Realization of a cartographic GIS for the filing and management of the archaelogical excavations in the Nelson's Island

Abstract

The island of Nelson is situated around 7-8 miles far from the Egyptian Mediterranean coast, and about 25 km far from Alexandria of Egypt. It has small size, since it doesn't currently overcome the 350 m2, even if in the antiquity it was greater: geologic phenomena and activity of cave sensibly reduced the emerged part of it. Campaigns of excavation were carried on that have brought to light important rests related to a fortification and to a military installation, inscriptions of Greek and Byzantine epoch, enormous complexes for the water restocking and a necropolis of late epoch. In the circle of the collaboration in the research CMAIA the geodetic and topographic survey of the island and of the principal structures of archaeological interest are realized. The activities of excavation have not always allowed a perfect synergy with the operations of survey. Nevertheless, the collected results have been integrated with paper maps compiled by draftsmen present on site during the phases of excavation. The activity of survey has been finalized to the cartographic rebuilding of the island and subsequently to the georeferencing of all the findings both through the direct survey and through the integration of the supplied images. An information system has been compiled (database and GIS), once seen the wide massive structure of data and the difficulties of interventions on field; it led to an easier management and cataloguing of the operations of excavation and survey, as well as the accomplishment of an integrated archive of consultation and management of the archaeological, topographic, historical and documentary data. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.