Hydraulic preservation of archaeological hypogeum based on digital survey techniques

Archaeological heritage protection starts with a complete understanding of the area’s morphology and the risk that threatens its integrity. With this aim, a multidisciplinary approach is applied. A hydraulic analysis based on a digital terrain survey is implemented to respond to archaeological questions. The case study is the Hypogeum of Calaforno (Ragusa, Sicily). This site is a unique representation of rock-cut architecture in terms of size and morphological features that render it one of the most important prehistoric monuments in Sicily. The analyses are performed to show the importance of a detailed digital survey, which allows an accurate investigation of the monument to determine the flow direction and identify the water accumulation zone. This study will help optimize flood risk mitigation measures inside the Hypogeum.