Il recupero di un patrimonio intangibile: la cultura tecnica delle maestranze edili

Every material heritage includes an intangible element: the technical culture of the craftsmen who made it. In the field of architecture, treatises and handbooks focus mainly on the erudite technical culture. On the contrary, there are few sources referring to the technical culture that produced minor architecture: the knowing of these constructive procedures hence entails other ways. Possible written sources of knowledge are bill of quantities, contracts, technical documents, charters of artisans' guilds, etc. However, these documents are rare and become more difficult to find as we go back in time. Therefore, the most important role is played by the critical analysis of the material evidences. In addition to it, two other sources could be drawn on: the last direct testimony of some old craftsmen and the tales handed down from generation to generation, the latter requiring an even more severe critical scrutiny. The retrieval of this knowledge is essential to the preservation works; otherwise, these material documents are in danger of being disfigured by interventions unaware of their values, thus permanently erasing the traces of such an important intangible heritage.