Optical Petrographic Microscopy

In this paper, we report a multidisciplinary approach for the analytic study and the reconstruction of the ancient colour used for Roman sarcophagi. For this purpose, we adopted the three-dimensional (3D) digital technology and found it to be a valuable tool for the identification, documentation and reconstruction of the ancient colour. This technology proved to be an excellent link between archaeological knowledge and scientific analyses. Therefore, 3D digital technologies would effectively facilitate the exchange of information and collaboration between experts in various disciplines. This is extremely important in order to obtain demonstrable results in a new area of study, such as polychrome Roman sarcophagi (and the ancient polychromy and gilding on the marble). In this study, the digital 3D model of Ulpia Domnina's sarcophagus (National Roman Museum in Rome, inv. no. 125891) has been used to identify both the pigments and the techniques of application used, and to explore the potential of emerging technologies in the reconstruction and visualization of the ancient colour. The aim of this work is to show the results of a practical application of 3D digital technology as a linking bridge between archaeological and scientific data, in order to provide a better knowledge of the original polychromy via the production of virtual reconstructions. This use of computer-based technologies with consolidated scientific analyses could succeed in obtaining a common work platform for a better knowledge of ancient colour (and gilding), and the dissemination of the results.