined in the late 9th century, include this feature, indicating that they likely served as personal offerings by monks within the monks' quarters and were crafted in the late 9th century. The small metal votive stupas, following the Bohyeopin Dharani Sutra, preserved their original metal composition, yet emulated the design of multi-tiered castle-like wooden pagodas depicted in the Emergence of the Treasure Pagoda in the Circulation of the Lotus Sutra frontispieces. These multi-storied wooden pagoda-type metal stupas were crafted in the spatial pattern with multiple compartments, which were used to enclose Buddha statues or sutras, so they are seldom discovered intact. Only the fragments from the construction of the pagodas and the finial of the stupa remain in the metal stupa unearthed at Mireuksa Temple site. They indicate an elaborate style of multi-tiered wooden pagoda-type metal stupa, likely adorned with additional decorative elements beyond the typical design. It is presumed that these stupas were used as ritual items by practitioners or monks in the vicinity of the temple hall and northern building site of the temple during the mid-11th century, in the Goryeo period.

Determining the stability of roll-back stretches in steep layers when unloading a coal rock massif

The object of this study is the condition of side rocks in a coal rock massif with preparatory workings. The task solved was to ensure the stability of preparatory workings to improve the safety of miners' activities. The bearing capacity of protective structures in the preparatory mining workings along the length of the excavation section in a coal mine was comparatively assessed. The operational condition of the roll-back stretch, when using a protective technique that involves coal pillars, is provided for at their relative deformation e<0.25 and relative volume change dV<0.1. At a distance of l>50 m behind the cleaning pit, at e³0.6–0.8, there is a decrease in the load-bearing capacity of coal pillars and the destruction of the roof. The loss of cross-sectional area of the roll-back stretch is 50 %. Under such conditions, the level of a roof collapse threat is approaching a critical state. When using rolling bundles made of wooden sleepers at e>0.21 and dV>0.16, conditions are created around the preparatory workings at which the integrity of the roof is ensured through the gradual sealing of protective structures. At a distance l>60 m, the increase in lateral rock displacements reaches the minimum values DU=10 mm, and the loss of the cross-sectional area of the roll-back stretch is 30 %. The kind of functional dependence between the length l (m) of the roll-back stretch with different protection techniques and the relative change in the volume dV of protective structures was experimentally determined. Such a dependence makes it possible to assess the bearing capacity of protective structures along the length of the excavation area in the zone of active influence of mountain pressure behind the cleaning pit. The operational condition of roll-back stretches when using coal pillars is ensured within the limits of their deformation resource, which limits the use of this protection technique. To ensure the stability of preparatory workings, it is advisable to use rolled bundles made of wooden sleepers. After their compaction, the movement of side rocks is limited in the worked-out space of the excavation site

Investigation of the Rock Destruction Influence in the Increased Rock Pressure Zones on the Stability of Preparatory Mine Workings

Abstract The issue of determining the size of pillars of various types and purposes is very important, as it is closely related to the issues of completeness of excavation of mineral reserves, as well as ensuring the stability of protected workings. The purpose of this work is to study the behavior of the massif in the zones of increased mining pressure, to evaluate its stress-strain state for justification of the optimal parameters of pillars, which is a very urgent scientific task in the conditions of the converged formations of the Western Donbass. To analyze the stress-strain state of the rock massif area in the area of preparatory excavations, falling into the zones of increased mining pressure, the volumetric problem was solved using the finite element method. The problem was solved using Cosmos Works software. In order to determine the size of the pillar satisfying the requirements of completeness of excavation and safety of preparatory workings, this parameter was varied from 25m to 40m with an interval of 2m. The work contains the results of monitoring the condition of mine workings as the longwall is approaching up to its stoppage. On the basis of modeling of the stress-strain state of the massif with linkage of the actual state of the drifts according to the monitoring results, the optimum parameters of the pillar are determined, which in the considered conditions are 37 meters.

EVALUATION OF ROOF STABILITY IN THE PRODUCED SPACE EXCAVATION DIVISION

Purpose. To assess the stability of the roof in the excavation space of the excavation area to prevent lateral rock collapses and to justify a set of measures to improve the safety of miners in coal mines. Methods. The study of the stability of the roof was performed on a model of a multi-span beam using analytical calculations and optical modeling. Results. The preserved stability of the roof in the mined space of the coal massif provides conditions for supporting mining operations. Calculations of multi-span horizontal and inclined beams have been performed. The calculations are based on the disclosure of the static uncertainty of beams using the equations of three moments. Reactions in intermediate supports and maximum bending moments along the length of the beam with the same number of intermediate supports have been determined. It has been established that for a uniformly loaded continuous beam with equal spans, the first and last intermediate supports are the most loaded in all cases. To reduce the bending moment in the span of the modeled beam, it is recommended to take into account the strength of the intermediate supports. In optical models, the concentration of tangential stresses in the lateral rocks is determined by the curvature of the contour of the preparatory workings and the bending of the roof along the length of the cleaning working. The maximum concentration of tangential stresses is recorded in the area of ​​supports located around the retreat and ventilation shafts. This situation around the preparatory workings indicates an intensive load on the fasteners. The concentration of stresses leads to roof destruction, collapse and deterioration of the stability of the preparatory workings. In real conditions of coal seam development, the condition of the roof is a determining factor on which the stability of the preparatory workings along the length of the excavation section depends. Novelty. It consists in carrying out a comprehensive study of the stability of the roof in the created recess space. Practical significance. To ensure the stability of the preparatory mine workings on the boundary with the created space of the excavation area, the location of supports is necessary, the stability of which allows limiting the movement of the roof and ensuring a smooth deflection of the overhanging layer of rocks. The maximum effect is achieved when the stiffness of the supporting supports matches the physical and mechanical characteristics of the side rocks. Keywords: roofing, coal massif, extraction station, opening, multi-span beam, load, resistance of intermediate supports bending moment

Optimization and Numerical Verification of Microseismic Monitoring Sensor Network in Underground Mining: A Case Study

A scientific and reasonable microseismic monitoring sensor network is crucial for the prevention and control of rockmass instability disasters. In this study, three feasible sensor network layout schemes for the microseismic monitoring of Sanshandao Gold Mine were proposed, comprehensively considering factors such as orebody orientation, tunnel and stope distributions, blasting excavation areas, construction difficulty, and maintenance costs. To evaluate and validate the monitoring effectiveness of the sensor networks, three layers of seismic sources were randomly generated within the network. Four levels of random errors were added to the calculated arrival time data, and the classical Geiger localization algorithm was used for locating validation. The distribution of localization errors within the monitoring area was analyzed. The results indicate that when the arrival time data are accurate or the error is between 0% and 2%, scheme 3 is considered the most suitable layout; when the error of the arrival time data is between 2% and 10%, scheme 2 is considered the optimal layout. These research results can provide important theoretical and technical guidance for the reasonable design of microseismic monitoring systems in similar mines or projects.

Intelligent Inversion Analysis of Surrounding Rock Parameters and Deformation Characteristics of a Water Diversion Surge Shaft

The water diversion surge shaft is vital for a hydropower station. However, the complex geological properties of the surrounding rock make it challenging to obtain its mechanical parameters. A method combining particle swarm optimization (PSO) and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms is proposed for estimating these parameters. According to the engineering geological background and support scheme, a three-dimensional model of the water diversion surge shaft is established by FLAC3D. An orthogonal test is designed to verify the accuracy of the numerical model. Then, the surrounding rock mechanical parameter database is established. The PSO-SVM intelligent inversion algorithm is used to invert the optimal values of the mechanical parameters of the surrounding rock. The support for excavating the next layer depends on the mechanical parameters of the current rock layer. An optimized design scheme is then compared and analyzed with the original support scheme by considering deformation and plastic characteristics. The research results demonstrate that the PSO-SVM intelligent inversion algorithm can effectively improve the accuracy and efficiency of the inversion of rock mechanical parameters. Under the influence of excavation, the surrounding rock in the plastic zone mainly fails in shear, with maximum deformation occurring in the middle and lower parts of the excavation area. The maximum deformation of the surrounding rock under support with long anchor cables is 0.6 cm less than that of support without long anchor cables and 4.07 cm less than that of support without an anchor. In the direction of the maximum and minimum principal stress, the maximum depth of the plastic zone under the support with long anchor cables is 1.3 m to 2.6 m less than that of the support without long anchor cables and the support without an anchor. Compared with the support without long anchor cables and support without an anchor, the support with long anchor cables can effectively control the deformation of the surrounding rock and limit the development of the plastic zone.

Architectural terracottas from San Giovenale. Addenda and conclusions

The publication of most excavation areas at San Giovenale has made it possible to offer a much more detailed and more accurate account of the use of architectural terracottas at the site. This article presents the finds according to categories and types as well as according to their distribution in different excavation areas. It also discusses technical matters and chronological issues. A survey of all decorative terracottas discovered at the site shows that these were not as rare as earlier believed. The conclusion tries to sketch the development of the local terracotta industry.

A bronze deposit excavated at Kalaureia in 2016. A statuette of the Herakles Chiaramonti type, a stand and a thymiaterion

This article presents three bronzes found on the island of Poros in 2016, during excavations in Area L, the presumed area of Kalaureia’s ancient settlement, c. 200 m to the south of the Sanctuary of Poseidon. The deposit included: 1. A statuette of the Herakles Chiaramonti type, here suggested to have been produced during the 2nd or 1st century BC; 2. A stand which may have functioned as a thymiaterion (incense burner) or a lamp stand. Judging from close parallels the stand was most likely produced during the 5th or 4th century BC; 3. A high-stemmed dish, which is interpreted as a thymiaterion contemporary with the stand. The items are tentatively suggested to have been used together, perhaps in religious veneration of Herakles. The bronzes are suggested to have been deposited either for what was intended to be temporary safe-keeping, or for religious reasons.

The Puzzle of Silesia’s Pre-Roman Iron Age: The Settlement at Graniczna Street in Wrocław

In the autumn of 2014, rescue excavations were carried out at 4A Graniczna Street in Muchobór Wielki, Wrocław. The 2-hectare excavation area yielded remains of a multi-phase settlement, including a stage from the pre-Roman Iron Age. The excavated finds primarily consisted of pottery vessel fragments, alongside a well-preserved middle La Tène Mötschwil-type brooch, daub, and animal bones. Among the identified features were pits, postholes, pit houses, and the remains of a ground-level post building with a well. However, while the structure dates to the Iron Age, its exact chronology remains a subject of debate. The discovery of this late pre-Roman Iron Age settlement in the Ślęza river zone provides further evidence that the area featured a network of settlements dating to the earliest phases of the late pre-Roman period. These settlements bridge the chronological gap between the decline of the Lower Silesian La Tène culture settlement and the earliest discoveries associated with the classical Przeworsk style.

Improving construction site efficiency through automated progress monitoring of underground pipe installation sites using image color analysis of iPhone LiDAR camera data

This study presents an innovative method utilizing smartphone for automated progress monitoring at underground pipe installation sites. Leveraging the LiDAR iPhone camera, the method captures detailed point cloud data of construction sites. Sophisticated color analysis of images accurately distinguishes between areas with and without pipes within excavations. Key aspects of the proposed workflow include segmentation of the excavation area, differentiation between main and side excavations, and application of an earth color mask in the RGB space to isolate pipes. The research focuses on enhancing measurement precision for excavation width, depth, and pipe burial depth, significantly reducing the manual labor traditionally required at construction sites, thereby offering an efficient and cost-effective solution. We further demonstrated the robustness of the proposed algorithm by applying it to two types of data acquired at actual construction sites. This approach is expected to contribute significantly to the digital transformation in the construction industry.

Revisiting the Late Bronze Age stratigraphy of Tel Lachish

This study investigates the stratigraphy of Tel Lachish during the Late Bronze Age. For a variety of reasons, a certain degree of confusion and disorder in the understanding of the stratigraphical sequence of this period has accumulated throughout the long-term research of the site, leading, consequently, to a distraction in the understanding of the site’s history. This study discusses these problems, examines the local stratigraphy in the various excavation areas, and proposes a new general division of the site’s history during the Late Bronze Age based on general horizons.

MODELING LONGITUDINAL FLOOD DATA IN WEST SUMATRA USING THE GENERALIZED ESTIMATING EQUATION (GEE) APPROACH

Flooding is one of the many natural disasters that often hit Indonesia. In July 2023, three areas in West Sumatra experienced floods and landslides which caused damages and even 2 missing victims. Since November 16th, 2023, 8 hamlets in Meranti Village, Landak District, West Sumatra have been inundated by floods which affected families and many public facilities. This research uses data from West Sumatra Province Central Statistics Agency. The data used is 2014, 2018 and 2021. The response variable used is the number of villages/sub-districts experiencing natural disasters according to district/city ( ). The predictor variables used are regional topography , the number of water channels such as rivers, reservoirs, etc. , the number of fields cleared through burning , the number of villages/sub-districts in C excavation area , and the number of dumpsters . This research uses Negative Binomial Regression with the Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) approach. In the Poisson regression test, the QIC value based on Independent Working Correlation Structure (WCS) is with deviance value of , degree of freedom of , and dispersion score of 4,6144. Because the dispersion value is greater than 1, it can be concluded that there is overdispersion. Because there is more than one overdispersion, it is overcome by using negative binomial. The results of parameter estimation using negative binomial regression based on Independent WCS showed that only one variable was significant, which is the number of fields cleared through burning with deviance value of , degrees of freedom of and a QIC of . Negative Binomial regression model that was formed is ). From the two regression models used, namely Poisson and negative binomial, it was found that the negative binomial regression model was the best model because it had the lowest QIC value of .

The analysis of damage mechanisms and vibration effects caused by cut blasting under various void shapes

The effect of the void shape on cut blasting is investigated by establishing a damage analysis model for a void using an improved calculation formula for stress on the wall of the void. Additionally, an optimization scheme is provided for the “square void cutting theoretical model.” The vibration effect of the rock mass outside the excavation area is simultaneously monitored, and its validity is substantiated through experimental and simulation-based verification. The findings indicate that the variation of q2sinθ over time aligns with the dynamic loading process of wall stress in holes. Under the influence of longitudinal waves, thin-walled circular damage occurs, and tensile effects from reflected waves are influenced by impedance. In a square void cutting model, two-stage stress waves cause tensile shear damage and inward collapse in the rock mass along hole walls. The explosive energy generated by square holes significantly contributes to fragmentation of rock masses. The circular empty-hole cutting model generates significant vibrations in central areas due to resistance. Vibration velocity in 45° direction for circular holes is lower than that for square voids outside cuts while vibration velocity remains equivalent between circular and square holes at 90° direction.

Археологічні дослідження та проблема охорони пам’яток археології (на прикладі стоянок кам’яного віку Одеської області)

The paper investigates different aspects of the problem of localization of Stone Age sites in the vicinity of Chervonoznamenka village (Ivanovka district of Odessa region). The sites were discovered in 1960-s by V.I. Kraskovskyi. In total, V.I. Kraskovskyi opened six sites in this region (Katarzhyno, Tsybulivka, Tsybulivka І-ІV). According to V.I Kraskovskyi, the sites are located on small promontories of the right bank of the Malyi Kuialnyk River, about 2 km from the village Znamyanka. In this place, the river is blocked by a dam, as a result of which a rather large reservoir was formed. In 2007-2010, the author conducted research in this region. However, it turned out to be quite difficult to localize the locations of the sites discovered by V.I. Kraskovskyi. The problem was that in the 50 years since V.I. Kraskovskyi’s research, the area had become overgrown with trees and bushes. In addition, a railroad was laid here in the 60s. As a result, considerable excavation work was carried out. Thus, all the Stone Age sites that were discovered as a result of the 2007-2010 surveys were given new names (Katarzhyno 1-5). During these years, the author conducted excavations in a small area at the Katarzhyno 1 and Katarzhyno 2 sites. As a result of the research, flint products and fragments of pottery were found at the sites. This made it possible to date the sites to the Neolithic era. An additional survey of the region was conducted in 2020. At that time, it was found that trees and shrubs had grown even more. In this regard, it was not possible to establish GPS coordinates of the sites. Therefore, the locations of the campsites were recorded on Google maps. However, a mistake was made when registering these sites in the databases. And now, in all documents it is stated that these sites are located on the cape, which is formed as a result of the confluence of the Malyi and Serednii Kuialnyk rivers. And no one will correct documentation with errors that have been approved by many authorities. This leads to the loss of various, including unique, archaeological complexes for science and society. Key words: North-Western Black Sea region, Stone Age, settlement/site, protection of cultural heritage.

Identification and Ranking of Factors Affecting the Emission of CO Gas in Karkar Coal Mine

Karkar coal mine is one of the biggest mines in the country, where mining has been going on since 1938. During the mining period, the Karkar mine has witnessed unfortunate incidents caused by the release and explosion of gases, which have caused substantial financial and human losses. Carbon monoxide gas is one of the essential factors in the occurrence of accidents in the Karkar mine. This research includes literature reviews, field data collection using the CEM CO-181 model gas meter, and statistical calculations using Shannon entropy and Promethee methods. First, the concentration of CO gas was measured in ventilation tunnels, development, and excavation areas. Extraction workshops of the Karkar coal mine at different working times, and then 26 cases that may result in a reduction in accidents were used as effective criteria, and 9 cases were used as influential factors on CO emissions through the order and distribution of questionnaires and interviews with identified experts. The final weights of twenty-six effective criteria on the emission of CO gas were calculated based on the Shannon entropy method. As a result, the criterion of consumed oils with a final weight of 0.1790 was ranked first, and the criterion of lack of experience with a final weight of 0.1065 was ranked last. The influential factors have been ranked based on the amount of net flow and the parameter method. As a result, the factors of mining fire and coal dust explosion ranked first and last, respectively, with net flows of 0.55 and -0.84, and the rest of the factors are placed in different positions according to their net flow rate and have their effects on the emission of CO gas.

Influence of Excavation Radius on Behavior of Circular Foundation Pits Supported by Prefabricated Recyclable Structures: Full-Scale Experimental and Numerical Analysis

A foundation pit’s excavation area, which is determined by its radius in a circular foundation pit, exerts a considerable influence on the pit’s behavior. Using a full-scale experiment on a circular foundation pit retained by a prefabricated recyclable supporting structure (PRSS), this study develops a series of axisymmetric numerical models to systematically investigate the influence of excavation radius on the pit’s deformation, stress, and stability. Furthermore, simulation results from axisymmetric models are compared with those from plane strain models to illustrate the influence mechanism. The results show that at a given excavation depth, the deflection and bending moments of the supporting piles, the earth pressure on the non-excavation side, and ground surface settlement increase with the enlarged excavation radius, but the increase rate progressively decreases. However, the foundation pit’s safety factor decreases with an increasing excavation radius and gradually stabilizes. When the excavation radius exceeds 50 m, its influence on the foundation pit’s behavior significantly diminishes. The axisymmetric model results closely approximate those from the plane strain models, suggesting that the spatial arching effects of the circular foundation pit can be disregarded.

Accuracy assessment of UAV-based documentation of archaeological site: Kültepe-Kaneš

High quality 2D/3D metric documentation of archaeological sites is used in many different applications such as archaeological-heritage management, digital archaeological excavation planning, orthophotographic documentation, and ancient Digital Surfaces Models (DSM) research. Structure-from-Motion based photogrammetry (SfM) is an indirect geodesic measurement technique based on multiple view image processing using high-level automation techniques. Using SfM to generate the high accuracy 2D/3D data needed for digital documentation of archaeological cultural heritage is relatively practical, economical, and fast. Factors such as the number of ground control points and their distribution to the study area, the robustness of the camera system model parameters, and the analytical model of the photogrammetric triangulation method used affect the accuracy of the data produced using SfM-photogrammetry. Kültepe-Kaneš, the center of the ancient Kingdom of Kaneš, which is located in central-Anatolia, was an Assyrian Trade Colony active between ca. 2000 BC and 1700 BC. The site, which was the center of the Old Assyrian trade colonies in Anatolia and one of the most important sites in ancient history, has been under excavation for the last 75 years. In this paper, high accuracy digital documentation of the Kültepe-Kaneš archaeological excavation area was made using different SfM methods. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in accuracy between Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) and Post-Process Kinematic (PPK) methods for the study area. This suggests that either PPK, RTK, or aerial triangulation with Ground Control Points (GCPs) can be employed to generate orthophotos and DSMs for archaeological sites with relatively flat surface areas, as long as a sufficient number of uniformly distributed GCPs are used.

Geodatabase, metric reconstruction and a GIS platform of historical-archaeological sites in Aquino

This paper presents the contents of a geodatabase developed from the outcomes of survey operations carried out, in several stages since 2015, within the archaeological context of the Roman city of Aquinum, in southern Lazio. The proposed geodatabase integrates traditional topographic surveying techniques with total station, GPS and GNSS geodetic receivers with photogrammetric surveys and terrestrial laser-scanner (TLS) measurements, including the realization of HBIM (Historical Building Information Modeling) models, to investigate some specific historical-archaeological evidence useful to understand the Roman and medieval urban structure of the city. The processing and management of the metric and information datasets were entrusted to a GIS platform, implemented in the opensource Quantum-GIS software, to optimize the flowchart of the acquisition/processing process and to realize an intra-site Web-GIS useful for the visualization and dissemination of the results. The methodological-operational approach applied in the research activities highlights the fundamental contribution that the technological innovations of geomatics can provide for the construction of elaborate knowledge concerning cultural heritage, also becoming the base for the elaboration of more complex and detailed analyses. In this case, for example, the HBIM digital model of the Church of Santa Maria of Libera was also used for an in-depth study in the field of structural engineering, as input to model the masonry vaults of the aisles of the church and assess their structural safety through the analysis methodology denominated "Thrust Network Analysis (TNA)." In addition, the high-precision 3D models developed from detailed photogrammetric measurements of the archaeological fragments and human remains found in the excavation areas made it possible to create interesting "visual digital products" that are immediately understandable even for non-experts, and thus particularly useful for wide-ranging knowledge dissemination.