This study presents a multidisciplinary investigation of the archeological site of Iuvanum (Abruzzo, central Italy), integrating geophysics, geomatics, architectural analysis and archeology with the purpose of exploring the relationship between surface remains and buried structures of archeological value. This research focuses on the area covering part of the forum and part of the basilica, where ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted to detect subsurface anomalies potentially associated with unexcavated architectural features. GPR line scans were acquired under complex topographic conditions, processed, and assembled into a three-dimensional representation, from which volumes of interest (VOIs) were extracted. These geophysical results were integrated into a comprehensive three-dimensional framework together with high-resolution UAV photogrammetry, digital elevation models, orthophotos and a virtual architectural model (VAM) of the site. The integrated visualization environment greatly facilitates the recognition of spatial relations between the detected anomalies and the hypothesized architectural elements. The observed GPR anomalies confirmed wall remains that were initially speculated or located along their geometrical continuation. Pavement levels, as well as some structures asymmetrical with respect to the purely geometric reconstruction, were also identified. This study demonstrates how integrating GPR with geomatic and archeological approaches improves the reliability and interpretative depth of non-invasive archeological prospecting. The proposed workflow provides a reproducible methodological framework propedeutical to excavation planning and suitable for the integration of information from multi-data sensors.
Palumbo et al. (Wed,) studied this question.