Thermal and Petrographic Characterization of Herculaneum Wall Plasters

Herculaneum wall plasters exhibit distinct thermal behaviors despite similar aggregate compositions, indicating varied ageing and weathering processes. The study, conducted on Roman plasters from different houses at the archaeological site of Herculaneum (2010–12), classified most samples into two groups—marmorino or intonachino—based on aggregate composition. However, thermal analysis revealed that these groups did not share identical thermal properties, suggesting differences in their degradation pathways and component ratios over time. The research employed petrography, thermal analysis, and X-ray fluorescence to characterize the plasters, providing insights into their long-term stability and conservation challenges.

Leone, G., De Vita, A., Magnani, A., & Rossi, C. (2016). Thermal and Petrographic Characterization of Herculaneum Wall Plasters. Archaeometry, 59(4), 747–761. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12275