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Archaeometric study of natural hydraulic mortars: the case of the Late Roman Villa dell’Oratorio (Florence, Italy)

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Abstract

This paper shows the results of a multidisciplinary study carried out on the mortars from the Late Roman Villa dell’Oratorio (fourth-sixth ad), an aristocratic mansion built in the lower Valdarno (Florence, Italy). Thirty-one bedding mortar and plaster samples were analysed through optical microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for determining the chemical, mineralogical and petrographic characteristics, while their main physical properties were measured by geotechnical procedures. The collected data indicates that the analysed mortars are made up of very fine to coarse river sand aggregate mixed with white to yellowish-white natural hydraulic lime binder mainly consisting of mixtures of prevailing calcite and hydraulic compounds. With regard to the origin of the raw materials, the aggregates were recognized to be selected Arno river sands, and the binders are the burning product of a local marly limestone (ex Alberese). Therefore, the mortars of the Late Roman Villa dell’Oratorio are one of the first uses of natural hydraulic lime in the lower Valdarno.

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Acknowledgments

The sampling was carried out under permission of the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio (SABAP) di Firenze, Prato e Pistoia. The authors are grateful to Marcello Spampinato for his support and assistance in the mortar sampling and in the preparation of the specimens for optical microscope observation. The authors would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, Via S. Maria 53, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    Marco Lezzerini & Mirco Ramacciotti

  2. Applied and Laser Spectroscopy Laboratory, ICCOM-CNR, Research Area of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 1,, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Marco Lezzerini

  3. Department of Civilizations and Forms of Knowledge, University of Pisa, Via P. Paoli 15, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    Federico Cantini & Beatrice Fatighenti

  4. LAMA—Laboratory for Analysis of the Ancient Materials, DACC, University Iuav of Venice, San Polo 2468, 30125, Venice, Italy

    Fabrizio Antonelli

  5. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121, Florence, Italy

    Elena Pecchioni

  6. CNR—Institute for the Conservation and Valorisation of Cultural Heritage, Via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy

    Fabio Fratini & Emma Cantisani

  7. Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via Laterina, 8, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Marco Giamello

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  1. Marco Lezzerini
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  8. Emma Cantisani
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Correspondence to Marco Lezzerini.

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Lezzerini, M., Ramacciotti, M., Cantini, F. et al. Archaeometric study of natural hydraulic mortars: the case of the Late Roman Villa dell’Oratorio (Florence, Italy). Archaeol Anthropol Sci 9, 603–615 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-016-0404-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-016-0404-2

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