How to improve the conservation of glass artefacts? Is it possible to accurately evaluate the impact of environmental conditions on the level of deterioration of the same?
The partnership between Pompeii Archaeological Park andItalian Institute of Technology aims to answer these questions through experiments carried out on different samples, with which we intend to replicate the composition of ancient glass.
The experimentation will be carried out inAntiquarium of Boscoreale, an exhibition space established in 1991, near the archaeological area of Villa Regina, to illustrate the life and environment of the Vesuvian countryside in Roman times.
A detailed collection of data
The team of researchers will observe the influence of storage conditions on the exposed samples, throughanalysis of the alteration process of glass finds.
The use of data logger, i.e. electronic devices capable of acquiring and archiving one or more sets of data over time, will allow environmental measurements regarding temperature and relative humidity to be carried out and recorded on a daily basis. Such data, compared with the level of alteration of the samples, will be able to produce important information regarding the correct conservation of the glass finds.
A collaborative experimentation
The research will continue for three years and will conclude with an accurate analysis of the samples, carried out thanks to advanced diagnostic techniques.
This experimentation is included within the GoGreen project, funded by the European Commission, to encourage it exchange of knowledge and good practices between the various participating countries.
The transnational perspective is precisely the crucial aspect of a research that requires different environmental conditions to be exhaustive and convincing. Samples identical to those exhibited in the Boscoreale Antiquarium will in fact be placed in various institutes and museums, belonging to different geographical and climatic areas, to improve the conservation methods of glass finds.
A clear example of how collaboration between countries and modern technologies can help us understand and preserve fundamental legacies from the ancient world.
Sources: ansa.it, cultura.gov.it, lostrillone.tv
