https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-03684-0
Regular Article
The contribution of archeometry in characterization of decorative materials from the site of Villa di Teodorico in Galeata (Italy)
1
Dipartimento di Discipline Umanistiche, Sociali e delle Imprese Culturali, Università degli Studi di Parma, Via M. D’Azeglio 85, 43125, Parma, Italy
2
Dipartimento per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile e la Transizione Ecologica, Università degli studi del Piemonte Orientale, Piazza S. Eusebio, 5 - 13100, Vercelli, Italy
3
Centro Interdisciplinare per lo Studio e la Conservazione del Beni Culturali, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale, Via Manzoni 8, 13100, Vercelli, Italy
4
Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Informatiche, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 7/a, 43124, Parma, Italy
5
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, della Vita e della Sostenibilità Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 157/a, 43124, Parma, Italy
Received:
17
October
2022
Accepted:
9
January
2023
Published online:
30
January
2023
Villa di Teodorico in Galeata (Forlì-Cesena, Emilia Romagna) is an important archeological site in the north of Italy occupied from sixth century BC to twelfth century AD. The most interesting results concern the Roman age, when a large villa was built, and the late antiquity, when the Ostrogothic king Theodoric decided to build in this area his palatium (early sixth century AD). The archeometric investigation was performed on Roman wall paintings fragments and on late antique glass sectilia fragments belonging to Palazzo di Teodorico by using a multi-technique approach that included micro-Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, UV–visible–NIR diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry with optic fibers and optical stereo-microscopy.. This analytical approach allowed the identification of all components, collecting molecular, elemental, microscopic, morphological and chromatic data. The characterization of samples supplied essential archeological, historical and technological information. The production techniques and the rich materials employed suggest the importance of the site in different periods. The evolution of the manufacturing technologies and the possible trade routes mainly during late antique period are witnessed by the change in the raw materials.
© The Author(s) 2023
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