PETROGRAPHY FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE

The course has the declared aim to provide the adequate knowledge to the study of mortars, ceramics and rocks used in cultural heritage.

Expected learning outcomes are:

- Recognition and description of the mineralogical and petrographic features of natural and artificial stone materials (mortars and ceramics).

- Interpretation of petrographic data in order to understand the various aspects of their use in cultural heritage through examples of common interest.

- Knowledge of analytical methods for the study of natural and artificial stone materials.

Method of assessment:

The student will demonstrate an adequate knowledge of the scientific method and techniques of data analysis.

These skills will be verified through the discussion of specific issues addressed in the lectures using scientific articles provided by the teacher.

Introduction:

• The petrographic study applied to cultural heritage.

Lithic materials:

• Mineralogical, compositional and structural features
• Classification of common rocks used in cultural heritage.
• Provenance of the main rocks used in antiquity.

Ceramics:

• Petrographic and mineralogical characteristics of ceramics.
• The microscopic description of ancient pottery and their classification.
• The raw materials.
• The production processes.

Mortars:

• Petrographic and mineralogical characteristics
• Processes for the production of binders and technological evolution.

Notes on the petrographic characteristics of glass and metal

Files and Power Point lecture notes

For not attending students will be provided lecture notes

For further details :

• Cuomo di Caprio N. La ceramica in archeologia, 2: antiche tecniche di lavorazione e moderni metodi di indagine. L'Erma di Bretschneider, 2007.
• Lazzarini L. Pietre e Marmi Antichi. CEDAM, 2004.
• Rice P. Pottery Analysis: A Sourcebook. University of Chicago Press, 2006