Prime considerazioni sul progetto di ricerca Co.R.A.Ve.: applicazioni di prodotti sperimentali per la conservazione del patrimonio archeologico

Starting from 2019 the DAD - Department of Architecture and Design of the Politecnico di Torino, in collaboration with the company C.T.S. s.r.l., started the research project, still ongoing, “Co.R.A.Ve. - Conservation of Archaeological Ruins in Vegetal Contexts”. The objective of this study, of which this paper aims to provide an overall picture and the first results, is to define preventive intervention methods aimed at the conservation of archaeological ruins in areas characterized by a consistent presence of vegetation, both in direct contact with the ruins, and in their immediate vicinity. Starting from the recognition of the value of the landscape and cultural qualities expressed by the relationship between nature and ancient ruins, the project aims to identify specific restoration actions capable of favoring the coexistence between the artefacts and their environment natural, mediating between the need to guarantee the conservation of the material consistency of the monuments and the desire to preserve the landscape and the natural context of which they are an integral part. The first phase of the research project consisted in the elaboration and application of some formulations aimed at preventing microbiological growth on monuments, the development of which on some fragile elements could trigger more severe deterioration processes. For the experimentation, both formulations based on natural biocides, such as essential oils, and broad-spectrum synthetic biocides were examined. The case study of the experimentation was the Necropolis of Banditaccia di Cerveteri, a site included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2004 and part of the Archaeological Park of Cerveteri and Tarquinia since 2021.