• Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage
• Arqueología de la Arquitectura close

Una de las principales problemáticas a las que se enfrenta la arqueología de la arquitectura es datar los elementos y las estructuras. Las argamasas son un tipo de material constituido por una mezcla de diferentes elementos (agregados, agua) y empleadas en muchos tipos de construcciones. Los estudios realizados hasta la actualidad en torno a la posibilidad de realizar dataciones radiocarbónicas precisas han proporcionado resultados contradictorios. El objetivo de este artículo es el de presentar un nuevo protocolo para datar la arquitectura histórica desarrollado por el Centre for Isotopic Research on Cultural and Enviromental Heritage (CIRCE), basado en la realización de dataciones radiocarbónicas de argamasas a partir del análisis de tres arquitecturas medievales del norte del España, dos iglesias y la muralla de un castillo. Los resultados obtenidos han sido confrontados y comparados con otros indicadores cronológicos independientes (dataciones radiocarbónicas realizadas en los mismos yacimientos, materiales y análisis arqueológicos) con el fin de analizar estos valores desde un enfoque multidisciplinar. One of the major issues in building archaeology is finding the age of elements and structures discovered. Mortars represent a class of material basically constituted by a mixture of different phases (i.e. binder, aggregates, water) and are widely used for constructive uses and artworks. Current scientific literature regarding the possibility of accurate radiocarbon dating for mortars reports different and still contradictory results. In this study, a new protocol for radiocarbon dating of mortar developed at the Centre for Isotopic Research on Cultural and Environmental heritage (CIRCE) is used to perform 14C measurements on archaeological mortars coming from three medieval architectures of northern Spain (two churches and the walls of a castle). Results observed will be discussed and compared with independent age estimations (i.e. radiocarbon dating performed on organic materials found in the same study site, archaeological analyses) in order to frame experimental observations in the actual site knowledge by means of a multidisciplinary approach.

El análisis estratigráfico de la muralla sur de Contrebia Leukade se inscribe dentro del proyecto de restauración de la misma y ha permitido documentar una evolución de sus estructuras mucho más compleja de lo planteado hasta el momento. Además de su análisis estratigráfıco, en el presente estudio se aborda también el problema de la cronología de sus fases más tempranas. The stratigraphic analysis of the south wall of the Contrebia Leukade settlement is part of a project to restore the settlement. The analysis has shown the evolution of the settlement to be far more complex than was previously thought. In addition to the stratigraphic analysis, the present study also tackles the chronology problem of the earlier phases of the settlement.

manufatto medioevale a struttura mista in legno e muratura, uno dei pochi superstiti in Italia, probabile sede dell’Abate del Monastero di Nonantola. Si tratta di un «edificio-fossile», oggetto di grande interesse data la rarità, l’antichità della struttura e delle modalità costruttive, nonché per la presenza di una stratificazione quasi millenaria. La Casa dell’Abate è stata infatti sottoposta ad un lento ma continuo processo di trasformazione per sostituzione graduale degli elementi lignei con muratura, che lo ha condotto da una condizione di edificio-fondaco a carattere non residenziale, verso un assetto prevalentemente abitativo. A ciò si aggiunge una generale condizione di ridotta leggibilità stratigrafica, dovuta ad un intervento risalente agli anni Sessanta, che ha comportato profonde trasformazioni strutturali ed una generale alterazione delle superfici esterne sistematicamente rinnovate, con conseguente modifica della percezione di antichità dell’insieme. Una condizione che suggerisce alcune riflessioni sul rapporto fra leggibilità stratigrafica e conservazione dell’autenticità. In un edificio fortemente alterato, viene drasticamente ridotta la capacità risolutiva dello strumento stratigrafico, di cui diventa necessario ricalibrare codici e modalità applicative. Tuttavia, da questa necessità di continuo adattamento a diverse condizioni di lettura, risulta un’articolazione della stratigrafia – qualora inclusa organicamente nella concezione del progetto di restauro – e la leggibilità stratigrafica può divenire anche prezioso indicatore delle alterazioni indotte e criterio tecnico-culturale di orientamento del progetto, come tensione ideale verso il controllo delle trasformazioni nell’intervento. Che si configura qui in termini minimali e rispettosi delle testimonianze superstiti frammentate e della loro leggibilità stratigrafica. The Abbot’s House in St. Giovanni in Persiceto (Bologna) is a «fossil-building», one of the few surviving timber-framed buildings in Italy, probably the seat of the Abbot of the monastery of Nonantola. It is very interesting because of its rarity, age, building type and the presence of an almost millenarian stratigraphy. The Abbot’s House has been subjected to a slow but continuous transformation process – through a gradual replacement of wooden elements by masonry – modifying its storehouse function for a prevalently residential one. Restoration works in the 1960s deeply modified the structural frame and renewed the external surfaces, transforming thus the old image of the building and making difficult its archaeological analysis. This circumstance makes to think about the relationship between stratigraphic legibility and preservation of material authenticity. Reliability of stratigraphic instrument becomes reduced in such a modified building, being required a different use of stratigraphy by adapting its codes and modes to the study case. The adaptation to different recording conditions gives stratigraphy a different and more articulated role – if it is organically included in the preservation project – and stratigraphic legibility may become a precious alteration index and a technical and cultural project criterion. It becomes a control of transformations, leading to the idea of a minimal intervention and respect toward the fragmentary survivals of past times and of their stratigraphic legibility.

[ES] La estratigrafía arqueológica, deudora de la investigación geológica, templa sus herramientas y desarrolla sus principios gracias a las continuas experiencias llevadas a cabo de acuerdo a un modelo de trabajo y reflexión crítico. En este caso, hemos pretendido un acercamiento al tema de las lagunas estratigráficas, concepto que encierra distintos procesos (hiatos, vacíos erosionales) y que identificamos gracias a las superficies negativas. Su definición y documentación es, a menudo, clave en el análisis arqueológico de la arquitectura histórica. [EN] Owing much to geological research, archaeological stratigraphy and its tools and principles are developed through continuous experiences following a model of critical study and reflection. In this case, we have attempted to approach the issue of stratigraphic gaps, a concept that includes various processes (hiatuses, erosional gaps) and that we have identified through negative surfaces. Their definition and documentation is often vital in archaeological analysis and historical archaeology. 9 páginas, 8 figuras. Peer reviewed

The author presents three lines of investigation, developed in the University of Siena by the study of some hundreds of historical buildings. The study of depositional processes and products allows us to interpret the dynamics of depositional environments and to establish a chronological framework.This time framework is provided by different aspects of stratigraphy and allows us to interpret building activities in terms of dynamic evolving environments. The record of buildings activities and climatic-pollution processes through historical time is held in these walls along with evidence of the different lime mortars. Our aim is to calibrate the “tools” that could be used to connect the analysis of lime mortar to building activities. Lime mortars could be considered as a perfect dating material for the historical building activities, because it must be freshly prepared every time you need it (it couldn’t be reused), even for the smallest intervention. With the help of a computer we will obtain a rectified photography as simulation where a virtual model works as a mathematics formula. So that we would say that, with the virtual reality,we can either “rebuild” an outline of a building in a precise moment of its history, or we can examine and study all the theories related with the analysis of the material structure, and, eventually,we might understand either the theories will be right or not. L’autore presenta tre delle linee di ricerca sviluppate dal Laboratorio senese, risultato della prassi operativa su alcune centinaia di edifici. La prima è una riflessione sulla complessità del processo di formazione del deposito stratificato, sulle strategie da seguire nell’esecuzione dell’indagine e sulla necessità di un ‘progetto conoscitivo’ preliminare all’indagine stessa. La seconda linea di ricerca affronta lo studio delle malte. L’obiettivo è quello di calibrare gli strumenti che possono essere impiegati per ricorrere all’analisi delle malte nell’identificazione delle attività edilizie. Le malte possono considerarsi come il perfetto fossile guida per le attività dell’edilizia storica, poiché devono essere preparate al momento del loro utilizzo (non possono essere reimpiegate), anche per i più piccoli interventi. L’ultima parte del contributo tratta della fotografia rettificata, grazie alla quale è possibile simulare un modello virtuale dell’edificio, “ricostruendolo” nelle sue varie fasi costruttive, e attraverso il quale studiare e verificare tutte le operazioni di analisi della struttura materiale.

The monumental complex of the Castelo dos Mouros at Sintra (Portugal) is an architectural ensemble declared World Heritage Site. It is formed by two walled enclosures, with a large cistern inside the bigger one, and the small church of São Pedro de Canaferrim outside the walled enclosures. Thought to be “work of Moors” by historiography and hidden by a Romantic restoration in the 19th century, the analysis of this site by means of the Archaeology of Architecture puts back the chronology of the castle and the church to the second half of the 12th century, in relation to the Christian conquest of Lisbon. El conjunto monumental Patrimonio de la Humanidad del Castelo dos Mouros de Sintra (Portugal) es un complejo arquitectónico formado por dos recintos amurallados, con una gran cisterna en el interior del mayor, y la pequeña iglesia de São Pedro de Canaferrim extramuros. Considerado “obra de moros” en la historiografía, y enmascarado en el siglo XIX bajo una restauración romántica que le dotó de aires de cuento, su análisis desde la Arqueología de la Arquitectura retrasa la construcción originaria del conjunto hasta la segunda mitad del siglo XII, en relación con la conquista cristiana de Lisboa.

Experiencia del grupo de investigación del CSIC (Instituto de Historia, Madrid) en Arqueología de la Arquitectura. Con respecto a la intervención se analizan las relaciones con el promotor, el objetivo y las características del encargo, financiación, medios y equipo y las relaciones con las intervenciones arqueológica del subsuelo y arquitectónica del edificio. Con respecto a la metodología se analiza especialmente la estratigrafía: lectura veloz, lectura en equipo, unidad de documentación, lecturas imposibles. También las fuentes escritas y los problemas de datación, indicadores cronológicos, dataciones absolutas y su relación con los modelos explicativos. Finalmente, los criterios discriminantes y la mensiocronología. En conclusión se denota el escaso interés por este método y se aboga por la obligación legal de la lectura arqueológica del edificio histórico, previamente y durante su intervención (en paralelo con la legislación sobre excavaciones arqueológicas), y por la necesidad de su normalización, de una adecuada formación y de una suficiente financiación. Experience of CSIC (Instituto de Historia, Madrid) Archaeology of Architecture research group. The intervention analyzes relations with the promoter, work objectives and characteristics, financing, means, team and relations with archaeological interventions underground and architectonic interventions in the building. The methodology includes special analysis of the stratigraphy: fast reading, team reading, documentation unit, impossible readings, in addition to written sources and dating problems, chronological indicators, absolute dating and its relation to explanatory models. Lastly, outstanding criteria and mensiochronology. The conclusion notes the scarce interest in this method and advocates making archaeological reading of the historic building compulsory by law prior to and during intervention (in parallel with archaeological excavation legislation) and the need for normalization, proper training and sufficient financing.

Gli autori presentano i risultati più significativi di una ricerca svolta presso le Università di Milano e di Brescia, nell’ambito dei corsi di Restauro architettonico. Fra i principali obiettivi dello studio e delle esperienze didattiche correlate vi è il tentativo non solo di utilizzare le procedure dell’archeologia stratigrafica, per quanto utile e possibile, nella complessa serie di operazioni che segna la redazione di un progetto di conservazione e di riuso, ma di trasferirvi anche quella che si può definire come “mentalità stratigrafica”. In particolare considerando nuovi codici, quali le Interfacce di Fase e le Unità Stratigrafiche Associate. A corredo di queste argomentazioni vengono anche svolte alcune considerazioni in merito al cosiddetto “Restauro archeologico” The present work is made to show a didactic experience acquired by the authors at the Universities of Milan and Brescia (Italy) in the sphere of teaching Architectural Restoration. The peculiar aspect of research is the attempt to apply not only the procedures of archeological stratigraphy but also the “stratigraphical mentality” to the project of conservation and re-use of architecture. Introducing and using, for example, new models of archeological stratigraphy lecture of the buildings expressed for the requirements of conservation and re-use, in proposing the new index-codes of Phases Intersides and Associated Stratigraphical Unity. The authors finally put forward some comments about the so called “archaological” Restoration.