LiDAR for Italian archaeology. High-resolution elevation data to enrich our understanding of the defensive circuits of a protohistoric site in Southern Italy

This paper presents a case study in which LiDAR data has been studied to provide information on the defensive wall-circuits of a protohistoric site in Southern Italy: Muro Tenente. By applying various approaches of relief visualization, in combination with blending techniques, the high-resolution elevation data is used to shed light on the overgrown and partly lost inner and outer walls of the ancient city. In addition to the application of various analytical representations, a more dynamic approach is proposed using 3D modelling software for realtime visualisations using a realistic shading render engine. The results present new insights into the morphology and preservation of the city walls, as well as providing a new hypothesis regarding their layout.