Preliminary Archeological Assessments are structured into two phases aimed at developing progressive levels of in-depth archaeological investigation.
The next stage execution is subject to the identification of archaeologically significant items arising from the outcome of the previous phase.
The activities characterizing the first part, the one supplementary to the preliminary design, are intended to clarify the nature and extent of the documented or presumed archeological presence in the project site. This verification is carried out following the demands and requirements of the competent Archaeological Superintendence. It is possible to provide both indirect (geophysical analysis) and direct (core sampling, stratigraphic tests) methods of analysis.
Core samplings are an essential tool to assess the consistency of the archaeological deposits, geophysical analyses are useful in the less urbanized areas when it is known the structure of the remains and their approximate depth; while stratigraphic tests represent the most reliable and easiest to interpret technique of archaeological preliminary assessment.
The second stage includes a deeper analysis, as the extensive excavation activities allow the full implementation of the archaeological stratification process.
The final project regarding archaeological excavations, requested by legislation in the second phase of the archaeological interest verification procedure, takes into account all the previous survey results and includes:
a) Surveys and investigations;
b) Excavations;
c) Excavation documentation, such as excavation journals, stratigraphic sheets, graphic and photographic documentation;
d) Restoration of discovered remains;
e) Catalogue of the remains and storage of the samples to be analyzed;
f) Study and publication;
g) Preliminary project concerning the exhibition of the archeological discoveries;
h) Maintenance program.
Therefore the verifications necessary to identify the archaeological context are carried out prior to the approval of the final project in order to define, before the start of the construction activities, the impact of the work. In this way it is possible to greatly reduce further excavation requests and tutelage measures which result in increased costs and project delay.
The procedure ends with the drafting of the final archaeological report, approved by the competent Archaeological Superintendence.
The final archeological report allows an original reconstruction of the settlement with the identification of historical-topographical peculiarities in order to evaluate the work impact on the archaeological, artistic and historical elements of the territory, but most importantly, it permits the schedule of potential preliminary investigations.
Its stages can be summarized as follows:
