Tests of a new language code to foster scientific exchange between archaeologists, geomorphologists and sedimentologists: creating a new log style to represent geoarchaeological raw data from coring

Pisa’s subsurface conceals witness of an extraordinary succession of landscapes in which man impressed his action on natural environment since the Protostoric age. The city represents, thus, a particularly valuable case study to highlight the story of such a relationship. Achieving this goal requires an interdisciplinary approach combining the expertise of Pisa University Earth and Human scientists. This research is carried out in the framework of the broader project M.A.P.P.A. (Metodologie Applicate alla Predittività del Potenziale Archeologico- www.mappaproject.org-), funded by the Regional Board of Toscana and carried out by Pisa University in cooperation with the Cultural Heritage Ministry and the Municipaliy of Pisa. The project is aimed at contributing to the protection, research and governance of the city and of its underground archaeological heritage. Each disciplinary component of the working group addresses topics typical of one’s own discipline: the archaeologists collect all archaeological evidence in any time ever found out in excavations within the territory of the city, sedimentologists recognize the nature of palaeo environments disclosed by sedimentary strata and geomorphologists infer palaeomorphology from them. The main bet, though, is to create a new language code which fosters scientific exchange between the different disciplines. This approach will be tested creating a new log style to represent geoarchaeological raw data from coring. What we propose is not merely a form where data from different disciplines are combined, but the product of a mutual exchange carried out primarily during field and laboratory work.