heritage Article Combined Methodologies for the Survey and Documentation of Historical Buildings: The Castle of Scalea (CS, Italy) 1, 2, , Eugenio Donato y and Dario Giuffrida * y 1 Dipartimento di Civiltà Antiche e Moderne, Università degli Studi di Messina, SS. Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy 2 Institute for Chemical and Physical processes, National Research Council (IPCF-CNR), Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy * Correspondence: dario.giuff[email protected] These authors contributed equally to this work. y Received: 28 June 2019; Accepted: 8 August 2019; Published: 9 August 2019 Abstract: 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. Keywords: archaeology of architecture; Encastellation; digital photogrammetry; survey; 3D model; geometric documentation; diagnostic study; thematic maps; cultural heritage 1. Introduction The current study is part a wider research project concerning the Encastellation phenomenon and the settlement on Mediterranean feudal areas, started in the end of the 90s by the Chair of Medieval Archaeology of the University of Florence [1] and continuing to date with several papers by E. Donato [2–4]: One of the topics of this research was the retracing the steps of the Encastellation process of the Tyrrhenian coastal area of Calabria between the Norman period and XIX century. In the Heritage 2019, 2, 2384–2397; doi:10.3390/heritage2030146 www.mdpi.com/journal/heritage Heritage 2019, 2 2385 Heritage 2019, 2 2385 thesub-regional sub-regional zone zone between between Capo Capo Scalea Scalea (northern (northern border) border) and and the the Savuto Savuto riverriver (southern border), border), these studies have identified identified 14 castles (Figure 1 1a),a), oneone forfor thethe mainmain centrecentre andand severalseveral isolatedisolated towerstowers located alongalong thethe stagesstages of of a a north–south north–south coastal coastal route route dating dating back back to to the the Trajan Trajan age age (in (in particular particular to the to thejunction junction with with the transverse the transverse route route towards towards the hinterland) the hinterland) or in proximity or in proximity of harbours. of harbours. It is, however, It is, plausiblehowever, plausible that the system that the also system included also included other important other important fortresses fortresses mentioned mentioned by the by sources the sources (such (suchas the as Castrum the Castrum Fellae, Fellae, Cetraro Cetraro and Fuscaldo), and Fuscaldo), whose whose remains remains have nothave been not stillbeen identified still identified on field. on field.In many In casesmany thecases available the available documentation documentation allowed allowed us to follow us to the follow salient the phases salient of thephases settlement of the settlementhistory of thishistory fortress, of this starting fortress, from starting the conquest from the ofconquest the Tyrrhenian of the Tyrrhenian Calabria byCalabria Normans by Normans until the untildefeat the of thedefeat last of Bourbon the last resistances Bourbon resistances against the French,against inthe 1806, French, when in all1806, the castles,when all quashed the castles, their quashedfunction, their suffered function, definitive suffered abandonment definitive andabandonment spoliation and processes. spoliation processes. Our research fits fits into this chronological range and aims to add a piece to a complex historical mosaic, such as the Encastellation of of Southern It Italy,aly, which represents not only a solution for the organization and management of the territory but also for the protection andand controlcontrol ofof thethe viability.viability. The site of Scalea (Figure 11b,c),b,c), perhapsperhaps fortifiedfortified beforebefore thethe arrivalarrival ofof thethe NormansNormans [[5]5] and conquered in 1057 by Roger de Hauteville as the first first stage stage of of the the unification unification process process of Southern Southern Italy Italy to the Kingdom ofof Sicily,Sicily, is is an an integral integral part part of of the the described described defensive defensive network: network: Its Its strategic strategic function function is islinked linked to to the the presence, presence, in in ancient ancient times, times, of of an an important important seaport seaport mentioned mentioned by by Idrisi Idrisi and and illustrated illustrated on onseveral several portulan portulan charts; charts; it is it also is also linked linked by theby the possibility possibility to control to control a section a section of the of roadthe road viability viability (via (viaCapua-Regium) Capua-Regium) towards towards theactual the actual Basilicata Basilicata [6]. [6]. Figure 1. (a) The medievalmedieval defensedefense system system of of the the Tyrrhenian Tyrrhenian coast coast of of Calabria Calabria between between the the Norman Norman (XI (XIcentury) century) and theand Viceroyalty the Viceroyalty (XIX centuty) (XIX centuty) (b) The Tyrrhenian(b) The Tyrrhenian coastal area coastal of Cosenza. area of (c )Cosenza. Topographic (c) Topographicmap of the area map of of Scalea. the area (Images of Scalea. processed (Images by processed authors). by authors). It is necessary to premise that this paper, withoutwithout any pretence of completeness, is configuredconfigured as a synthesis of the methodologicalmethodological processes used for analysis and integration of data collected through different different approaches on castles. In In fact, fact, on onlyly few few data relating to some parts of buildings have been reported by way of example, waiting for an overall and exhaustive edition of the historical, stratigraphic, and chronological data of which the two authors are already taking care. Heritage 2019, 2 2386 have been reported by way of example, waiting for an overall and exhaustive edition of the historical, Heritage 2019, 2 2386 Heritagestratigraphic, 2019, 2 and chronological data of which the two authors are already taking care. 2386 The Site and the Evidences The Site and the Evidences The site rises on the top of a limestone dolomite slightly levelled artificially, which, with its The site rises on the top of a limestone dolomite slightly levelled artificially, artificially, which, with its elevation (80 m above sea level), dominates the village and the surrounding valleys (Figure 2). elevation (80 m above sea level), dominates the village and the surrounding valleysvalleys (Figure(Figure2 2).). Figure 2. The ruins of the castle on the top of the hill (view from N-E). Figure 2. TheThe ruins ruins of of the castle on the top of the hill (view from N-E). The structures of the castle are characterized by an irregular plan, adapted to the morphology of The structures of the castle are characterized by an irregular plan, adapted to the morphology of the hill (Figure 3), with walls built upon the edges of the high ridges, especially along the western the hill (Figure(Figure3 ),3), with with walls walls built built upon upon the the edges edge ofs theof the high high ridges, ridges, especially especially along along the westernthe western and and southern sides. andsouthern southern sides. sides. Figure 3. AerialAerial view view of of the the hillfort from S-W. Figure 3. Aerial view of the hillfort from S-W. Only a part of thethe originaloriginal complexcomplex isis preservedpreserved today:today: The currently visible perimeter of Only a part of the original complex is preserved today: The currently visible