How were the great sculptures and architectural works of Ancient Rome assembled, repaired and fixed together? The HARMOGE project, supported by the Ministry of University and Research through the PRIN (Projects of Relevant National Interest) program, addresses this subject. The project, in collaboration with the University of Pisa, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and the Italian National Research Council’s Institute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds (ICCOM-CNR), in association with the National Roman Museum, tries to address this question. The study focuses on the technologies and materials used to manufacture, repair, and restore statues and other marble works in the Hellenistic and Roman worlds, from the second century BCE to the third century CE. Metal joints—metal connecting parts found in sculptures, architectural elements, and funerary monuments—are essential to the inquiry because they provide direct evidence of ancient building and conservation procedures. The investigation is facilitated by the extraordinary diversity of the heritage that has been preserved in the National Roman Museum’s numerous locations. To examine the materials, the researchers used cutting-edge, non-invasive procedures. For the first time, the experts clarify, “we will be able to construct a first database of the pins used by Roman sculptors, architects, and restorers and investigate their archaeological aspects thanks to new data”. This initiative presents a significant opportunity to further explore the technical practices of Roman art, thereby contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the construction and conservation processes and the solutions employed by ancient craftsmen.
News Source: 9Colonne
