La deperibilità dei sectilia pavimenta e un'innovativa tecnica di consolidamento sperimentata da Giacomo Boni in tre edifici del Foro romano nel 1899-1901
In: Quaderni dell'Istituto di Storia dell'Architettura: n.s. 2019, 2020
DOI: 10.48255/1180
The conservation of ancient sectilia pavimenta: an innovative technique of consolidation experimented
in 1899-1901 by Giacomo Boni in three buildings of the Roman Forum
Ancient floors composed of polychrome marble tiles (sectilia pavimenta) deteriorate in a short time if, after
excavation, they are left exposed outdoors. Weathering and the mechanical actions related to public visits
cause both the breakage of the tiles and their detachment from the mortar support: the mobility of the tiles
then facilitates their removal due to lack of protection or vandalism. To offer a solution to this problem
the famous archaeologist Giacomo Boni has formulate a new consolidation method that has been applied,
during the years 1899-1901, on sectilia pavimenta of three important Forum monuments: the Basilica Aemilia, the House of the Vestals and the church of S. Maria Antiqua.
The new method which, after more than a century from its first application, still shows its conservative
effectiveness, is described and illustrated here both by unpublished documents of the time and the evidence
of the current state of the marble floors on which the method has been applied.