in the Valley of the Temples discovered “without fail” with the new hi-tech techniques – Corriere.it

A new archaeological discovery in the suggestive Valley of the Temples, in Agrigento, which took place thanks to science. Archaeology, science and technology are the basis of the new findings that have emerged from an important area of ​​ancient Akragas. The role played by the geophysical surveys carried out in an area north of Plateia IL is fundamental. A discovery that is destined to affect the historical vision and the reconstruction of the topography of Akragas. It was in fact possible «to identify and bring to light the remains of a wall in large blocks of local limestone, belonging to a building dating back, according to the hypotheses, to the Hellenistic or even classical period, which, due to its location near the entrance to the sanctuary of ‘circular altars’ could play a role in the religious topography of ancient Akragas,” according to a note from the authors of the research.

Collaboration

These new researches are the result of a scientific and multidisciplinary collaboration between the Universities of Bordeaux and Catania. The scholars of the Etna University are part of the Department of Humanities and of the Laboratory of Applied Geophysics belonging to the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, which for years has been dealing with the application of applied geophysics techniques in the context of cultural heritage and archaeological research, collaborating with the parks and superintendencies of eastern Sicily. Since 2022, Émilie Cayre, researcher of the Major Research Program Human Past, has undertaken a study on the phenomenon of processions in antiquity. The sanctuary of the chthonic deities of Agrigento, linked to the cults of underground gods and personification of seismic or volcanic forces, was chosen as a case study due to its geographical position, at the eastern end of Plateia IL: a place which allowed access from the city and which was most likely used during the Thesmophoria festivals to reach the extra-urban sanctuary of Sant’Anna.

Hi-tech research

The geophysical investigation campaigns were authorized by the director of the Park, Roberto Sciarratta, under the supervision of the archaeologist manager Valentina Caminneci, and «they consisted in carrying out a electromagnetic prospecting covering the entire area and subsequent 2D multi-electrode geoelectric surveys, in order to increase the detail of the results». These hi-tech researches were led by prof. Sebastiano Imposa, associate of applied geophysics and head of the laboratory of the Catania university, assisted by Sabrina Grassi, Gabriele Morreale and Claudia Pirrotta, and also involved the geologist Angelo Gilotti and professor Luigi Caliò, president of the master’s degree course in Archeology of the Department of Humanities of the University of Catania.

The genesis of the discovery

Professor Imposa explains: «The processing of the data acquired during the survey campaigns and the interpretation of the results made it possible to identify the presence of anomalies in the subsoil of the investigated area and to be able to delimit sub-areas, within the which the presence of strong variations in the physical parameters was very evident, attributable to the remains of buried structures of anthropic origin”. On the basis of the results obtained on 21 April, a team of students and doctoral students carried out a first test sample in one of the areas identified by the geophysical surveys carried out by researchers from the University of Catania. Imposa adds: «The results were immediately in line with the data obtained from the prospecting, the remains of a wall in large blocks of local limestone were quickly brought to light where the prospecting had revealed the presence of strong anomalies. From a first analysis it seems that this wall partially rests on the cut rock and shows a different orientation from that of the nearby Hellenistic-Roman quarter».

Studies continue

“The pottery collected is currently being studied.” So a broad and multidisciplinary work. Imposa comments: «This type of analysis, which has acquired an increasingly important role within archaeological research projects over the last two decades, returns a ‘photograph’ of what is preserved under our feet without modifying in any way the appearance of the subsoil, providing precise indications that can direct and consequently speed up the subsequent excavation phases. Consequently, the potential and the contribution that these techniques offer also for the ‘fruition’ and safeguarding of buried heritage are clear”. And there is still a lot to discover…