Insights into the Buried Archaeological Remains at the Duomo of Lecce (Italy) Using Ground-penetrating Radar Surveys

The town of Lecce located in the southern part of the Apulia region of Italy, contains the remains of an ancient settlement in the city centre. One of the most important buildings in the town is the Duomo and its crypt. The crypt is found beneath the Duomo and was used as a burial place from the first century ad until the nineteenth century. The area around the crypt is highly urbanized today, but was the locus of social and political life over the centuries for people of different cultures who inhabited the area, starting from the eighth century bc. Therefore this area contains stratigraphically complex layers of buildings and other remains, which can help us understand the usage of this area of the town over many centuries. A ground-penetrating radar survey was performed at the crypt, the data of which were visualized in three-dimensions using a standard amplitude slice technique as well the construction of isosurface images of amplitudes. These images reveal the position of architectural features whose shape, size and burial depth suggest they are Roman and earlier in age. The features mapped are superimposed tombs, which indicates that this area was used for the same purpose over many centuries and demonstrates a long continuity of similar burial practices at this sacred place. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.