Publications
Analisi della convergenza tra logistica militare, telerilevamento aerospaziale e scoperte archeologiche nel XX secolo: correlazione casuale, determinismo orografico o prioritizzazione strategica?
A combination of orographic determinism and military-derived technological spin-off primarily drives the convergence between archaeological discoveries and military activities in the 20th century, according to a comparative analysis of four case studies. The research demonstrates that while some findings may appear accidental, they often result from deliberate strategic prioritization or natural landscape features optimized for both ancient and modern defensive purposes. Methodologically, the study distinguishes between sampling bias, topographic determinism (viewshed optimization), and intentional reuse of ancient structures by military engineering, using a comparative chronological framework and spatial analysis. Cases include the accidental discovery of a Thracian tomb during anti-aircraft trench excavation in Kazanlăk (1944), the strategic use of nuragic complexes for coastal artillery positions at Sant'Elia (Cagliari), and the application of declassified military multispectral sensors to map eroded preceramic terrapens at Poverty Point (USA). The findings challenge traditional narratives of serendipitous archaeological discoveries, highlighting systemic overlaps between military logistics and ancient settlement patterns.
L'Intelligenza Artificiale come Rilevatore di Anomalie Sistemiche nei Testi Classici: Sparagmós Geografico, Anacronismi Stratigrafici e Silencing Informativo tra Filologia Computazionale e Consilienza Archeometrica
AI identifies systemic anomalies in classical texts, revealing structural contradictions between Bronze Age reality and later Hellenic/Roman narratives. The study challenges the traditional 'harmonizing paradigm' by using a Four-Tier Epistemic Demarcation Matrix to filter mechanical errors, literary tropes, and detect three classes of anomalies: geographic inconsistencies (sparagmós), stratigraphic anachronisms, and informational silencing. Validated through archaeometric proxies like radiocarbon dating and dendrochronology, the model demonstrates that North African fleets' reliance on Sardinian-Corsican timber during the Late Bronze Age was logistically absolute, as evidenced by macro-botanical remains at Su Nuraxi di Barumini and Nuraghe Arrubiu. This approach shifts focus from textual correction to uncovering historical 'fault lines' obscured by imperial rewritings.
3D Modelling Approach to Enhance the Characterization of a Bronze Age Nuragic Site
A groundbreaking study on the Bronze Age Nuraghe of Su Nuraxi di Barumini, Sardinia, employs advanced 3D modeling techniques to redefine our understanding of these monumental structures. By integrating Structure-from-Motion Multi-View Stereo (SfM-MVS) photogrammetry with UAV and RTK-GNSS surveys, researchers achieved highly accurate digital reconstructions, revealing insights into the monument's original dimensions and construction materials. This method not only virtualizes the current state of conservation but also provides a robust foundation for future archaeological excavations. The study challenges existing debates on Nuraghe architecture while offering valuable data on material sourcing, contributing significantly to the potential recognition of these sites as UNESCO World Heritage properties.
Social Organization, Intersections, and Interactions in Bronze Age Sardinia. Reading Settlement Patterns in the Area of Sarrala with the Contribution of Applied Sciences
Research on Bronze Age sites in the coastal area of Sarrala, Eastern Sardinia, reveals a society characterized by organized pastoralism and structured social hierarchies. The study identifies a pattern of progressive demographic growth, landscape infilling, and population concentration, accompanied by increased fragmentation and competition among settlements. Notably, sites with archaic features exhibit a consistent use of non-local building materials, suggesting long-lasting authority and ancestral lineage ties. These findings, derived from settlement patterns, building analysis, stable isotopes, archaeogenetics, and paleoclimatology, offer insights into the interplay between internal social dynamics and external factors such as climate change and trade connections, providing a nuanced understanding of Nuragic society.
Climbing the Giara: A quantitative reassessment of movement and visibility in the Nuragic landscape of the Gesturi plateau (South-Central Sardinia, Italy)
A quantitative reassessment of the Nuragic landscape on the Gesturi plateau reveals that nuraghi, prominent Bronze Age monuments, were strategically positioned for long-distance visibility and defense rather than immediate territorial control. Using context-oriented GIS models, researchers analyzed viewsheds and least-cost paths to assess movement patterns and visibility correlations. Findings indicate that nuraghi are not situated at the most accessible points of the plateau but offer extensive visual oversight, suggesting their multifaceted role as landmarks and defensive structures. This challenges long-held assumptions about their primary function, pointing instead toward a more complex significance beyond local territorial dominance.
Landscape and geology as controls on Bronze Age human dispersal: a case study from Sardinia (Italy)
Research reveals that Bronze Age human dispersal in Sardinia, Italy, was significantly influenced by landscape and geological features. The study found that the majority of nuraghes—megalithic towers—were located near plains or mid-elevations close to river networks, particularly in areas with high landscape diversity. These structures also tended to be situated on elevated outcrops, providing strategic advantages such as raised positions and stable foundations. The analysis suggests that denudation processes, Late Holocene sea level rise, and anthropogenic disturbances were key drivers of palaeolandscape changes. By mapping land units in southwestern Sardinia and comparing them with nuraghe distribution, the study offers insights into the sustenance strategies and behaviors of past communities.
Unveiling the Enigmatic Origins of Sardinian Toponyms
A meta-study of Sardinian toponyms reveals that certain place names exhibit phonetic sequences inconsistent with Proto-Indo-European (PIE) roots, suggesting possible pre-IE or non-IE linguistic influences. The research employed historical phonetic chain analysis to identify these anomalies, such as s(a)rd-, kar-, -ini, and [θ]-. While PIE-based theories offer plausible reconstructions, they often overlook contextual factors like hydro-geo-morphology. Conversely, pre-IE/non-IE theories remain speculative due to limited historical data on the Paleo-Sardinian language. The study highlights the complementary yet distinct merits of both linguistic approaches in understanding Sardinian toponymy.
Enhancing visit intention in heritage tourism: The role of object‐based and existential authenticity in non‐immersive virtual reality heritage experiences
Non-immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences significantly enhance visit intentions for UNESCO World Heritage Sites, particularly through their impact on object-based and existential authenticity. Research involving 2085 participants at Su Nuraxi di Barumini in Italy revealed that object-based authenticity—perceived accuracy of historical artifacts and environments—fosters positive emotional responses, which in turn boost satisfaction, attachment to VR, and the desire to visit the site. Existential authenticity, encompassing deeper connections with the site's cultural or spiritual significance, influences both cognitive and affective dimensions, further driving satisfaction and visit intention. This study underscores the potential of VR to bridge experiential gaps in heritage tourism while highlighting the dual role of authenticity in shaping tourist behavior.
Protohistoric Landscapes in Sardinia (Italy): Territorial Control and Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Middle and Late Bronze Ages
During the Middle to Late Bronze Age (XVIII-XII centuries BC), Sardinia's Nuragic culture developed sophisticated territorial control systems, primarily through fortified structures like nuraghi—cyclopean towers—positioned strategically across the island. These monuments, analyzed via GIS techniques including least-cost path analysis, reveal a network designed to surveil and exploit key natural resources while controlling transit routes. The study demonstrates how these systems reflected growing social complexity, hierarchy, and potential militarization, with implications for understanding Protohistoric landscapes in the Western Mediterranean.
Recensione a: Giacomo Paglietti, Su Nuraxi di Barumini. Un approccio metodologico, Arkadia Editore, Cagliari 2018, pp. 150, figg. 75, ISBN: 9788868511814
A comprehensive methodological approach to studying Su Nuraxi di Barumini, a UNESCO-listed Bronze Age site in Sardinia, reveals significant insights into its architectural evolution and cultural significance. Giacomo Paglietti's 2018 work, reviewed by Tronchetti (2020), employs a multidisciplinary framework integrating archaeological analysis with historical context to reconstruct the site's development from its Neolithic origins through its Nuragic peak and beyond. The study highlights the site's adaptive reuse over millennia, offering new perspectives on Bronze Age urban planning and societal organization in the Mediterranean. By synthesizing data from excavations, architectural surveys, and comparative studies, Paglietti provides a nuanced understanding of Su Nuraxi di Barumini's role as both a defensive structure and a ceremonial center.
The protohistoric research in Sardinia (Italy) between 1935 and 1950. The birth of the modern archaeology in the Sardinian island
Modern archaeology in Sardinia, particularly concerning the Nuragic civilization, was significantly advanced between 1935 and 1950 through groundbreaking research led by Giovanni Lilliu. This period marked a pivotal shift, establishing Sardinia as a key site for understanding protohistoric Mediterranean cultures. The study highlights how Lilliu's work laid the foundation for recognizing the Nuragic civilization's global importance, which flourished from the Middle Bronze Age to early Iron Age. By analyzing this era, the research demonstrates how archaeological methods evolved, providing new insights into Sardinia's historical significance and its role in the broader Mediterranean context.
Le fasi Nuragico II e Punico-Romana nel settore nord-occidentale del villaggio di Su Nuraxi di Barumini (Cagliari)
A recent analysis of pottery from Su Nuraxi di Barumini, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sardinia, reveals significant insights into the site's occupation during the Iron Age (Nuragico II phase) and its later Punic-Roman use. The study identifies characteristic ceramic vessels from the 8th century BCE, aligning with known patterns in central-southern Sardinia, while also uncovering sparse but crucial evidence of activity between the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE during the Punic period. This suggests continued habitation or visitation post-Iron Age, challenging earlier assumptions about the site's abandonment. The research employs comparative contextual analysis with other regional sites to classify pottery types and reconstruct chronological narratives, offering a nuanced understanding of Su Nuraxi's layered history.
Su Nuraxi di Barumini: revisione delle designazioni adottate in planimetria
A revised planimetric representation of Su Nuraxi di Barumini resolves long-standing inconsistencies in the labeling of structures across five previously published plans. The study identifies discrepancies—such as omissions, variations, and repetitions—in the naming conventions used since 1955, which have hindered accurate interpretation of the site's layout. By cross-referencing these plans, researchers propose a standardized, unified plan that clarifies the spatial organization of the nuragic village, providing a more reliable foundation for historical reconstruction. This work addresses critical gaps in archaeological documentation while offering a practical tool for scholars and conservators.
Su Nuraxi di Barumini: materiali ceramici dalla capanna 144
A detailed analysis of ceramics from Room 144 at the UNESCO-listed Su Nuraxi di Barumini site suggests that this nuragic structure, dated to the Late Bronze Age II, primarily functioned as a kitchen. The study, based on excavation data from Lilliu (1951-1956), identified a high proportion of pottery linked to fire control and food preparation, supporting the hypothesis that Room 144 served this specialized purpose alongside other functions. Comparative analysis with published nuragic materials refined its chronological placement, contributing new insights into the functional organization of nuragic villages during this period.
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