Time and Spectral Multiresolution Remote Sensing for the Study of Ancient Wall Drawings at San Salvatore Hypogeum, Italy

Historic and prehistoric sites are often a serious challenge for geophysical techniques, which could give enhanced and essential information to define identity and health of cultural heritage assets. Multispectral remote sensing techniques have been applied to ancient wall pictures of a hypogeum actually under a rural church in San Salvatore (Italy). Multispectral survey was jointly done with state of art surveying for historic architecture and was compared with a 40s’ photographic survey. This integration has been the way to fully explore and exploit the signs present in wall drawings evidences of hypogeum frequentations. Adopting multiresolution approach for the construction of scientific datasets and maintaining full dimensionality for their evaluation and interpretation, jointly with some synoptic images, allowed us to build a user friendly Decision Support System potentially used by authorities assigned to the conservation, restoration and management of ancient heritage goods. In this case study, the informative layering showed to be a very effective method to find cross-information present in different surveys data, which are essential for planning restoration activities but also for dissemination and fruition of cultural heritage sites. The application of applied geophysics techniques to cultural heritage and artistic targets proved to be a disciplinary strategic application field.