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Dario Giuffrida

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), CNR-IPCF Istituto per i Processi Chimico Fisici, Ricercatore TD

University of Messina, Dipartimento di Civiltà Antiche e Moderne (Di.C.A.M.), PHD student

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Specialized archaeologist, currently PhD student in Historical, Archaeological and Philological Sciences at the University of Messina. Associate to CNR-IPCF (National Research Council, Institute for Chemical and Physical Processes). Member of the 'Skotoussa-Project', academic program of archaeological researches and excavation in Thessaly.
Wide experience in the fields of digital archaeology, topography and applied technologies for survey, diagnostic, monitoring and fruition of Heritage.
Licensed to draft Archaeological Interest Assessment Reports (VIARCH) and to operate as watching brief (archaeological monitoring).
Certified skills: ECDL Full Standard, ECDL-GIS, Health and Safety at Work – high risk – under Italian D.Lgs. 81/2008, English language.

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Papers by Dario Giuffrida

Looking for the Original Materials and Evidence of Restoration at the Vault of the San Panfilo Church in Tornimparte (AQ)

Applied Sciences

This paper reports the investigation of six microsamples collected from the vault of the San Panf... more This paper reports the investigation of six microsamples collected from the vault of the San Panfilo Church in Tornimparte (AQ). The aim was to detect the composition of the pigments and protective/varnishes, and to investigate the executive technique, the conservation state, and the evidence of the restoration works carried out in the past. Six microsamples were analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The investigations were carried out within the framework of the Tornimparte project “Archeometric investigation of the pictorial cycle of Saturnino Gatti in Tornimparte (AQ, Italy)” sponsored in 2021 by the Italian Association of Archeometry (AIAr).

New insight about the mural painting branches of Roman baths in Reggio Calabria

Proceedings of the 2022 IMEKO TC4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

The Roman thermae in Reggio Calabria (Italy) provides many information regarding both engineering... more The Roman thermae in Reggio Calabria (Italy) provides many information regarding both engineering and technology for this type of buildings. A small treasure of three survived mural paintings encloses information about the artistic style and the ancient luxury of the baths. In order to get light on the executive technique and conservation state we performed the investigation of these paintings by following a non-invasive approach composed of multispectral imaging and spectroscopic analysis. By so doing, we determined the pigment palette and the distribution of some pigments allowing us to make some hypothesis about the executive technique and to provide a basis for a future virtual restoration of the paintings.

Non-invasive investigation on pigments of the Aeolian Islands Neolithic pottery

Materials Letters

The Neolithic painted pottery, spread all over southern Italy, is considered as an important chro... more The Neolithic painted pottery, spread all over southern Italy, is considered as an important chronological indicator for the development of VI-V millennium BC prehistoric settlements and cultural traditions. The goal of this work is to contribute to the study of this ceramic class through the chemical characterization of some samples coming from the Aeolian Islands. 16 different sherds have been selected and the pigments preserved in their decorations analyzed via non-invasive techniques: Fiber Optical Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Raman Spectroscopy and Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The different pigments, some of which no longer clearly visible to the naked eye (red ochre and raw umber) were identified, while the FT-IR data provided information about the pottery differentiation.

Terrestrial laser scanning for the modelling of indoor archaeological areas: two case-studies from Reggio Calabria, Italy

Journal of Physics: Conference Series

The work shows the application of a portable terrestrial laser scanner for the three-dimensional ... more The work shows the application of a portable terrestrial laser scanner for the three-dimensional survey and modelling of two archaeological areas preserved in the urban fabric of Reggio Calabria, Italy: the underground site of Piazza Italia, better known as “Ipogeo”, and the ruins of the s.c. odéon, located in the basement of a residential building in via 24 Maggio. The two case studies, compared to the other sites preserved in the city center, share a common element: they are not outdoors but have been incorporated into modern buildings and therefore they are not immediately visible. Due to the specific features of the sites, the use of a portable laser-scanning system has been considered the most suitable, accurate and quick solution in order to produce high-resolution as-built 3d models of the structures. The latter will be used as support to derive plans and sections, to carry out further virtual reconstructions and to plan a scan-to-bim process.

La 'Campagna Tessala' Del 197 A.C. Aspetti Topografici, Viari e Difensivi Del Territorio Tra Pelasgiotide e Ftiotide

In occasione dei Giochi Panellenici di Istmia del 196 a.C., il proconsole romano T.Q. Flaminino p... more In occasione dei Giochi Panellenici di Istmia del 196 a.C., il proconsole romano T.Q. Flaminino proclama le città della Grecia liberae atque immunes. L'annuncio, di pura propaganda, costituisce il coronamento di quanto avvenuto l'anno precedente a Kynoskephalai, Tessaglia: la vittoria delle legioni romane sulla falange macedone di Filippo V in una battaglia che pose fine alla Seconda Guerra Macedonica (200-197 a.C.), segnando un definitivo cambio di egemonia politica nei Balcani. Lo studio della 'campagna tessala' ha costituito il pretesto per tracciare un quadro sugli aspetti topografici, viari e difensivi del territorio ubicato al confine tra Pelasgiotide e Ftiotide, teatro delle manovre militari. La metodologia di indagine è basata su una revisione delle fonti storico-letterarie e degli studi pregressi alla luce degli ultimi dati acquisiti mediante telerilevamento e ricognizione diretta. During the 196 BC Panhellenic Games held in Isthmia, the Roman proconsul T.Q....

Combined Methodologies for the Survey and Documentation of Historical Buildings: The Castle of Scalea (CS, Italy)

Heritage, 2019

In the last few years, new technologies have become indispensable tools for specialists in the fi... more In the last few years, new technologies have become indispensable tools for specialists in the field of cultural heritage for the analysis, reconstruction and interpretation of data but also for promotion of artefacts or buildings sometimes inaccessible or in a bad state of conservation. The discipline of geomatics offer many opportunities and solutions for integrated digital surveys and the documentation of heritage (point-based methods, image-based photogrammetry and their combination): These data can be processed in order to derive metric information and share them using databases or GIS (geographic information system) tools. This paper is focused on the description of combined survey methodologies adopted for the geometric and architectural documentation of the site and surviving structures of the Castel of Scalea (Cosenza, Italy). It is a typical context where traditional survey procedures do not fully succeed or require a longer amount of time and great effort if a high level ...

Non-invasive investigation on pigments of the Aeolian Islands Neolithic pottery

by Dario Giuffrida, Maria Martinelli, and Rosa Ponterio

Materials Letters, 133854, ISSN 0167-577X, 2023

The Neolithic painted pottery, spread all over southern Italy, is considered as an important chro... more The Neolithic painted pottery, spread all over southern Italy, is considered as an important chronological indicator for the development of VI-V millennium BC prehistoric settlements and cultural traditions. The goal of this work is to contribute to the study of this ceramic class through the chemical characterization of some samples coming from the Aeolian Islands. 16 different sherds have been selected and the pigments preserved in their decorations analyzed via non-invasive techniques: Fiber Optical Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Raman Spectroscopy and Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The different pigments, some of which no longer clearly visible to the naked eye (red ochre and raw umber) were identified, while the FT-IR data provided information about the pottery differentiation.

Applications of laser scanning systems for the study, preservation and promotion of architectural heritage: the church of St. Nicola in Motta St. Agata (Reggio Calabria, Italy)

Optics for Arts, Architecture, and Archaeology VIII, 2021

A theatrical double-faced mask preserved at the Museum of Lipari (Messina): study and 3D reconstruction through portable equipment

The new tools for 3D survey and modelling (as portable scanners and software packages), often in ... more The new tools for 3D survey and modelling (as portable scanners and software packages), often in combination with diagnostics, are nowadays able to provide indispensable elements for the study of archaeological artefacts; their applications to museum’s heritage can be also useful to integrate the traditional graphic documentation and contribute to enhancement and dissemination. This paper concerns the study of a peculiar find coming from the Greek necropolis of Lipara : the clay mask No. 11114-E, discovered in 1973 inside the tomb No. 1558 and now exhibited in the Classical Section of the Aeolian Museum. The specimen is considered unique both in the Aeolian Islands and in the ancient Greek world, as it is the only one merging two half faces attributable to different characters. This feature, unknown at the time of discovery, has been highlighted only in 2018, thanks to a restoration intervention by which a hard concretion covering a large portion of the surface of the mask has been ...

A Multi-Analytical Study for the Enhancement and Accessibility of Archaeological Heritage: The Churches of San Nicola and San Basilio in Motta Sant’Agata (RC, Italy)

Remote Sensing, 2021

In the coming years, Italy will need to take on a great challenge concerning the digitization of ... more In the coming years, Italy will need to take on a great challenge concerning the digitization of its archaeological and architectural heritage, one of the richest and most problematic in the world. The aim is to improve the knowledge, conservation, enhancement and accessibility of cultural assets and to make them a resource for national and local development. In this process, the next generation of 3D survey methods (laser scanning and photogrammetry), in combination with diagnostic techniques (spectroscopy analyses) and GIS/BIM (Geographic Information System/Building Information Modeling) solutions, represent a valid support. This work, part of a broader intervention launched by the Municipality of Reggio Calabria for the requalification of some archaeological sites located within its urban and metropolitan area, is focused on the study case of Motta S. Agata. The ancient settlement is located 8 km from Reggio C. in a hilly area difficult to reach and preserves numerous structures ...

Combined 3D Surveying and Raman Spectroscopy Techniques on Artifacts Preserved at Archaeological Museum of Lipari

Heritage, 2019

Over the last years, the documentation of Heritage has been increasingly enriched with new forms ... more Over the last years, the documentation of Heritage has been increasingly enriched with new forms of data representation and contents deriving from technological applications on artifacts and the progress of computer graphics: if, on the one hand, 3D survey has become an effective tool supplementing and supporting traditional study activities, as it can generate accurate and high-resolution digital models (available especially when physical access to materials is not possible, but also for enhancement or to formulate hypothetic reconstruction), on the other, archaeometry investigations can provide all that information (about composition, firing temperature of clay, etc.) that autopsy, comparison, formal, contextual, or bibliographic analysis cannot do on their own.

A Combined Study of Art Works Preserved in the Archaeological Museums: 3D Survey, Spectroscopic Approach and Augmented Reality

ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 2019

The renewed interest, in the context of international museological studies, for historical instal... more The renewed interest, in the context of international museological studies, for historical installations such as museographic devices (able to give shape to a space duly dialoguing with the user), is due today to their communicative immediacy. In recent years the availability of libraries and tools for the use of augmented reality (AR) content has undergone an important increase. AR innovation represents a new method for enhancing the presence visitors into the museum industry despite its use leads to an increase in costs and instrumental investments. In this regard, in a wider work of valorisation and dissemination of archaeological heritage, we are working on the development of an app for tourism purposes. The aim of this paper is the application of some techniques (3D modelling, spectroscopy, virtual reality) to study, record and make available information about archaeological artefacts preserved in the Regional Museum of Lipari (clay masks) and in the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria (the statue Kouros and the Amphoras). The three-dimensional models produced are well suited to applications of augmented reality for the promotion and dissemination of information on the archaeological /architectural/cultural heritage. Moreover, the integration of the information about characterization of materials are essential in order to identify both geographic area of provenience and manufacturing historic period. Some pigments or medium, and in general all materials, can be indeed connected to a determinate historic time or to a specific artist; to this particular purpose spectroscopic methods are valid approach for their non-destructive nature.

The Church of S. Maria Delle Palate in Tusa (Messina, Italy): Digitization and Diagnostics for a New Model of Enjoyment

Remote Sensing, 2022

Cultural places represent the tangible part of the identity and historical heritage of a civiliza... more Cultural places represent the tangible part of the identity and historical heritage of a civilization as well as an extraordinary driving force for the economic development of a country. Within its huge asset, Italy counts a wide number of archaeological sites and monuments which, despite their cultural value, are totally cut off from the most important cultural routes. This paper aims to demonstrate how specific actions of digitization can contribute to valorize (restoring a cultural value) ‘marginal’ landmarks, promoting their knowledge and inclusion. The case study described is represented by the Church of “Santa Maria delle Palate”, located inside the well-known Archaeological Park of Halaesa Arconidea (Tusa, ME). The church, built in 1551 and subject to several renovations throughout the centuries, has been investigated as part of an interdisciplinary training and skill transfer project carried out by a CNR-IPCF research team. During the activities, the group of trainees approa...

La ‘campagna tessala’ del 197 A.C. Aspetti topografici, viari e difensivi del territorio tra Pelasgiotide e Ftiotide

Peloro, Rivista del dottorato in scienze umanistiche VI, 2 - 2021, 2021

During the 196 BC Panhellenic Games held in Isthmia, the Roman proconsul T.Q. Flamininus proclaim... more During the 196 BC Panhellenic Games held in Isthmia, the Roman proconsul T.Q. Flamininus proclaims the cities of Greece liberae atque immunes. This announcement, of pure propaganda, represents the crowning glory of the events occurred one year earlier in Kynoskephalai, Thessaly: the victory of the Roman legions over the Philip V’s Macedonian phalanx. The battle put an end to the Second Macedonian War (200-197 BC) and entailed a definitive change of the political hegemony over the Balkans. The study of the ‘Thessalian campaign’ has been the pretext to get an overall view of topography, road layouts and defensive organization of the territory located between Pelasgiotis and Phthiotis, scenery of the war manoeuvres. The research approach is based on reviews of historical-literary sources and previous studies in the light of latest results achieved through both remote-sensing and direct survey.

A Multi-Analytical Study for the Enhancement and Accessibility of Archaeological Heritage: The Churches of San Nicola and San Basilio in Motta Sant'Agata (RC, Italy)

Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 3738, 2021

In the coming years, Italy will need to take on a great challenge concerning the digitization of ... more In the coming years, Italy will need to take on a great challenge concerning the digitization of its archaeological and architectural heritage, one of the richest and most problematic in the world. The aim is to improve the knowledge, conservation, enhancement and accessibility of cultural assets and to make them a resource for national and local development. In this process, the next generation of 3D survey methods (laser scanning and photogrammetry), in combination with diagnostic techniques (spectroscopy analyses) and GIS/BIM (Geographic Information System/Building Information Modeling) solutions, represent a valid support. This work, part of a broader intervention launched by the Municipality of Reggio Calabria for the requalification of some archaeological sites located within its urban and metropolitan area, is focused on the study case of Motta S. Agata. The ancient settlement is located 8 km from Reggio C. in a hilly area difficult to reach and preserves numerous structures in a state of ruin. Among these, two interesting medieval churches are proposed for examination: the church of San Nicola, characterized by five hypogeal funeral crypts, and the chapel of San Basilio, which preserves the traces of a wall painting. A multi-methodological approach including close-range photogrammetry, laser scanning and chemical and thermal analyses was adopted in order to fulfill different tasks: creating a topographic model of the hillfort, mapping the archaeological evidence, digitizing and returning 3D models of the churches, characterizing materials through chemical analyses and monitoring the surfaces with thermal imaging. These combined applications have contributed to reaching the planned goals, i.e., study, conservation, diagnostics, preparation for restoration interventions, development of digital media and dissemination. In this way, a type of interactive museum (made up of virtual tours and informative digital models) has been made available in order to improve the site’s accessibility and inclusivity as well as to test the effect of digitization in attracting tourists and local people toward a place located outside of the usual tourist circuits.

Application of laser-scanning and digital photogrammetry techniques in Archaeometry.

Proceeding of 2nd Archaeometry and Underwater Archaeology “Sebastiano Tusa” Summer School Favignana (TP) 6 - 12 September 2020, (a cura di) Eugenio Caponetti, Palermo University Press (ISBN 978-88-5509-192-3)., 2020

Giuffrida D., Mollica Nardo V., Trusso S., Ponterio R. C., Application of laser-scanning and digi... more Giuffrida D., Mollica Nardo V., Trusso S., Ponterio R. C., Application of laser-scanning and digital photogrammetry techniques in archaeometry, in Proceeding of 2nd Archaeometry and Underwater Archaeology “Sebastiano Tusa” Summer School Favignana (TP) 6 - 12 September 2020, (a cura di) Eugenio Caponetti, Palermo University Press, 2020. (ISBN 978-88-5509-192-3).

A theatrical double-faced mask preserved at the Museum of Lipari (Messina): study and 3D reconstruction through portable equipment

Virtual Archaeology Review, [S.l.], oct. 2020. ISSN 1989-9947. Available at: <https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/var/article/view/13916>. , 2021

The new tools for 3D survey and modelling (as portable scanners and software packages), often in ... more The new tools for 3D survey and modelling (as portable scanners and software packages), often in combination with diagnostics, are nowadays able to provide indispensable elements for the study of archaeological artefacts; their applications to museum's heritage can be also useful to integrate the traditional graphic documentation and contribute to enhancement and dissemination. This paper concerns the study of a peculiar find coming from the Greek necropolis of Lipára: the clay mask No. 11114-E, discovered in 1973 inside the tomb No. 1558 and now exhibited in the Classical Section of the Aeolian Museum. The specimen is considered unique both in the Aeolian Islands and in the ancient Greek world, as it is the only one merging two half faces attributable to different characters. This feature, unknown at the time of discovery, has been highlighted only in 2018, thanks to a restoration intervention by which a hard concretion covering a large portion of the surface of the mask has been removed, bringing to light a smiling young half-face next to an old one with Silenic features. In 2019, the mask has been surveyed in situ through a portable and performing laser-scanner arm (the Quantum TM FaroArm by FARO) with the aim to achieve a high-resolution 3D model useful to enhance the reading of the two halves (not so evident, due to its state of preservation). The data processing has been performed employing the software Geomagic Wrap able to align and merge multiple scans into a single model and to export it in multiple formats, easily shareable and viewable in free software or via the web. This method allowed, finally, the generation of a digital replica that could serve as a support for the hypothetical reconstruction of the two prototypes taken as a model by the craftsman for the creation of the mask, as well for dissemination.

Il castello, le torri e la città in età medioevale, in "Scalea e il suo territorio in età antica" (a cura di F. Mollo)

Scalea e il suo territorio in età antica (a cura di Fabrizio Mollo), Rubbettino Editore, Storia, Archeologia, 2019, ISBN: 9788849862010, 2019

The chapter, part of a wider book about Scalea and its territory in ancient times, is divided int... more The chapter, part of a wider book about Scalea and its territory in ancient times, is divided into three sections: the first provides an update of the historical-archaeological data relating to the Castle of Scalea, resulting from a on-site careful survey and stratigraphic analysis of the elevations; the second deals with the ancient settlement of Scalea and its fortifications (towers and gates) during the Middle Ages; the third aims to reconsider the role of the center of Scalea in the framework the Encastellation in the northern Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria, between 9th and 19th centuries.

Combined 3D Surveying and Raman Spectroscopy Techniques on Artifacts Preserved at Archaeological Museum of Lipari

MDPI - Heritage 2019, 2(3), 2017-2027; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage2030121, Special Issue Materials and Methods in Cultural Heritage: The role of Archaeometry in Museums), 2019

Over the last years, the documentation of Heritage has been increasingly enriched with new forms ... more Over the last years, the documentation of Heritage has been increasingly enriched with new forms of data representation and contents deriving from technological applications on artifacts and the progress of computer graphics: if, on the one hand, 3D survey has become an effective tool supplementing and supporting traditional study activities, as it can generate accurate and high-resolution digital models (available especially when physical access to materials is not possible, but also for enhancement or to formulate hypothetic reconstruction), on the other, archaeometry investigations can provide all that information (about composition, firing temperature of clay, etc.) that autopsy, comparison, formal, contextual, or bibliographic analysis cannot do on their own. This paper aims to show the potentialities of combined use of these non-destructive and non-contact approaches on the archaeological artifacts preserved at the Regional Museum of Lipari "L. Bernabò Brea" for the analysis, diagnostic, fruition, and forthcoming restoration purposes. Different methodologies, such as laser-based surveying, sfm digital photogrammetry, and Raman spectroscopy have been, respectively, adopted and combined to get reconstruction and characterize several clay masks and two figured calyx-kraters. The latter technique, in particular, has proved to be useful in compositional analysis of dyes and pigments contained in the clay.

Combined Methodologies for the Survey and Documentation of Historical Buildings: The Castle of Scalea (CS, Italy)

by Dario Giuffrida and Eugenio Donato

MDPI - Heritage 2019, 2(3), 2384-2397 - Special Issue Materials and Methods in Cultural Heritage: The role of Archaeometry in Museums (ISSN 2571-9408), 2019

In the last few years, new technologies have become indispensable tools for specialists in the fi... more In the last few years, new technologies have become indispensable tools for specialists in the field of cultural heritage for the analysis, reconstruction and interpretation of data but also for promotion of artefacts or buildings sometimes inaccessible or in a bad state of conservation. The discipline of geomatics offer many opportunities and solutions for integrated digital surveys and the documentation of heritage (point-based methods, image-based photogrammetry and their combination): These data can be processed in order to derive metric information and share them using databases or GIS (geographic information system) tools. This paper is focused on the description of combined survey methodologies adopted for the geometric and architectural documentation of the site and surviving structures of the Castel of Scalea (Cosenza, Italy). It is a typical context where traditional survey procedures do not fully succeed or require a longer amount of time and great effort if a high level of accuracy is requested: For this reason, aerial close-range digital photogrammetry enhanced by the GNSS (global navigation satellite system), and total station positioning systems have been used at various levels of detail for the production of a detailed 3D model and 2D thematic maps with an excellent level of in the positioning of the structures and in the architectural drawing. Thanks to the collected dataset, it was possible to better identify the building units (CF), to digitize the limits of the masonry stratigraphic units (USM), and to draw up a first constructive diachronic sequence hypothesis on which to base chronology. Moreover, some particular masonry techniques have been sampled and compared at the regional level with the aim to better dating of constructive expedients. It was finally demonstrated how the use of integrated methodologies allows us to obtain a complete and detailed documentation including information regarding not only architectural and geometrical features but also archaeological and historical elements, building materials and decay evidences-all useful as support of the interpretation of data.

Looking for the Original Materials and Evidence of Restoration at the Vault of the San Panfilo Church in Tornimparte (AQ)

Applied Sciences

This paper reports the investigation of six microsamples collected from the vault of the San Panf... more This paper reports the investigation of six microsamples collected from the vault of the San Panfilo Church in Tornimparte (AQ). The aim was to detect the composition of the pigments and protective/varnishes, and to investigate the executive technique, the conservation state, and the evidence of the restoration works carried out in the past. Six microsamples were analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The investigations were carried out within the framework of the Tornimparte project “Archeometric investigation of the pictorial cycle of Saturnino Gatti in Tornimparte (AQ, Italy)” sponsored in 2021 by the Italian Association of Archeometry (AIAr).

New insight about the mural painting branches of Roman baths in Reggio Calabria

Proceedings of the 2022 IMEKO TC4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

The Roman thermae in Reggio Calabria (Italy) provides many information regarding both engineering... more The Roman thermae in Reggio Calabria (Italy) provides many information regarding both engineering and technology for this type of buildings. A small treasure of three survived mural paintings encloses information about the artistic style and the ancient luxury of the baths. In order to get light on the executive technique and conservation state we performed the investigation of these paintings by following a non-invasive approach composed of multispectral imaging and spectroscopic analysis. By so doing, we determined the pigment palette and the distribution of some pigments allowing us to make some hypothesis about the executive technique and to provide a basis for a future virtual restoration of the paintings.

Non-invasive investigation on pigments of the Aeolian Islands Neolithic pottery

Materials Letters

The Neolithic painted pottery, spread all over southern Italy, is considered as an important chro... more The Neolithic painted pottery, spread all over southern Italy, is considered as an important chronological indicator for the development of VI-V millennium BC prehistoric settlements and cultural traditions. The goal of this work is to contribute to the study of this ceramic class through the chemical characterization of some samples coming from the Aeolian Islands. 16 different sherds have been selected and the pigments preserved in their decorations analyzed via non-invasive techniques: Fiber Optical Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Raman Spectroscopy and Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The different pigments, some of which no longer clearly visible to the naked eye (red ochre and raw umber) were identified, while the FT-IR data provided information about the pottery differentiation.

Terrestrial laser scanning for the modelling of indoor archaeological areas: two case-studies from Reggio Calabria, Italy

Journal of Physics: Conference Series

The work shows the application of a portable terrestrial laser scanner for the three-dimensional ... more The work shows the application of a portable terrestrial laser scanner for the three-dimensional survey and modelling of two archaeological areas preserved in the urban fabric of Reggio Calabria, Italy: the underground site of Piazza Italia, better known as “Ipogeo”, and the ruins of the s.c. odéon, located in the basement of a residential building in via 24 Maggio. The two case studies, compared to the other sites preserved in the city center, share a common element: they are not outdoors but have been incorporated into modern buildings and therefore they are not immediately visible. Due to the specific features of the sites, the use of a portable laser-scanning system has been considered the most suitable, accurate and quick solution in order to produce high-resolution as-built 3d models of the structures. The latter will be used as support to derive plans and sections, to carry out further virtual reconstructions and to plan a scan-to-bim process.

La 'Campagna Tessala' Del 197 A.C. Aspetti Topografici, Viari e Difensivi Del Territorio Tra Pelasgiotide e Ftiotide

In occasione dei Giochi Panellenici di Istmia del 196 a.C., il proconsole romano T.Q. Flaminino p... more In occasione dei Giochi Panellenici di Istmia del 196 a.C., il proconsole romano T.Q. Flaminino proclama le città della Grecia liberae atque immunes. L'annuncio, di pura propaganda, costituisce il coronamento di quanto avvenuto l'anno precedente a Kynoskephalai, Tessaglia: la vittoria delle legioni romane sulla falange macedone di Filippo V in una battaglia che pose fine alla Seconda Guerra Macedonica (200-197 a.C.), segnando un definitivo cambio di egemonia politica nei Balcani. Lo studio della 'campagna tessala' ha costituito il pretesto per tracciare un quadro sugli aspetti topografici, viari e difensivi del territorio ubicato al confine tra Pelasgiotide e Ftiotide, teatro delle manovre militari. La metodologia di indagine è basata su una revisione delle fonti storico-letterarie e degli studi pregressi alla luce degli ultimi dati acquisiti mediante telerilevamento e ricognizione diretta. During the 196 BC Panhellenic Games held in Isthmia, the Roman proconsul T.Q....

Combined Methodologies for the Survey and Documentation of Historical Buildings: The Castle of Scalea (CS, Italy)

Heritage, 2019

In the last few years, new technologies have become indispensable tools for specialists in the fi... more In the last few years, new technologies have become indispensable tools for specialists in the field of cultural heritage for the analysis, reconstruction and interpretation of data but also for promotion of artefacts or buildings sometimes inaccessible or in a bad state of conservation. The discipline of geomatics offer many opportunities and solutions for integrated digital surveys and the documentation of heritage (point-based methods, image-based photogrammetry and their combination): These data can be processed in order to derive metric information and share them using databases or GIS (geographic information system) tools. This paper is focused on the description of combined survey methodologies adopted for the geometric and architectural documentation of the site and surviving structures of the Castel of Scalea (Cosenza, Italy). It is a typical context where traditional survey procedures do not fully succeed or require a longer amount of time and great effort if a high level ...

Non-invasive investigation on pigments of the Aeolian Islands Neolithic pottery

by Dario Giuffrida, Maria Martinelli, and Rosa Ponterio

Materials Letters, 133854, ISSN 0167-577X, 2023

The Neolithic painted pottery, spread all over southern Italy, is considered as an important chro... more The Neolithic painted pottery, spread all over southern Italy, is considered as an important chronological indicator for the development of VI-V millennium BC prehistoric settlements and cultural traditions. The goal of this work is to contribute to the study of this ceramic class through the chemical characterization of some samples coming from the Aeolian Islands. 16 different sherds have been selected and the pigments preserved in their decorations analyzed via non-invasive techniques: Fiber Optical Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Raman Spectroscopy and Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The different pigments, some of which no longer clearly visible to the naked eye (red ochre and raw umber) were identified, while the FT-IR data provided information about the pottery differentiation.

Applications of laser scanning systems for the study, preservation and promotion of architectural heritage: the church of St. Nicola in Motta St. Agata (Reggio Calabria, Italy)

Optics for Arts, Architecture, and Archaeology VIII, 2021

A theatrical double-faced mask preserved at the Museum of Lipari (Messina): study and 3D reconstruction through portable equipment

The new tools for 3D survey and modelling (as portable scanners and software packages), often in ... more The new tools for 3D survey and modelling (as portable scanners and software packages), often in combination with diagnostics, are nowadays able to provide indispensable elements for the study of archaeological artefacts; their applications to museum’s heritage can be also useful to integrate the traditional graphic documentation and contribute to enhancement and dissemination. This paper concerns the study of a peculiar find coming from the Greek necropolis of Lipara : the clay mask No. 11114-E, discovered in 1973 inside the tomb No. 1558 and now exhibited in the Classical Section of the Aeolian Museum. The specimen is considered unique both in the Aeolian Islands and in the ancient Greek world, as it is the only one merging two half faces attributable to different characters. This feature, unknown at the time of discovery, has been highlighted only in 2018, thanks to a restoration intervention by which a hard concretion covering a large portion of the surface of the mask has been ...

A Multi-Analytical Study for the Enhancement and Accessibility of Archaeological Heritage: The Churches of San Nicola and San Basilio in Motta Sant’Agata (RC, Italy)

Remote Sensing, 2021

In the coming years, Italy will need to take on a great challenge concerning the digitization of ... more In the coming years, Italy will need to take on a great challenge concerning the digitization of its archaeological and architectural heritage, one of the richest and most problematic in the world. The aim is to improve the knowledge, conservation, enhancement and accessibility of cultural assets and to make them a resource for national and local development. In this process, the next generation of 3D survey methods (laser scanning and photogrammetry), in combination with diagnostic techniques (spectroscopy analyses) and GIS/BIM (Geographic Information System/Building Information Modeling) solutions, represent a valid support. This work, part of a broader intervention launched by the Municipality of Reggio Calabria for the requalification of some archaeological sites located within its urban and metropolitan area, is focused on the study case of Motta S. Agata. The ancient settlement is located 8 km from Reggio C. in a hilly area difficult to reach and preserves numerous structures ...

Combined 3D Surveying and Raman Spectroscopy Techniques on Artifacts Preserved at Archaeological Museum of Lipari

Heritage, 2019

Over the last years, the documentation of Heritage has been increasingly enriched with new forms ... more Over the last years, the documentation of Heritage has been increasingly enriched with new forms of data representation and contents deriving from technological applications on artifacts and the progress of computer graphics: if, on the one hand, 3D survey has become an effective tool supplementing and supporting traditional study activities, as it can generate accurate and high-resolution digital models (available especially when physical access to materials is not possible, but also for enhancement or to formulate hypothetic reconstruction), on the other, archaeometry investigations can provide all that information (about composition, firing temperature of clay, etc.) that autopsy, comparison, formal, contextual, or bibliographic analysis cannot do on their own.

A Combined Study of Art Works Preserved in the Archaeological Museums: 3D Survey, Spectroscopic Approach and Augmented Reality

ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 2019

The renewed interest, in the context of international museological studies, for historical instal... more The renewed interest, in the context of international museological studies, for historical installations such as museographic devices (able to give shape to a space duly dialoguing with the user), is due today to their communicative immediacy. In recent years the availability of libraries and tools for the use of augmented reality (AR) content has undergone an important increase. AR innovation represents a new method for enhancing the presence visitors into the museum industry despite its use leads to an increase in costs and instrumental investments. In this regard, in a wider work of valorisation and dissemination of archaeological heritage, we are working on the development of an app for tourism purposes. The aim of this paper is the application of some techniques (3D modelling, spectroscopy, virtual reality) to study, record and make available information about archaeological artefacts preserved in the Regional Museum of Lipari (clay masks) and in the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria (the statue Kouros and the Amphoras). The three-dimensional models produced are well suited to applications of augmented reality for the promotion and dissemination of information on the archaeological /architectural/cultural heritage. Moreover, the integration of the information about characterization of materials are essential in order to identify both geographic area of provenience and manufacturing historic period. Some pigments or medium, and in general all materials, can be indeed connected to a determinate historic time or to a specific artist; to this particular purpose spectroscopic methods are valid approach for their non-destructive nature.

The Church of S. Maria Delle Palate in Tusa (Messina, Italy): Digitization and Diagnostics for a New Model of Enjoyment

Remote Sensing, 2022

Cultural places represent the tangible part of the identity and historical heritage of a civiliza... more Cultural places represent the tangible part of the identity and historical heritage of a civilization as well as an extraordinary driving force for the economic development of a country. Within its huge asset, Italy counts a wide number of archaeological sites and monuments which, despite their cultural value, are totally cut off from the most important cultural routes. This paper aims to demonstrate how specific actions of digitization can contribute to valorize (restoring a cultural value) ‘marginal’ landmarks, promoting their knowledge and inclusion. The case study described is represented by the Church of “Santa Maria delle Palate”, located inside the well-known Archaeological Park of Halaesa Arconidea (Tusa, ME). The church, built in 1551 and subject to several renovations throughout the centuries, has been investigated as part of an interdisciplinary training and skill transfer project carried out by a CNR-IPCF research team. During the activities, the group of trainees approa...

La ‘campagna tessala’ del 197 A.C. Aspetti topografici, viari e difensivi del territorio tra Pelasgiotide e Ftiotide

Peloro, Rivista del dottorato in scienze umanistiche VI, 2 - 2021, 2021

During the 196 BC Panhellenic Games held in Isthmia, the Roman proconsul T.Q. Flamininus proclaim... more During the 196 BC Panhellenic Games held in Isthmia, the Roman proconsul T.Q. Flamininus proclaims the cities of Greece liberae atque immunes. This announcement, of pure propaganda, represents the crowning glory of the events occurred one year earlier in Kynoskephalai, Thessaly: the victory of the Roman legions over the Philip V’s Macedonian phalanx. The battle put an end to the Second Macedonian War (200-197 BC) and entailed a definitive change of the political hegemony over the Balkans. The study of the ‘Thessalian campaign’ has been the pretext to get an overall view of topography, road layouts and defensive organization of the territory located between Pelasgiotis and Phthiotis, scenery of the war manoeuvres. The research approach is based on reviews of historical-literary sources and previous studies in the light of latest results achieved through both remote-sensing and direct survey.

A Multi-Analytical Study for the Enhancement and Accessibility of Archaeological Heritage: The Churches of San Nicola and San Basilio in Motta Sant'Agata (RC, Italy)

Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 3738, 2021

In the coming years, Italy will need to take on a great challenge concerning the digitization of ... more In the coming years, Italy will need to take on a great challenge concerning the digitization of its archaeological and architectural heritage, one of the richest and most problematic in the world. The aim is to improve the knowledge, conservation, enhancement and accessibility of cultural assets and to make them a resource for national and local development. In this process, the next generation of 3D survey methods (laser scanning and photogrammetry), in combination with diagnostic techniques (spectroscopy analyses) and GIS/BIM (Geographic Information System/Building Information Modeling) solutions, represent a valid support. This work, part of a broader intervention launched by the Municipality of Reggio Calabria for the requalification of some archaeological sites located within its urban and metropolitan area, is focused on the study case of Motta S. Agata. The ancient settlement is located 8 km from Reggio C. in a hilly area difficult to reach and preserves numerous structures in a state of ruin. Among these, two interesting medieval churches are proposed for examination: the church of San Nicola, characterized by five hypogeal funeral crypts, and the chapel of San Basilio, which preserves the traces of a wall painting. A multi-methodological approach including close-range photogrammetry, laser scanning and chemical and thermal analyses was adopted in order to fulfill different tasks: creating a topographic model of the hillfort, mapping the archaeological evidence, digitizing and returning 3D models of the churches, characterizing materials through chemical analyses and monitoring the surfaces with thermal imaging. These combined applications have contributed to reaching the planned goals, i.e., study, conservation, diagnostics, preparation for restoration interventions, development of digital media and dissemination. In this way, a type of interactive museum (made up of virtual tours and informative digital models) has been made available in order to improve the site’s accessibility and inclusivity as well as to test the effect of digitization in attracting tourists and local people toward a place located outside of the usual tourist circuits.

Application of laser-scanning and digital photogrammetry techniques in Archaeometry.

Proceeding of 2nd Archaeometry and Underwater Archaeology “Sebastiano Tusa” Summer School Favignana (TP) 6 - 12 September 2020, (a cura di) Eugenio Caponetti, Palermo University Press (ISBN 978-88-5509-192-3)., 2020

Giuffrida D., Mollica Nardo V., Trusso S., Ponterio R. C., Application of laser-scanning and digi... more Giuffrida D., Mollica Nardo V., Trusso S., Ponterio R. C., Application of laser-scanning and digital photogrammetry techniques in archaeometry, in Proceeding of 2nd Archaeometry and Underwater Archaeology “Sebastiano Tusa” Summer School Favignana (TP) 6 - 12 September 2020, (a cura di) Eugenio Caponetti, Palermo University Press, 2020. (ISBN 978-88-5509-192-3).

A theatrical double-faced mask preserved at the Museum of Lipari (Messina): study and 3D reconstruction through portable equipment

Virtual Archaeology Review, [S.l.], oct. 2020. ISSN 1989-9947. Available at: <https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/var/article/view/13916>. , 2021

The new tools for 3D survey and modelling (as portable scanners and software packages), often in ... more The new tools for 3D survey and modelling (as portable scanners and software packages), often in combination with diagnostics, are nowadays able to provide indispensable elements for the study of archaeological artefacts; their applications to museum's heritage can be also useful to integrate the traditional graphic documentation and contribute to enhancement and dissemination. This paper concerns the study of a peculiar find coming from the Greek necropolis of Lipára: the clay mask No. 11114-E, discovered in 1973 inside the tomb No. 1558 and now exhibited in the Classical Section of the Aeolian Museum. The specimen is considered unique both in the Aeolian Islands and in the ancient Greek world, as it is the only one merging two half faces attributable to different characters. This feature, unknown at the time of discovery, has been highlighted only in 2018, thanks to a restoration intervention by which a hard concretion covering a large portion of the surface of the mask has been removed, bringing to light a smiling young half-face next to an old one with Silenic features. In 2019, the mask has been surveyed in situ through a portable and performing laser-scanner arm (the Quantum TM FaroArm by FARO) with the aim to achieve a high-resolution 3D model useful to enhance the reading of the two halves (not so evident, due to its state of preservation). The data processing has been performed employing the software Geomagic Wrap able to align and merge multiple scans into a single model and to export it in multiple formats, easily shareable and viewable in free software or via the web. This method allowed, finally, the generation of a digital replica that could serve as a support for the hypothetical reconstruction of the two prototypes taken as a model by the craftsman for the creation of the mask, as well for dissemination.

Il castello, le torri e la città in età medioevale, in "Scalea e il suo territorio in età antica" (a cura di F. Mollo)

Scalea e il suo territorio in età antica (a cura di Fabrizio Mollo), Rubbettino Editore, Storia, Archeologia, 2019, ISBN: 9788849862010, 2019

The chapter, part of a wider book about Scalea and its territory in ancient times, is divided int... more The chapter, part of a wider book about Scalea and its territory in ancient times, is divided into three sections: the first provides an update of the historical-archaeological data relating to the Castle of Scalea, resulting from a on-site careful survey and stratigraphic analysis of the elevations; the second deals with the ancient settlement of Scalea and its fortifications (towers and gates) during the Middle Ages; the third aims to reconsider the role of the center of Scalea in the framework the Encastellation in the northern Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria, between 9th and 19th centuries.

Combined 3D Surveying and Raman Spectroscopy Techniques on Artifacts Preserved at Archaeological Museum of Lipari

MDPI - Heritage 2019, 2(3), 2017-2027; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage2030121, Special Issue Materials and Methods in Cultural Heritage: The role of Archaeometry in Museums), 2019

Over the last years, the documentation of Heritage has been increasingly enriched with new forms ... more Over the last years, the documentation of Heritage has been increasingly enriched with new forms of data representation and contents deriving from technological applications on artifacts and the progress of computer graphics: if, on the one hand, 3D survey has become an effective tool supplementing and supporting traditional study activities, as it can generate accurate and high-resolution digital models (available especially when physical access to materials is not possible, but also for enhancement or to formulate hypothetic reconstruction), on the other, archaeometry investigations can provide all that information (about composition, firing temperature of clay, etc.) that autopsy, comparison, formal, contextual, or bibliographic analysis cannot do on their own. This paper aims to show the potentialities of combined use of these non-destructive and non-contact approaches on the archaeological artifacts preserved at the Regional Museum of Lipari "L. Bernabò Brea" for the analysis, diagnostic, fruition, and forthcoming restoration purposes. Different methodologies, such as laser-based surveying, sfm digital photogrammetry, and Raman spectroscopy have been, respectively, adopted and combined to get reconstruction and characterize several clay masks and two figured calyx-kraters. The latter technique, in particular, has proved to be useful in compositional analysis of dyes and pigments contained in the clay.

Combined Methodologies for the Survey and Documentation of Historical Buildings: The Castle of Scalea (CS, Italy)

by Dario Giuffrida and Eugenio Donato

MDPI - Heritage 2019, 2(3), 2384-2397 - Special Issue Materials and Methods in Cultural Heritage: The role of Archaeometry in Museums (ISSN 2571-9408), 2019

In the last few years, new technologies have become indispensable tools for specialists in the fi... more In the last few years, new technologies have become indispensable tools for specialists in the field of cultural heritage for the analysis, reconstruction and interpretation of data but also for promotion of artefacts or buildings sometimes inaccessible or in a bad state of conservation. The discipline of geomatics offer many opportunities and solutions for integrated digital surveys and the documentation of heritage (point-based methods, image-based photogrammetry and their combination): These data can be processed in order to derive metric information and share them using databases or GIS (geographic information system) tools. This paper is focused on the description of combined survey methodologies adopted for the geometric and architectural documentation of the site and surviving structures of the Castel of Scalea (Cosenza, Italy). It is a typical context where traditional survey procedures do not fully succeed or require a longer amount of time and great effort if a high level of accuracy is requested: For this reason, aerial close-range digital photogrammetry enhanced by the GNSS (global navigation satellite system), and total station positioning systems have been used at various levels of detail for the production of a detailed 3D model and 2D thematic maps with an excellent level of in the positioning of the structures and in the architectural drawing. Thanks to the collected dataset, it was possible to better identify the building units (CF), to digitize the limits of the masonry stratigraphic units (USM), and to draw up a first constructive diachronic sequence hypothesis on which to base chronology. Moreover, some particular masonry techniques have been sampled and compared at the regional level with the aim to better dating of constructive expedients. It was finally demonstrated how the use of integrated methodologies allows us to obtain a complete and detailed documentation including information regarding not only architectural and geometrical features but also archaeological and historical elements, building materials and decay evidences-all useful as support of the interpretation of data.

Laser micro-profilometry and 3D modelling applied on two ancient coins, in The 8th Joint Meeting of ECFN and nomisma.org on Coin Finds and Digital Numismatics

Proceeding of The 8th Joint Meeting of ECFN and nomisma.org on Coin Finds and Digital Numismatics, 2020

The research work involved two bronze coins: the oldest is a unicum of the Taisia/Taurianum mint ... more The research work involved two bronze coins: the oldest is a unicum of the Taisia/Taurianum mint dating back to the Second Punic War; the most recent is a rare denarius of the 12th century minted by the Kingdom of Jerusalem and found in a treasure buried in Reggio in the 15th century. These are two very important coins from the historical and numismatic point of view, but they are not very easily legible, due to consumption.
The contribution of laser micro-profilometry combined with 3d modeling have allowed to reach the following objectives: a better readability of the coins, the understanding of the coin type, the confirmation of the attributions and the identification of the degradation elements (concretions and corrosions), providing quantitative and qualitative data.

Mylae e il suo territorio in età romana

Dissertation presented in candidacy for the Bachelor Degree in "Cultural Heritage" (University of... more Dissertation presented in candidacy for the Bachelor Degree in "Cultural Heritage" (University of Messina, November 2012).
Profiling and mapping of all topographical units (UT) within the area of the modern Milazzo (Valle del Mela) aimed at creating a synoptic archaeological map and other thematic maps from early Roman age to Late Antiquity.

Ricerche archeologiche e topografiche nella Tessaglia antica: il caso di Farsalo

Table of contents and abstract of the dissertation presented in candidacy for the Master Degree i... more

SYLLOGE NUMMORUM ROMANORUM - Italia - FIRENZE - Museo Archeologico Nazionale XI - Aemilianus -Victorinus, a cura di Anthea Alessandrini, Dario Giuffrida, Francesco Paratico, Martina Cecilia Parini e Federica Persampieri.

by Dario Giuffrida, Federica Persampieri, and Martina Cecilia Parini

L'opera copre la monetazione da Emiliana a Vittorino, catalogando gli esemplari del monetiere del... more L'opera copre la monetazione da Emiliana a Vittorino, catalogando gli esemplari del monetiere del Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze. In totale sono presenti oltre 800 esemplari, con una grande abbondanza di antoniniani in argento. Prefazione dei dott.ri Mario Iozzo (Direttore del Museo Archeologico) e Stafano Casciu (Direttore Regionale dei Musei della Toscana).
Ministero della Cultura
Direzione regionale musei della Toscana
Edizioni D’Andrea
© Direzione regionale musei della Toscana
Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze
Via della Pergola, 65, 50121, Firenze
ISBN 978- 88- 98330-53-9