The dantesque code, "Phillipps 9589" study on the state of conservation and microclimatic monitoring of the preservation environment

This research deals with the Dante Code, catalogued at the Library of the Dante Centre of the "Frati Minori Conventuali"of Ravenna such as manuscript n. 2 and known to the international scientific community with the code: "Phillipps 9589". In detail, the study of the Code has taken into consideration the historical-artistic, diagnostic-material and environmental aspects, with reference to the analytics description and to the excutive techniques, to the characterization of the constituent materials and to the evaluation of the restoration state in relation to the microclimatic parameters of its environmental collocation. According to this, some diagnostic techniques have been carried out in order to highlight the "scriptio inferior" and to create alteration and degradation areas, therefore the aim of creating a documentation based on a digital support has been expressed, with the purpose of finding out the causes of decay and of a possible work of restoration. At last, the microclimatic monitoring has completed the analysis of the manuscript-environment system, coming at a reliable and objective evaluation of the current situation and condition

Archaeological and archaeometric study of the glass finds from the ancient harbour of Classe (Ravenna- Italy): new evidence

Introduction: The present study focuses on Late-Roman/Early Medieval glass found in the productive area within the ancient harbour of Classe near Ravenna, one of the most important trade centres between the 5th and 8th centuries AD of the Northern Adriatic area. Aims of the study were the identification of the main glass compositions and their contextualisation in Late-Antique groups; the identification of provenance of raw glass, and, consequently, of commercial routes; the extent, if any, of recycling glass cullet, as an alternative to the import of fresh raw glass; the identification of possible connections between archaeological typology and glass chemical composition. Results: 32 glassworking wastes and 25 drinking vessel fragments for a total amount of 57 fragments were devoted to chemical analysis in XRF and EPMA. All the analysed fragments are silica-soda lime glasses, produced with natron as a flux, and are compositionally similar to Late-Antique groups HIMT, S\ue9rie 3.2 and Levantine1. Raw glass chunks, glassworking wastes and objects of comparable compositions are identified into HIMT and S\ue9rie 3.2 groups, while the Levantine 1 group includes only objects and glassworking wastes. Systematic comparisons between Classe and Aquileia, the two most important Late-Antique archaeological sites of North-Eastern Italy, were also carried out, and the same compositional groups were identified, although S\ue9rie 3.2 in the Classe assemblage is more represented. Sr and Nd isotopic analysis confirmed that the composition of the three glasses derive from coastal sands of the Syro-Palestinian and Egyptian shore, with a slight shift in comparison to the published data. Little evidence of recycling was identified in the assemblage. Conclusions: In the 5th century, a secondary glass workshop devoted to the shaping of glass vessels starting from raw glass chunks and, possibly, glass cullet, was active in the area of the harbour. Raw glass of HIMT and S\ue9rie 3.2 was imported from the Levant and Egypt. Comparisons between Classe and Aquileia show that during the Late Antiquity these sites seem to be supplied of raw glass by the same trade routes. In addition, some connections between types and chemical compositions were highlighted

The National Monument to Francesco Baracca in Lugo di Romagna (Ravenna, Italy): Materials, techniques and conservation aspects

The results of scientific analyses performed on the travertine parts of the National Monument to Francesco Baracca in Lugo di Romagna (Ravenna, Italy) are reported and discussed. The aim of the research is an in-depth knowledge of the constituent material in view of technological and conservation aspects, to support the first significant restoration work (held in 2014) concerning the Monument created by the artist Domenico Rambelli in 1936, a masterpiece of monumental Italian twentieth century architecture. RLM, SEM/EDS, XRD and micro-FTIR analyses were carried out on micro-samples to characterize the different original surface finishing and the degradation phenomena. VIS-RS, RLM and SEM/EDS investigations were also performed to evaluate the application of a nanoparticle titanium dioxide—based coating on the stone surfaces

Streams across the Silk Roads? The case of Islamic glass from Ghazni

Abstract This paper presents data obtained by a combined chrono-typological and archaeometric study carried out on an assemblage of glassware and bracelets unearthed at the Ghaznavid Palace of Ghazni, Afghanistan. Pulsating trade and cultural centre located along the Silk Roads, the site of Ghazni has yielded evidence of an uninterrupted archaeological sequence, with settlement continuity spanning from pre-Islamic (2nd–9th/10th CE) to Islamic periods (end 10th–19th CE). Both glassware and bracelets were manufactured by using a plant ash-based glass, in line with Central Asian glassmaking technology. Furthermore, several compositional groups were identified, showing close affinities with other assemblages from Central Asia, Uzbekistan and Jordan

Learning from the past, intervening in the present: the role of conservation science in the challenging restoration of the wall painting Marriage at Cana by Luca Longhi (Ravenna, Italy)

The paper discusses the case study of the Marriage at Cana, a sixteenth century wall painting located in Ravenna and executed by Luca Longhi. A multi-analytical approach based upon OM, SEM–EDS, μ-Raman, μ-FTIR and biological analyses was selected to investigate the painting technique and the state of preservation of the artwork, compromised by a severe alteration. Data demonstrated that the artwork was executed with a dry painting technique: a siccative oil was used as binder, while indigo, lead white, carbon black, ochres, vermilion and red lead were identifed as pigments. Biological analyses clearly allowed identifying Eurotium halophilicum as the fungus responsible for the white patina compromising the painted surface and, according to this result, Biotin T was selected as the most efective biocide to stop the biological attack. The precarious conditions in which the painting was, attributable to previously performed interventions and to the conservation environment, laid the groundwork for a challenging restoration conducted in 2016. Scientifc analyses better clarifed the kind of materials employed in the execution on the artwork, as well as how the previous restoration was carried out; furthermore, analytical data methodologically supported phases of the intervention like cleaning, flling of the lacunae and pictorial retouching, as products were selected on the basis of their afnity to original materials and painting technique. This study will hopefully encourage refections on how a synergic dialogue between conservation science and restoration can represent an important reference point for interventions to be conducted with scientifc criteria and suitable methodology, in the light of the shared vision and common goal of transferring patrimony to future generation

Pre-conoscenze - cenni

TESTI PER INTRODUZIONE A CHIMICA DEI MATERIALI DEI BENI CULTURALI NB I testi elencati di seguito NON sono i testi per la preparazione dell’esame di Archeometria; si tratta di una indicazione di una serie di testi suggeriti agli studenti che non abbiano una preparazione pregressa sulle caratteristiche e la chimica dei materiali dei beni culturali. Altri testi sul tema possono essere reperiti anche individualmente dagli studenti. - L. Campanella, A. Casoli, M.P. Colombini, R. Marini Bettolo, M. Matteini, L. M. Migneco, A. Montenero, L. Nodari, C. Piccioli, M. Plossi Zappala’, G. Portalone, U. Russo, M. P. Sammartino, Chimica per l'arte, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2007. - C.Fiori, I materiali dei beni culturali: caratterizzazione, classificazione, degrado, Aracne Editrice, Roma, 2006. - M.Matteini, A.Moles. La chimica del restauro. I materiali dell'arte pittorica, Nardini editore, Firenze 1993, 3° edizione. - C. Quagliarini, L. Amorosi, Chimica e tecnologia dei materiali per l’arte, Bologna, Zanichelli, 2012, 2a edizione. (oppure 1a edizione, 1991). - J. Henderson, The science and archaeology of materials: an investigation of inorganic materials, Routledge, London, 2000