Integrated geophysical prospecting in the archaeological site of Badia

One of the aims of modern archaeology is the identification of relationships between human communities and their habitat over time. Understanding those links can spread light over the historical development of landscape and the relation between people and environment. In this work, we focus our attention on a settlement in the Apulia region (southern Italy), where remains dating back to Late Antiquity and Early Medieval age have been investigated. The study area, nowadays known as Contrada Badia, is located close to the modern town of Cutrofiano (Lecce). The site has been the object of many archaeological investigations concerning the Classical Roman period evidences. On the other hand few investigations focused on the Late Antique and Early Medieval age. However, recent archaeological excavations revealed important features testifying to the dynamic transformations which occurred in these periods. The above described situation represent an ideal context to develop a framework in which integrated archaeological, geophysical and archaeometric investigations could be of great help in the understanding of historical dynamics. In particular an archaeological survey has been performed at Contrada Badia over an area of about 50 hectares: this led to the identification of two particularly relevant sites. The first one can be identified as a rural settlement dating back to the Imperial and Late Antique period, whereas the second site is likely referable to a medieval abbey.