Pieve Vergonte. Nuove indagini nel sito del Borgaccio: dati preliminari

The archaeological research conducted by the Ca' Foscari University of Venice on the Borgaccio site at Pieve Vergonte (VCO) envisaged the application of a protocol based on landscape archeology and geoarchaeology, with a specific focus strongly oriented towards the so-called light archaeology. The core of the research was represented by a structural wreck, corresponding to a wall dating back to the 13th century, preserved for a length of about 20 m on the right bank of the Toce river. The local historiographical tradition has always recognized the evidence of a full-medieval settlement completely destroyed by a series of devastating floods. Our investigation aimed at contextualizing the structure in a past that was actually completely elusive. To do this, recourse was first made to typically topographical methodologies, such as the study of historical cartography and archival documentation. Subsequently remote sensing investigations were carried out, making use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) on which thermal and multispectral sensors were mounted. Thirdly, the area was subjected to geophysical surveys such as magnetometry, georadar and electrical tomography, which proved to be essential for the characterization of some structures already partially identifiable through remote sensing. Finally, manual and mechanical core drilling was carried out.