In the study of ancient mortars, an important archaeometric information concerns the investigation on the production technologies with particular care to the raw materials utilized. As regards the aggregate, it’s easy to recognize the kind, amount and granulometry, but in the case of binder, the characterization and the individuation of the limestone used in the production of the lime is quite difficult. This problem was afforded in the study of the mortars used in the building of the bridge called Ponte di Augusto, erected over the river Nera (Narni, Italy) in 27 B.C.. Mineralogical, chemical, physical, granulometric and petrographical analyses were carried out on the whole sample and the binder itself, particular care being devoted to lumps. It is well known that the Romans were able to produce high-quality mortars of relatively low porosity, strong mechanical characteristics and high hydraulicity by adding pozzolane. Also the mortars used in the Ponte di Augusto show good characteristics and a binder of high hydraulicity but the analytical data exclude the use of any particular additive like pozzolane. The high hydraulicity was probably obtained by calcinating local impure limestones but the high Si content and the low Al2O3/SiO2 and K2O/Al2O3 ratios is not compatible with the use of marly limestones, rather with the use of cherty limestones. Cherty limestones are carbonatic rocks particularly rich in siliceous nannoplancton and the idea came to see if it was possible to utilise these fossils in the identification of the stone used in the production of the lime. The first step was to verify if the original structure of the nannoplancton shell is damaged by the process of burning at the temperatures usually reached in the ancient kilns. This experimentation showed that the structure of the siliceous shell is not damaged during burning. Therefore we could go to the second step which consisted in the analysis of the siliceous nannoplancton content of the lumps. The results seem encouraging and this method should be envisaged as a new tool in the study of the ancient mortars.

Ancient mortars: provenance of the raw materials used for the binder production / Cantisani E.; Chiari M.; Fratini F.; Marcucci M.; Pecchioni E.; Rescic S.. - STAMPA. - (2003), pp. 19-19. (Intervento presentato al convegno Uk Archaeological Science 2003 tenutosi a Oxford nel 2-5 Aprile 2003).

Ancient mortars: provenance of the raw materials used for the binder production

MARCUCCI, MARTA;PECCHIONI, ELENA;
2003

Abstract

In the study of ancient mortars, an important archaeometric information concerns the investigation on the production technologies with particular care to the raw materials utilized. As regards the aggregate, it’s easy to recognize the kind, amount and granulometry, but in the case of binder, the characterization and the individuation of the limestone used in the production of the lime is quite difficult. This problem was afforded in the study of the mortars used in the building of the bridge called Ponte di Augusto, erected over the river Nera (Narni, Italy) in 27 B.C.. Mineralogical, chemical, physical, granulometric and petrographical analyses were carried out on the whole sample and the binder itself, particular care being devoted to lumps. It is well known that the Romans were able to produce high-quality mortars of relatively low porosity, strong mechanical characteristics and high hydraulicity by adding pozzolane. Also the mortars used in the Ponte di Augusto show good characteristics and a binder of high hydraulicity but the analytical data exclude the use of any particular additive like pozzolane. The high hydraulicity was probably obtained by calcinating local impure limestones but the high Si content and the low Al2O3/SiO2 and K2O/Al2O3 ratios is not compatible with the use of marly limestones, rather with the use of cherty limestones. Cherty limestones are carbonatic rocks particularly rich in siliceous nannoplancton and the idea came to see if it was possible to utilise these fossils in the identification of the stone used in the production of the lime. The first step was to verify if the original structure of the nannoplancton shell is damaged by the process of burning at the temperatures usually reached in the ancient kilns. This experimentation showed that the structure of the siliceous shell is not damaged during burning. Therefore we could go to the second step which consisted in the analysis of the siliceous nannoplancton content of the lumps. The results seem encouraging and this method should be envisaged as a new tool in the study of the ancient mortars.
2003
Uk Archaeological Science 2003
Uk Archaeological Science 2003
Oxford
Cantisani E.; Chiari M.; Fratini F.; Marcucci M.; Pecchioni E.; Rescic S.
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/676736
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