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A neighborhood revealed by geophysical prospection: An example of urbanization at the Phoenician–Punic settlement of Mozia (western Sicily, Italy)
Author(s)
Language
English
Obiettivo Specifico
7A. Geofisica di esplorazione
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
/104 (2014)
ISSN
0926-9851
Electronic ISSN
1879-1859
Publisher
Elsevier Science Limited
Pages (printed)
114-120
Issued date
March 6, 2014
Abstract
The archaeological site of Mozia, a small island in front of the western coast of Sicily (Italy), is one of the
most important Phoenician–Punic settlements in the Mediterranean; it preserves important vestiges and
remains, located in an uncontaminated site, inhabited and car-free. The remains are still partially hidden
under vegetation and vineyards.
A combined survey including magnetic, active electromagnetic and ground-penetrating radar was applied
on a vast area in the north-western part of the island. The integration of different datasets of non invasive
geophysical methods discloses a complex system of underground structures whose layout is related to
walls and roads, residential units, and paved inner courts. Wavelet analysis, applied to the active electromagnetic
survey, aided to improve the visibility of the resulting archaeological features. The data provided
further evidences for a dense, still hidden, urbanization of the island at the time of the Phoenician–Punic
occupation (8th–7th century BC to 397 BC).
most important Phoenician–Punic settlements in the Mediterranean; it preserves important vestiges and
remains, located in an uncontaminated site, inhabited and car-free. The remains are still partially hidden
under vegetation and vineyards.
A combined survey including magnetic, active electromagnetic and ground-penetrating radar was applied
on a vast area in the north-western part of the island. The integration of different datasets of non invasive
geophysical methods discloses a complex system of underground structures whose layout is related to
walls and roads, residential units, and paved inner courts. Wavelet analysis, applied to the active electromagnetic
survey, aided to improve the visibility of the resulting archaeological features. The data provided
further evidences for a dense, still hidden, urbanization of the island at the time of the Phoenician–Punic
occupation (8th–7th century BC to 397 BC).
References
Aubet, M.E., 2001. The Phoenicians and the West: Politics, Colonies and Trade. Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge.
Barnett, V., Lewis, T., 1984. Outliers in Statistical Data. Wiley, New York.
Basso, D., Bernasconi, M.P.E., Robba, E., Marozzo, S., 2008. Environmental evolution of the
Marsala sound, Sicily, during the last 6000 years. J. Coast. Res. 24 (1), 177–197.
Beamish, D., 2011. Low induction number, ground conductivity meters: a correction procedure
in the absence of magnetic effects. J. Appl. Geophys. 75, 244–253.
Bondì, S.F., 1988. The Phoenicians, city planning and architecture. The Phoenicians Exhibition
Catalogue. Boringhieri, Milano.
Ciasca, A., 1971. Sul tofet di Mozia. Sicil. Archeol. 4 (14), 10–15.
Ciasca, A., 1992. Mozia: sguardo d'insieme sul tofet. Vicino Oriente 8 (2), 113–155.
Di Mauro, D., Alfonsi, L., Sapia, V., Nigro, L., Marchetti, M., 2011. First field magnetometer
investigation at the Phoenician Island of Mozia (Trapani), Northwestern Sicily: preliminary
results. Archaeol. Prospect. 18, 215–222.
Diodorus, Siculus, 1933-1967. 63 B.C. Library of History (Books I - XII). In: Loeb, C.H. (Ed.),
Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd, Cambridge, MA.
Everett, E.M., 2013. Near-Surface Applied Geophysics. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge.
Falsone, G., 1981. Struttura e origine orientale dei forni da vasaio di Mozia. Fondazione
Whitaker, Palermo.
Falsone, G., Spatafora, A., Giammellaro Spanò, A., Famà, M.L., 1980–81. Gli scavi della
“zona K” a Mozia e il caso stratigrafico del loculo 5615, Kokalos. 26–67.
Famà,M.L., 1997. Gli scavi recenti nell’abitato diMozia: nuove prospettive di indagine alla
luce dei primi risultati della ricerca. Seconde Giornate Internazionali di Studi sull’area
Elima, (Gibellina, 22–26 ottobre 1994). Atti, Pisa-Gibellina, pp. 643–654.
Isserlin, B.S.J., Du Plat Taylor, J., 1974. Motya: a Phoenician and Carthaginian city in Sicily.
Field Work and Excavation, vol. I. Leida.
Lasaponara, R., Masini, N., 2012. Image enhancement, feature extraction and geospatial
analysis. In: Lasaponara, R., Masini, N. (Eds.), Satellite Remote Sensing: A New Tool
for Archaeology, Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing 16. Springer, Berlin,
pp. 17–63.
Moscati, S., Italia, Punica, 1986. Rusconi; Milano.
Nigro, L. (Ed.), 2005. Mozia—XI. Zona C. Il Tempio del Kothon. Rapporto preliminare delle
campagne di scavi XXIII e XXIV (2003–2004). Quaderni di Archeologia Fenicio-
Punica, II. Missione Archeologica a Mozia, Roma. ISBN: 978-88-88438-14-6, p. 604
(ISSN 1824–4017).
Nigro, L. (Ed.), 2007. Mozia—XII. Zona D. La “Casa del sacello domestico”, il
“Basamento meridionale” e il Sondaggio stratigrafico I. Rapporto preliminare
delle campagne di scavi XXIII e XXIV (2003–2004). Quaderni di Archeologia
Fenicio-Punica. Missione Archeologica a Mozia, Roma. ISBN: 978-88-88438-15-
3, p. 352 (ISSN 1824–4017).
Shen, G., Sarris, A., Papadopoulos, N., 2008. Enhancing geophysical signals from archaeological
sites trough the use of wavelet transforms.WSEAS Trans. Syst. 3 (7), 140–147.
Tusa, V., 1983. Mozia ed altre località della Sicilia Occidentale. Annuario della Scuola di
Atene, LXI, Roma, pp. 347–356.
Whitaker, J., 1921. Motya, a Phoenician Colony in Sicily. Bell & Sons, London.
University Press, Cambridge.
Barnett, V., Lewis, T., 1984. Outliers in Statistical Data. Wiley, New York.
Basso, D., Bernasconi, M.P.E., Robba, E., Marozzo, S., 2008. Environmental evolution of the
Marsala sound, Sicily, during the last 6000 years. J. Coast. Res. 24 (1), 177–197.
Beamish, D., 2011. Low induction number, ground conductivity meters: a correction procedure
in the absence of magnetic effects. J. Appl. Geophys. 75, 244–253.
Bondì, S.F., 1988. The Phoenicians, city planning and architecture. The Phoenicians Exhibition
Catalogue. Boringhieri, Milano.
Ciasca, A., 1971. Sul tofet di Mozia. Sicil. Archeol. 4 (14), 10–15.
Ciasca, A., 1992. Mozia: sguardo d'insieme sul tofet. Vicino Oriente 8 (2), 113–155.
Di Mauro, D., Alfonsi, L., Sapia, V., Nigro, L., Marchetti, M., 2011. First field magnetometer
investigation at the Phoenician Island of Mozia (Trapani), Northwestern Sicily: preliminary
results. Archaeol. Prospect. 18, 215–222.
Diodorus, Siculus, 1933-1967. 63 B.C. Library of History (Books I - XII). In: Loeb, C.H. (Ed.),
Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd, Cambridge, MA.
Everett, E.M., 2013. Near-Surface Applied Geophysics. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge.
Falsone, G., 1981. Struttura e origine orientale dei forni da vasaio di Mozia. Fondazione
Whitaker, Palermo.
Falsone, G., Spatafora, A., Giammellaro Spanò, A., Famà, M.L., 1980–81. Gli scavi della
“zona K” a Mozia e il caso stratigrafico del loculo 5615, Kokalos. 26–67.
Famà,M.L., 1997. Gli scavi recenti nell’abitato diMozia: nuove prospettive di indagine alla
luce dei primi risultati della ricerca. Seconde Giornate Internazionali di Studi sull’area
Elima, (Gibellina, 22–26 ottobre 1994). Atti, Pisa-Gibellina, pp. 643–654.
Isserlin, B.S.J., Du Plat Taylor, J., 1974. Motya: a Phoenician and Carthaginian city in Sicily.
Field Work and Excavation, vol. I. Leida.
Lasaponara, R., Masini, N., 2012. Image enhancement, feature extraction and geospatial
analysis. In: Lasaponara, R., Masini, N. (Eds.), Satellite Remote Sensing: A New Tool
for Archaeology, Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing 16. Springer, Berlin,
pp. 17–63.
Moscati, S., Italia, Punica, 1986. Rusconi; Milano.
Nigro, L. (Ed.), 2005. Mozia—XI. Zona C. Il Tempio del Kothon. Rapporto preliminare delle
campagne di scavi XXIII e XXIV (2003–2004). Quaderni di Archeologia Fenicio-
Punica, II. Missione Archeologica a Mozia, Roma. ISBN: 978-88-88438-14-6, p. 604
(ISSN 1824–4017).
Nigro, L. (Ed.), 2007. Mozia—XII. Zona D. La “Casa del sacello domestico”, il
“Basamento meridionale” e il Sondaggio stratigrafico I. Rapporto preliminare
delle campagne di scavi XXIII e XXIV (2003–2004). Quaderni di Archeologia
Fenicio-Punica. Missione Archeologica a Mozia, Roma. ISBN: 978-88-88438-15-
3, p. 352 (ISSN 1824–4017).
Shen, G., Sarris, A., Papadopoulos, N., 2008. Enhancing geophysical signals from archaeological
sites trough the use of wavelet transforms.WSEAS Trans. Syst. 3 (7), 140–147.
Tusa, V., 1983. Mozia ed altre località della Sicilia Occidentale. Annuario della Scuola di
Atene, LXI, Roma, pp. 347–356.
Whitaker, J., 1921. Motya, a Phoenician Colony in Sicily. Bell & Sons, London.
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