La villa romana di Castellito di Ramacca (Catania). Indagini topografiche e archeologiche (2019-20)

This paper presents the results of the research undertaken through a series of on-site surveys and desk studies (2019-2022) of the site of Castellito di Ramacca (Catania, Sicily). The site, located on the top of a low hill (106 masl), was partly excavated in the late 20th century and interpreted as a roman rural building, possibly related to the road station whose name is attested in ancient sources (Capitoniana). The site was re-evaluated through the use of various non-destructive prospecting methods (aerial photogrammetry, fieldwalking survey, architectural relief), precise location con RTK GNSS and integration of the legacy data in GIS, confirming a new addition to the already known villa complex, and contextualized as a focal point of the rural settlement system. Based on the topographical data obtained from the survey campaign, conducted through the integration of direct and indirect survey techniques, we can propose a digital restoration of the mosaics and the reconstruction of the villa’s elevation at its acme in late antiquity.