Journal Published Online: 01 November 1995
Volume 40, Issue 6

Provenance and Authenticity of Roman Sculptures by Petrographic Techniques

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Forensic petrographic methods—such as microscopy, X-ray diffraction and thin section examination—applied to materials of archaeological interest—provided reliable answers to questions related to their provenance. It could be demonstrated that the patina on a Roman marble statue had been faked and that the genetic history of earthy incrustations on the sculptures and on a fragment of marble from an illegal excavation site was the same, therefore indicating a common provenance. Moreover, the same techniques proved that a terracotta fragment found in the belts of an excavator was from the same area as the illegal excavation site.

Author Information

Lazzarini, L
L.A.M.A. Dipartimento di Storia dell'Architettura, Istituto Universitario di Architettura, Venice, Italy
Lombardi, G
Universita' degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza,”, Rome, Italy
Pages: 7
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Stock #: JFS13883J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13883J