Caterina Giannattasio

The Mezza Spiaggia Tower (Cagliari, Italy): The Dating of Structures by the Metrological–Chronological Analysis of Masonry and the Petro-Geochemical Stratigraphy of Building Materials

This study is part of a more extensive research aimed at examining a number of important defence towers in and around Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy. These towers form part of Sardinia’s historic coastal defence system, dating to a period between the early sixteenth and the late seventeenth century (Fois 1981; Montaldo 1992; Pillosu 1957; Russo 1992). These historically and architecturally distinctive towers were originally built for defence purposes; however, since the nineteenth century when they no longer performed this function, they have declined into disuse and abandonment.

The Medieval San Francesco Convent in Cagliari: From the Architectural, Materical and Historical-Stratigraphical Analysis to the Information System

The Franciscan monastery, situated in the historic center of Cagliari (Sardinia), was founded in the thirteenth century, and transformed during the later centuries, up to the present day. The complexity of the case and the lack of objective data about its history has led us to carry out an interdisciplinary inquiry, in order to achieve a better knowledge of the building, preliminary for the drafting of a restoration project that respects all the signs that the time left. Starting from a deep examination of the indirect sources, turned out to be incomplete, the investigation continued with the execution of a survey with laser scanner and with the characterization of materials and related diseases of degradation.For the laser scanner survey we used a Faro Focus 3D, versatile and lightweight instrument that allows to perform scans with high speed point acquisition and high accuracy. For data elaboration we used the JRC 3D Reconstructor Software by the Gexcel srl.The characterization of the materials was perf...

Traditional Masonry Techniques and Characterization of Materials: The Mezzaspiaggia Tower (Cagliari, Sardinia)

The objects of this study are some towers situated in the geographical area of Cagliari, belonging to the Sardinia coastal defense system realized between the 16th and the beginning of the seventeenth century. This architectural organization, very rich and articulated, is full of historical and cultural significance, being the expression of traditional human activities. Even so, it is actually in a progressive state of degradation, having lost, since nineteenth century, a role in our society. Starting with this preamble, that is, with the purpose of warranting better preservation and management of similar cultural heritage examples, this article illustrates the results of an in-depth analysis concerning the above mentioned structures, following an interdisciplinary approach. Specifically, the research has been carried out integrating historical-archaeometric methodologies with mineralogical-petrographic as well as geochemical methods.

Measure and material of the 18th- 20th century masonry techniques. Archaeological analysis of the University building in Cagliari (Italy)

The University building represents a valid benchmark of the 18th century civil architecture in Cagliari. It consists of two separate architectures, initially seat of the Rectorate and of the Tridentine seminary, which over time have taken on a homogeneous character. The research, facilitated by the realization of a recent restoration project, was aimed to examine the masonry techniques that characterize the building, following an interdisciplinary approach by means of archaeological analyses. The investigation consisted of two main phases, indirect and direct, carried out in parallel. Specifically, it has been based on a thorough survey of the masonries and on mineralogical and petrographic characterization of the natural and artificial stone materials. The data obtained directly and through experiments were compared with the information found in the archival sources related to the construction phases. In the context of reference, the contribution is significant to facilitate the recognition, the dating, and the preservation of coeval architectures that, unlike the one examined, are not philologically dated.

The Roman Bridge of Sant’antioco (Sardinia, Italy): The Analysis of Masonries and Characterization of Materials

This article is part of an ongoing study dealing with the analysis of the bridge of the ancient city of Sant’Antioco. It is an architectural specialty dating back most probably to Roman times followed by many other interventions during the following centuries, and represents a piece of art of a unique road net of its kind, both for its function in connecting not only the opposite banks of a river but also a small island with the dry land. Additionally, its architectural design does not have any analogies in other similar designs. It has been studied following an interdisciplinary approach, with the aim of combining the architectural-constructive knowledge with methods used in geologic and geochemical investigations. Specifically, the purpose of this research is to gain a deeper understanding of the architectural elements under investigation, which is essential for correct and qualified restoration and conservation.