The documentation for the conservation and valorisation of the archaeological site of Rocca San Silvestro

Rocca San Silvestro, known in medieval times as Rocca a Palmento, is a fortified village which developed around the tenth century, when the Counts Della Gherardesca decided to exploit the mineral deposits in the area. The village consists of two concentric and fortified levels. The upper level is the most fortified area, with the watchtower, while the lower level is the town where miners, with the houses, the oven, the production area and the popular village laid. Rocca San Silvestro was inhabited continuously until the fifteenth century when, probably due to the inability to improve mining technologies and due to a strong earthquake, was completely abandoned. Numerous studies have been conducted on the area since 1984, when they began the archaeological investigations. In view of the forthcoming opening of the restoration site for the conservation of the archaeological site there was the need to update the survey database. For this reason the project’s aim was the documentation and the valorisation of the site that required a first campaign of laser scanner survey that affects the fortified part of the tower, the church and the areas located along the access to the fort. Simultaneously with the laser survey it was conducted a survey by sfm technologies to apply to two-dimensional drawings, plans and sections, the photographic rendering. Having drawn in real dimension each wall surface, based on the survey all diagnostic, materials and degradation, archaeological and deformation tests were conducted in order to have a complete picture of the behavior of masonry and to ensure the architect all the information necessary to design an appropriate restoration project.