Claudia Caporizzo, Gaia Mattei, Gerardo Pappone, Pietro P. C. Aucelli
This study explores the long-term evolution of the coastal landscape within the Campi Flegrei caldera (southern Italy), a highly dynamic volcanic region affected by persistent ground deformation. Through an integrated, multi-technique approach combining archaeological surveys, acoustic seabed mapping, and stratigraphic and geophysical analysis, the research reconstructs relative sea-level changes and vertical ground movements since Roman times. Submerged Roman structures serve as precise sea-level indicators, revealing spatially heterogeneous patterns of uplift and subsidence over the last...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.075
· Download
Alessandro Paladini, Maurizio Lazzari
This paper focuses on the eustatic and climatic variations that occurred in the Mediterranean during the Phoenician-Punic period (13th-2nd century BC) and their impact on the spread and the settlement and economic development of the two civilizations. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the geographical-settlement contexts, as well as the archaeological and climatic ones, were surveyed and analyzed, paying particular attention to changes in sea level, geomorphological conditions and trade routes. The research was developed through the search for published archaeological and historical...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.074
· Download
Alice Dal Fovo, Laura Maestro-Guijarro, Paula Maria Carmona-Quiroga, Raffaella Fontana, Francesca Rosi, Martina Alunni Cardinali, Aldo Romani, Lucia Comez, Cristiano Riminesi, Magdalena Iwanicka, Piotr Targowski, Magdalena Kowalska, Aggelos Philippidis, Paraskevi Pouli, Marta Castillejo, Mohamed Oujja
Detecting early signs of varnish degradation is essential to prevent damage to underlying paintings. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms behind varnish alteration remain not fully understood, especially regarding the influence of pigments and binders in the paint layer. This study evaluated the effects of thermo-hygrometric and photochemical ageing on dammar and acrylic resins, both as standalone layers and as coatings on titanium white and yellow ochre oil-paints. A range of non-invasive techniques was used to assess the optical, mechanical, and morphological changes in the varnish...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.073
· Download
Davide Ripamonti, Emanuele Frabasile, Alessia Marzanni, Chao Gao, Chiara Bertolin, Villa Federica, Nicola Gherardo Ludwig
This study explores the potential protective role of subaerial biofilms (SABs) in conserving stone heritage, challenging the traditional view of microbial colonization as merely damaging. SABs, composed of microorganisms embedded in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), may form a stabilizing barrier that reduces stone surface porosity and water permeability. The research examines the long-term effect of SABs on water dynamic under moisture stress conditions (30% RH, 25 °C). We assessed water absorption, evaporation, and visual surface changes using noninvasive techniques. Findings...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.072
· Download
Claudia Moricca, Erasmo Di Fonso, Rachele Nicolini, Laura Sadori
ARBOREA (ARchaeoBOtanical geoReferenced rEcords of Ancient Italy) is a new digital tool designed to compile, harmonize, and georeference archaeobotanical data from Central Italy. Developed within the NRRP PE5 CHANGES Spoke 8 and aligned with the BRAIN database, ARBOREA addresses key issues of data dispersion and terminological inconsistency. The open-access database integrates information from over 150 sites and 1400 contexts, cataloguing more than 7000 samples and nearly 500 plant taxa. Structured relationally and supported by dedicated thesauri for plant nomenclature, parts, preservation...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.071
· Download
Eleonora Clò, Anna Maria Mercuri, Jessica Zappa, Cristina Ricucci, Lorenzo Braga, Assunta Florenzano
This research focuses on Southern Italy, where archaeo-palynological research from 14 archaeological sites in Campania, Basilicata, and Sicily provides high-resolution (decadal to centennial scale) data on past floristic diversity and land use over millennia. Pollen analysis reveals rich palaeo-floristic records reflecting ecosystems surrounding ancient settlements, with both quantitative and qualitative insights. β-diversity analysis, based on species composition and abundance, was used to assess the biological uniqueness of each site through Local Contribution to Beta Diversity (LCBD)....
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.070
· Download
Laura Sadori, Jordan Palli, Sabina Fiolna, Monica Bini, Federico Cappella, Adam Izdebski, Alessia Masi, Scott Mensing, Lorenzo Nigro, Gianluca Piovesan, Giovanni Zanchetta
This study investigates the long-term ecological history of olive trees (Olea europaea) in the Central Mediterranean through a high-resolution multiproxy analysis of sediment cores from Pantano Grande (a.k.a, Lago Ganzirri, northeastern Sicily). Integrating palynological, geochemical, and archaeological data, the research reconstructs 3700 years of land-use dynamics, highlighting the role of human societies in driving olive trees propagation. Major phases of expansion, decline, and resilience of Olea correspond to significant historical transitions, including the Bronze Age collapse, Greek...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.069
· Download
Cristiano Vignola, Alessia Masi, Laura Sadori
This paper explores the contribution of palynology to the reconstruction of past biodiversity, landscape dynamics, and anthropogenic impact in Italy. Pollen analysis of sediment samples recovered at selected archaeological sites provide evidence of vegetation changes in response to both climatic fluctuations and land use. The occurrence of tree species, such as Fagus sylvatica (beech) and Quercus ilex (evergreen oaks) in unusual ecological conditions illustrates the response of plants to climatic constraints and (over)exploitation, impacting on local biodiversity and regional vegetation...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.068
· Download
Salvatore Menta, Antonio Stroscio, Gaetano Ortolano, Roberto Visalli, Cristina Maria Belfiore
This study compares the hydraulic properties of historic and experimentally reproduced mortars to assess their compatibility and performance in restoration contexts. Mortar replicas have been prepared by using traditional recipes from Catania (Sicily, Italy), where ghiara, a red volcanic aggregate from altered paleo-soils by Mt. Etna, is commonly used. Two formulations with different aggregate grain sizes (with and without the
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.067
· Download
Beatrice D'Orsi, Rocco Carcione, Ilaria Di Sarcina, Jessica Scifo, Teresa Rinaldi, Nicola Tangari, Alessia Cemmi
This study explores gamma irradiation as a non-invasive and residue-free method for the conservation of historical documents, focusing on two case studies from the Montecassino Abbey collection. Gamma rays from cobalt-60 source effectively eliminate biodeteriogens such as fungi, molds, and insects, without inducing radioactivity. This approach leaves no harmful residues, and is fully compatible with restoration practices, offering a faster, safer alternative to conventional chemical treatments. In this work, fragments of parchment and paper were irradiated at 8 kGy and analyzed before and...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.066
· Download