Multidisciplinary Approaches and Digital Technologies in the Study of Early Christian Architecture: The Sacellum of SS. Teuteria and Tosca in Verona (Mid 5th-Early 6th Century)

This study presents a multidisciplinary investigation into the Sacellum of SS. Teuteria and Tosca in Verona, an early Christian chapel dated between the mid-5th and early 6th centuries. Conducted as part of the CaMeRoofs project under the HORIZON-MSCA framework (2024-2026), the research aims to reconstruct the architectural evolution and historical context of this unique monument through the integration of archaeological, architectural, and digital methodologies. The project builds upon a two-year preliminary study at the University of Florence (2021-2023) and employs state-of-the-art digital technologies to produce unprecedented documentation. Digital survey campaigns utilized Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), UAV-based and ground-based photogrammetry (Structure from Motion), and 3D modeling, resulting in high-resolution point clouds and color-mapped models. These technologies enabled accurate geometric documentation and virtual navigation, as well as detailed stratigraphic, morphological, and material analyses. The integration of archival research and structural diagnostics supported a revised phasing of the monument, revealing both early Christian features – such as opus spicatum masonry, cruciform layout, and lantern vault – and Romanesque additions from the second half of the 12th century. Unpublished findings include a reevaluation of the Sacellum ’s original architecture, challenging prior assumptions by demonstrating its alignment with free Greek cross plans similar to the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna, rather than the inscribed Greek cross typology. This study underscores the critical value of digital survey tools for conservation and heritage enhancement and contributes new data to the fields of early Christian archaeology and architectural history. • 3D digital survey of Verona's sacellum using TLS, SfM, and UAV photogrammetry. • First stratigraphic analysis of masonry reveals new construction phasing. • Free Greek cross plan links sacellum to Ravenna's Galla Placidia model. • High-res 3D model supports conservation, analysis, and virtual navigation. • Unpublished data redefine early Christian architecture in northern Italy.