Stratigraphic Analyses, Historical Evidences, and 3D Documentation Tools. Deepening Built Heritage – New Researches for Historical Building Sites in Staffarda

The stratigraphic analysis of the masonries has been variously used to interpret the construction phases of the historical buildings of different eras and has assumed the contours of a consolidated method. In this chapter the stratigraphic analysis of a portion of an important and exemplary architectural complex of southern Piedmont (the church of the medieval Staffarda Abbey) will be presented highlighting two relevant objectives. The first aim concerns the methods of investigation: the deep observation of the signs of alteration of the masonries has been flanked by 3D modeling methods generated by integrated photogrammetric and lidar techniques, and the representation of the stratigraphic units has been realized through the support of GIS technology. The connection between 3D surveys and historical documents and the direct reading on the constructive elements and its 3D models, allowed the rewriting and new interpretation of the construction phases of the Santa Maria Church, previously unknown.