Archaeological research carried out on buildings (Building archaeology, Archeologie du bâti, Bauforschung, Archeologia dell'Architettura) allows the objective representation and description of variety of aspects including: the structure itself, construction techniques, details of the materials used and their state of conservation as well as the dating of its construction and its historical context. Certain types of stone, bricks and pozzolana present in mortars can be identified by normal observation. However, for an accurate identification of the provenance and make-up of a mortar and the extent of its decay, one is dependant on chemical and petrographic analysis. It is a question of a relationship between archaeology and archaeometry. When the archaeologist states that certain materials have always been used for the construction of port structures, teaching regulations and the transmission of material culture have a bearing on the evolution of the dialogue: it has been possible to study these structures because they have survived for hundreds, if not thousands of years making durability one of their main characteristics. According to Gauss'law, the prolonged use of such materials was not a coincidence but was due to a certain degree of knowledge of these same materials. The questions answerable through archaeometry are thus related to the chemical and mechanical resistance of these materials in a marine environment. If this resistance proves to be stronger in the long term it points to chois made after rational experiments over a long period of time, even if empirical (choices based on the effects and not to their causes); a process traceable to the Palaeolithic. It is a know fact that, for example, that mortars lime (with magnesium) and cocciopesto or pozzolana are the most resistant if made in the traditional way: today these traditions have been lost because they have not been passed down the generations. But if archaeometry specialists are consulted regarding the cuses of the optimal reaction of mortars in ancient ports, their answer will focus on the 'silico-alluminosi' compound of the lime during setting. If however, if one uses the technical classification of hydraulic binders introduced after the discovery of cements, one notes that the mortars of pozzolana and cocciopesto are considered less resistant, while in reality they have been performed better than hydraulic concrete. If at this point one focuses on the influence of magnesium, the setting properties of these materials and their microstructures one notes that the chemical and physical behaviour of these materials is far more complex than originally thought by researchers in the field. Because of this, and optimal effects rather than for scientists to discover the true methods and procedures. It is archaeology that contributes to scientific knowledge and not vice versa (ISCUM method).

Rapporti tra archeologia, archeometria e cultura materiale, nello studio dei materiali impiegati nelle opere portuali.

MANNONI, TIZIANO;VECCHIATTINI, RITA
2004-01-01

Abstract

Archaeological research carried out on buildings (Building archaeology, Archeologie du bâti, Bauforschung, Archeologia dell'Architettura) allows the objective representation and description of variety of aspects including: the structure itself, construction techniques, details of the materials used and their state of conservation as well as the dating of its construction and its historical context. Certain types of stone, bricks and pozzolana present in mortars can be identified by normal observation. However, for an accurate identification of the provenance and make-up of a mortar and the extent of its decay, one is dependant on chemical and petrographic analysis. It is a question of a relationship between archaeology and archaeometry. When the archaeologist states that certain materials have always been used for the construction of port structures, teaching regulations and the transmission of material culture have a bearing on the evolution of the dialogue: it has been possible to study these structures because they have survived for hundreds, if not thousands of years making durability one of their main characteristics. According to Gauss'law, the prolonged use of such materials was not a coincidence but was due to a certain degree of knowledge of these same materials. The questions answerable through archaeometry are thus related to the chemical and mechanical resistance of these materials in a marine environment. If this resistance proves to be stronger in the long term it points to chois made after rational experiments over a long period of time, even if empirical (choices based on the effects and not to their causes); a process traceable to the Palaeolithic. It is a know fact that, for example, that mortars lime (with magnesium) and cocciopesto or pozzolana are the most resistant if made in the traditional way: today these traditions have been lost because they have not been passed down the generations. But if archaeometry specialists are consulted regarding the cuses of the optimal reaction of mortars in ancient ports, their answer will focus on the 'silico-alluminosi' compound of the lime during setting. If however, if one uses the technical classification of hydraulic binders introduced after the discovery of cements, one notes that the mortars of pozzolana and cocciopesto are considered less resistant, while in reality they have been performed better than hydraulic concrete. If at this point one focuses on the influence of magnesium, the setting properties of these materials and their microstructures one notes that the chemical and physical behaviour of these materials is far more complex than originally thought by researchers in the field. Because of this, and optimal effects rather than for scientists to discover the true methods and procedures. It is archaeology that contributes to scientific knowledge and not vice versa (ISCUM method).
2004
9788849811155
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11567/257270
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