Integration between spatial analysis in a GIS environment and 3D models for the study of Middle Palaeolithic contexts: Molare Rockshelter (Scario – SA) and Oscurusciuto Rockshelter (Ginosa – TA)

As part of the Paleolithic archeology, new research questions are focused on the reconstruction of the past activities at high spatial and temporal resolution, through the palimpsest dissection in their smallest time units. The analysis of the spatial dimension of data, collected and studied by specialists of different academic fields, is a key factor to understand these archaeological contexts. The current strategies of spatial archeology have led to the development of increasingly integrated analytical modules for the treatment of data achieved from these studies. In this paper we submit the analytic model adopted for the study of two Middle Palaeolithic contexts in Southern Italy: Molare Rockshelter (Scario – SA) and Oscurusciuto Rockshelter (Ginosa – TA). We integrated data from GIS computations with 3D data elaborated using Image-based 3D modeling technique. The GIS is an essential tool, able to interface with each other different kinds of data, derived from interdisciplinary studies. First of all we have studied the taphonomic data, in order to demonstrate the non-random or anthropogenic nature of the spatial distribution of the archaeological finds, and the contexts good state of preservation (chi-square, physical state of the finds, refitting pattern, absence of water flow evidence, etc.). Then, we have studied these spatial arrangements (cluster analysis, kernel density analysis, correlation analysis, etc.) to identify the structures (both visible and latent). Contextual analysis is therefore essential to reconstruct past ways of life, especially when dealing with the complex dynamics of the Paleolithic sites. An accurate documentation of the distinctive features of the context, including the morphology of the surfaces, contributes significantly to the understanding of these dynamics. Image-based 3D modeling technique allows to obtain 3D models of the investigated areas, achieving a high level of details and precision; these models can be imported into GIS platforms, enhancing its analytic potential. In particular, it is possible to deduce a number of traces of human activities, which can be recognized by centimeter-scale changes in the elevation of surfaces, as for example the arrangement of living floors and the accumulation of remains in different areas.