From Stratigraphic Unit to the mouse: a GIS based system for the excavation of historical complexes : The case study of Pompeii

The needs of archaeologists are the recording, the management and the elaboration of a huge quantity of data and information linked to different monuments which put us daily in front of difficult questions. The systematic proceedings of research increasis the quantity of information to be recorded and managed. The archaeologists need a quick and correct elaboration of collected data, in order to understand and analyse the investigated contexts. In this framework, we developed our application, born under a MURST1998 Project (Ministry of University and of Scientific and Technological Research). The project, started in May-June 1999 at the University "La Sapienza" of Rome, under the Scientific Direction of Prof Andrea Carandini, focused on two case studies: Pompeii and Palatino, having as its main aim the realization of a methodology and of a GIS based system for the recording and analysis of an archaeological excavation. Briefly, the system consists in the elaboration of a desktop GIS based system helpful for the archaeologists during the excavation phases of recording and management and able to support SU forms with as much information as possible. It is mainly a system for the management and for the analysis of the stratigraphic sequence, both graphic and alpha-numeric. Moreover, a final 3-D visualisation of the excavation is displayed, broken down into its elements, Stratigraphic Units, in order also to link the information and the data coming out during the excavation to 3D SU. In this way, we hope to complete the usual graphical documentation (plans and prospects) with 3D display format, showing surfaces and volumes of excavated SU.