Innovative, Multidisciplinary Approach for Restoring Paintings in Hypogeal Environment: Etruscan Tomba Degli Scudi (4th Century Bc) in Tarquinia

A groundbreaking discovery in the restoration of Etruscan mural paintings at the 4th-century BC Tomba degli Scudi, a UNESCO-listed hypogeum in Tarquinia, Italy, reveals that Etruscan artists used modular templates—termed patroni and antibola—to depict human figures, challenging long-held assumptions about the origin of this technique by predating its known use in medieval art by nearly a millennium. This finding refines our understanding of technological transitions from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages. The study employed an innovative, multidisciplinary approach combining conservation, archaeology, and microbiology, including ultraviolet fluorescence with 3D techniques and rigorous pre-, during-, and post-restoration microbial analyses. Notably, moonmilk—a microbial-derived calcite—was identified as a preservative agent in the paintings, while challenges in post-restoration disinfestation highlighted the need for targeted conservation strategies. The research was conducted collaboratively by restorers, archaeologists, and scientists, funded by the Italian Environment Fund and archaeological authorities.

Cirigliano, A., Pelosi, C., Rinaldi, T., Kruif, F., Lanteri, L., Porcelli, G., Pogliani, P., Tomassetti, M., & Arrighi, C. (2024). Innovative, Multidisciplinary Approach for Restoring Paintings in Hypogeal Environment: Etruscan Tomba Degli Scudi (4th Century Bc) in Tarquinia. Current Approaches, Solutions and Practices in Conservation of Cultural Heritage, 341–373. https://doi.org/10.26650/b/aa9ps34.2024.006.017