La Seconda Torre di San Marino: rilevamenti, analisi e interpretazioni alla luce di nuovi dati e scoperte archeologiche

San Marino’s second tower: surveys, analyses and interpretations in light of new findings and archaeological discoveries.The research discussed in this article is part of an extensive archaeological project focusing on the fortified structures of San Marino, entitled “TheFortifications of San Marino”. This project originated following a memorandum of understanding for research and collaboration between the Instituteof Heritage Sciences of the National Research Council and the Cultural Institutes of the Republic of San Marino. The prime aim is to record the currentstate of the urban fortifications, and conduct an archaeological analysis of their architectural components, to ascertain the extent and distribution ofthe original stratifications. In the specific case study, a comprehensive monographic analysis is presented, specifically focusing on the Second Tower,known as the Torre della Cesta, which is an integral part of a complex and stratified fortified system. The article illustrates the results of years ofresearch, which has led to an in-depth understanding of the archaeological context, and the first diachronic interpretation of its evolutionary phases.This distinguishes between original interventions and contemporary reconstructions. The merit of these results lies in the application of a rigorousmultidisciplinary methodological approach, integrating and comparing data derived from activities encompassing three-dimensional surveying andmodeling, archaeological analysis of structures, archaeological excavations, and the examination of archival, cadastral, and iconographic sources.