Pancani D.*, Raneri S. & Gioncada A.
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Corso di Laurea in Scienze e Tecnologie Geologiche, Università di Pisa.
Corresponding email: [email protected] Keywords: fires, mineralogical changes, calcarenite.
In the last decade, great attention was devoted to evaluate the impact of global changes in monuments, specifically in protecting heritages from natural and anthropogenic hazards. Thus, the in deep knowledge of conservation history of masonry and its resilience to anthropic risk may support the application of better conservation strategies. During restoration works carried out at the Pisa Cathedral, some elements related to the first construction phases have been brought to the light, especially at the matroneum. Here, the occurrence of a coarse yellowish calcarenite has been evidenced under the marble covering slabs, attributable to Panchina Livornese (Bossio et al., 1998; Sarti et al., 2017), a geological Fm. used since Etruscan period through southern and costal Tuscany (Lezzerini, 2005; Lezzerini et al., 2018). The inspection of the matroneum walls evidenced a huge chromatic surface alteration of the lithotype, turning from yellow to deep red, and dark grey coatings.
The possibility to sample some specimens from different galleries make it possible to characterize the lithotype and evaluate the possible relation between the alteration forms and the involvement of the structures in the well-known fire occurred in 1595 (Peroni, 1995). The minero-petrographic analysis of samples, coupled with SEM-EDS and micro-Raman spectroscopy allowed identifying textural and mineralogical elements concerning the effects of fire on the stone surface (Martinho & Dionísio, 2018). The study was complemented by laboratory tests on fresh stone to validate the proposed hypothesis and evaluate the effects of fires into the aesthetical and physical properties of the stone.
The authors acknowledge the Opera della Primaziale Pisana for having provided the studied samples.
Bossio A., Costantini A., Foresi L.M., Lazzarotto A., Mazzanti R., Pascucci V., Salvatorini G., Sandrelli F. & Tersuoli A.
(1998) - Neogene-Quaternary sedimentary evolution in the western side of the Northern Apennines (Italy). Mem. Soc.
Geol. It., 52, 513-525.
Lezzerini M. (2005) - Mappatura delle pietre presenti nella facciata della Chiesa di San Frediano (Pisa, Italia). Atti Soc.
toc. Sci. Nat., Mem. Serie A, 43-50.
Lezzerini M., Raneri S., Pagnotta S., Columbu S & Gallello G. (2018) - Archaeometric study of mortars from the Pisa’s Cathedral Square (Italy). Meas. J. Int. Meas. Confed., 126, 322-331.
Martinho E. & Dionísio A. (2018) - Assessment Techniques for Studying the Effects of Fire on Stone Materials: A Literature Review. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2018.15 35008
Peroni A. (1995) - Il Duomo di Pisa. Franco Cosimo Panini, Modena.
Sarti G., Bertoni D., Capitani M., Ciampalini A., Ciulli L., Cerrina Feroni A., Andreucci S., Zanchetta G. & Zembo I. (2017) - Facies analysis of four superimposed transgressive-regressive sequences formed during the two last interglacial-glacial cycles (Central Tuscany, Italy). Atti Soc. Tosc. Sci. Mem., Serie A, 124, 133-150.
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A newly discovered ceramic production center in Camerino (Marche, Italy)
Paris E.*1, Sciarroni G. 2, Virgili S.3, Abudureheman A.1 & Antongirolami V.31 School of Science and Technology, Geology division, University of Camerino.
2 L-43 – Corso di laurea in Scienze e tecnologie per la conservazione e il restauro, Universita’ di Camerino.
3 Archeolab.
Corresponding email: [email protected]
Keywords: ceramic production center, Camerino-Marche, 3D reconstruction.
Camerino has a long history. It was founded by the Umbrii-Camertii and, after becoming a Roman ally (310 BC), it was a foedus aequum, testifying a pact between Romans and the Umbri-Camertii with conditions equal for both, demonstrating the strategic importance of the town, located along the roads connecting Adriatic and Tyrrenian coasts. In 1000 Camerino turned itself into a Guelph commune and in 1262 Gentile da Varano started the dynasty which lasted three centuries, promoting a vibrant cultural atmosphere, founding the University in 1336, with a curriculum studiorum present since 1220.
In spite of the long history, the overlapping of episodes of construction and destruction due to earthquakes, made it impossible to clearly understand the architectonic development of the town, hiding also any sign of the economic activities. The ceramic production during medieval age, given the importance of the city for an extended period of time, was certainly present and important but completely obliterated, until the archaeological excavations carried in the period 2004-2014. In the city center (Pino Argentato) a small furnace was recovered with “maiolica arcaica” materials inside, and near the Tempio dell’Annunziata two large ceramic furnaces were recovered, with abundant materials. This second site, studied thanks to the stratigraphy and the ceramic materials, allow to assign the furnaces to the period between XIII century and first part of the XVI. This area has been recognized now as the “industrial area”, located in the periphery of the town, outside the city walls.
The Tempio dell’Annunziata (or dei Varano), which was built in the area, is a clear terminus ante quem (1492-1508).
The recovered materials, the so-called “ceramica graffita”, were found mostly in pieces as production waste, at different stages of production, some decorated with green/brown pigments and glazed or only with a white slip and graffiti representing geometrical and floral items, with some characteristic features. The materials, which have been studied by powder XRD, petrographic analyses and SEM, are homogeneous in mineralogical composition (quartz and small amounts of calcite and feldspars) and granulometry of the small aggregates (rounded flint and few chamotte grains). All indicates an attention to the preparation and a well-established tradition in the manufacture of the products and choice of the components, unchanged for a long period of time.
The XRF analysed will help to establish the chemical composition for further provenance studies.
The archaeometric study of the materials contributed to give information regarding the ceramic production, as well as shed some light to the artisans’ activity in Camerino at the time. This information, now still preliminary, will be used to complement the exposition in the Civic Museum, when will be reopened to the public, enriching also the knowledge about the Medieval ceramic production in the Marche and Central Italy.
Tracking animal movements with tooth enamel oxygen and strontium isotopes
Pellegrini M.*1-2, Donahue R.E.3 & Lee-Thorp J.A.21 Thermo Fisher Scientific, Italy.
2 Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford, UK.
3 Department of Anthropology, Michigan State University, USA.
Corresponding email: [email protected] Keywords: animal movements, isotopes, fossil teeth.
The investigation of animal and human movements by means of isotopes has become an established practice in archaeological, palaeontological, and forensic sciences.Particularly successful are the combinations of strontium isotopes, which are inherited by the individual’s tissues from the geological background through ingested food and drinks, and oxygen isotopes, similarly acquired from the local environmental and proxies for the climatic conditions.
This paper will present the methods employed and the results of an isotopic study in which δ18O and 87Sr/86Sr were measured sequentially in deer and horse teeth of fossil remains from a Palaeolithic archaeological site in southern Italy. The aim of the study was to assess animal’s roaming areas around the archaeological site throughout the year, and therefore humans hunting those animals’ subsistence strategies.
The study includes samples coming from stadial and interstadial climatic phases of the last Late-Glacial.
Because teeth in ungulate species grow with a nearly linear direction, sequential measurements of isotopes in these teeth has the potential to provide timing and locations roamed by those animals during the mineralization of their teeth. Such mineralization, known as amelogenesis, in these species may take from a little less than one to over two years, therefore enough to record yearly/seasonal movements of the animal. Moreover, the analysis of samples from different climatic phases provide information of possible changes in these movements associated to specific climatic conditions.
Overall, this communication will illustrate the potentials of combined stable and radiogenic isotope geochemistry in assisting cultural heritage studies and archaeological research.
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Macedonian ruby: mineralogical and geochemical analysis of a national treasure
Precisvalle N.1, Ardit M.*1, Martucci A.1, Bonadiman C.1, Bianchini G.1 & Natali C.21 Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Ferrara.
2 Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi Firenze.
Corresponding email: [email protected] Keywords: Macedonian ruby, diasporescence.
Corundum crystals from Prilep area (Macedonia) are known in the jewelry market since the 1988, when they appeared for the first time at Tržič mineral fair in Slovenia (Jeršek et al.). Commonly referred as “Macedonian ruby”, this stone had its comeback around the 2006 thanks to Dejan Shkartov, and it is considered the national gemstone of North Macedonia. Today, Macedonian ruby jewelry is a common diplomatic gift from North Macedonian Government. Rubies can be found in marbles from Prilep municipality, included in calcite cavities. These marbles are the uppermost part of highly metamorphic rocks which belong to the central part of the Pelagonian Massif, in the SW of North Macedonia (Jeršek et al.). The specimens usually occur with inclusions of oxides, carbonates (e.g., dolomite and calcite), and aluminum hydroxide. This makes these stones more prone to cabochon than to faceted cut. The main characteristics for Macedonians rubies are: 1) presence of diaspore intergrowth, 2) raspberry-pink colour (light, moderately strong, slightly purplish red), and 3) plate-like, barrel-like and prismatic morphology (Barič, 1963). Diaspore grows in rubies following three preferential directions crossing at 60 degrees (Barič ,1963). Described only in these gemstones, the diaspore intergrowths give to the Macedonian rubies a silver glittering effect called “diasporescence” (Dobnikar et al., 2013; Jeršek et al.). The aim of this work is to study the corundum/diaspore phase ratio, in order to better understand the role of diaspore in these rubies, and characterize Macedonian rubies on geochemical and crystallographic basis.
Chromophore ions content, quantified by means of LA-ICP-MS, is rather different compared to what reported in analogues samples by Jeršek & Mirtič (1999). In particular, the chromium contents reach the anomalously high value of 586 ppm, twice as much as highest values (267ppm) reported so far for this population (Jeršek et al.). X-ray diffraction measurements at room temperature show that crystals are biphasic, exclusively composed by diaspore (62 wt.%) and corundum (38 wt.%). Looking for a purer ruby gemstone, the structural behavior of a Macedonian ruby has been studied at high temperature by XRD analysis up to 900 °C. Along with a temperature-induced lattice parameters expansion for both phases, the diaspore/corundum phase fraction ratio, stable up to 450 °C, experiences an abrupt drop in the temperature range of 500-550 °C. Above this range, no more diaspore phase is detected.
Barič L. (1963) - Über die orientierte Verwachsung des Diaspors und des Korunds von Sivec in Mazedonien. Beitr.
Mineral. Petr., 9, 133-138.
Dobnikar M., Ferme E., Humar M., Simona S., Jeršek M., Mlakar D., Razinger B. & Šturm M. (2013) - Gemološki terminološki slovar. Založba ZRC, ZRC SAZU.
Jeršek M. & Mirtič B. (1999) - Corundum from Prilep dolomitic marble. Scopolia, 41, 1-22.
Jeršek M. (2015) - Diasporescence in rubies from prilep dolomitic marble. Maced. J. Chem. Chem. En., 34, 139-143.
Historical mortars beyond Pompeii: the example of Villa del Pezzolo (Sorrento Peninsula)
Rispoli C.*1, Cappelletti P.1, De Bonis A.1, Di Benedetto C.1, Esposito R.2, Graziano S.F.1-3,Guarino V.1 & Morra V.1
1 Dipartimento Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e delle Risorse, Università di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
2 Dipartimento di Scienze Umanistiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
3 Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
Corresponding email: [email protected]
Keywords: Sorrento Peninsula, mortar characterization, raw materials
Villa del Pezzolo is an example of a Roman villa located in the Bay of Naples, which includes several worldwide known archaeological sites, among which Pompeii represents, by far, an almost unique example of a still-visible ancient town. Nevertheless, minor, but not for importance, sites (villas, cisterns, thermae, necropolis, etc.) are widespread all over the Bay of Naples.Goal of this study is the archaeometric characterisation of the lime-based mortars from Villa del Pezzolo, a Roman villa dated from the 1st century B.C. to 3rd century A.D. Villa del Pezzolo is located in Marina di Equa (modern Seiano) in southern Italy. This patrician Roman Villa is very interesting for both archaeologists and geologists because represents one site, along Sorrento Peninsula coast, where the consequences of the A.D. 79 eruption of Mt. Vesuvius are clearly visible, despite the great distance from the eruptive center. Sampling was designed by gathering all the available information about geology and archaeological history of the site in strict cooperation with the archaeologists from the Superintendence of Archaeological Heritage of Campania, who recognised three building phases of the monument. Therefore, representative and non-invasive samples of each of the three building phases, were collected. A multi-analytical mineralogical-petrographic approach was implemented for the investigation by means of PLM, XRPD, SEM–EDS, TG/DTA, and MIP. The analyses of mortars from Villa del Pezzolo evidenced the use of local geomaterials composed by sedimentary calcareous and volcanic aggregates, but also confirmed the three distinct building phases identified by archaeologists. Volcanic tuff fragments identified in mortars of the 1st building phase are ascribed to the Campanian Ignimbrite formation, widely cropping out in the Sorrento Peninsula. This was confirmed by the presence of glassy shards, partially devitrified and replaced by authigenic feldspar: a typical feature of welded gray Campanian Ignimbrite lithofacies (WGI; Langella et al., 2013). The volcanic aggregates in samples of the 2nd and 3rd building phases show, instead, the presence of leucite-bearing volcanic scoriae and garnet crystals, which are related to the Somma-Vesuvius activity. The study of these mortars allowed us to: 1) understand the different production technologies, 2) highlight the use of materials with hydraulic behaviour, such as pozzolanic materials and fictile fragments, 3) confirm the three building phases from compositional features of mortars and 4) highlight the change over time of the supply area of the volcanic aggregate for mortar mix-design.
Langella A., Bish D.L., Cappelletti P., Cerri G., Colella A., de Gennaro R., Graziano S.F., Perrotta A., Scarpati C. & de Gennaro M. (2013) - New insights into the mineralogical facies distribution of Campanian Ignimbrite, a relevant Italian industrial material. Applied Clay Science, 72, 55-73.
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