Bombed archaeology: Towards a precise identification and a safe management of WWII’s dangerous unexploded bombs

Abstract

The massive bombings during World War II (WWII) have had a lasting impact across the Italian landscape. The problem of dangerous unexploded bombs is particularly relevant since the bombsites are buried beneath the soil close to inhabited and/or touristic areas. Archaeological sites, such as Pompeii and Vulci, were heavily bombed, and nowadays, archaeologists excavate these bombs during their digs. Thus, there is a real risk to people’s safety. While the aerial photo collection is a powerful record of the landscapes of wartime Italy, plotting buried unexploded bomb hazard maps remains important in identifying their precise location in the modern landscape. Ground penetrating radar (GPR)—a non-destructive technique (NDT)—can help detect these bombs buried beneath the soil by providing an accurate horizontal and vertical position. Using aerial photos and NDTs, such as GPR, this future project explores the WWII human experience to preserve and manage the safety of both the archaeological heritage and involved users by using the data to create an open-access WebGIS platform.