Archaeometric studies concerning ceramic artefacts, marbles, mortars (compositional characterization, distinction between local productions and imports, localization of raw materials and manufacture area, definition of the production technology).
Typology, causes and mechanisms of alteration and degradation of stone materials with the aim to plan restoration interventions (cleaning, integration, consolidation).
Geomaterials for green building practice: formulation of clay-based plasters.
Research projects of the last 5 years
2009-2011 Scientist in Charge project CETRAWEM (PIEF-GA-2009-235702), “Lost and survived ceramic traditions in the western Mediterranean: The Sardinian Case”(Marie Curie - FP7);
2011-2013 Scientist in Charge Research Unit of Palermo: project PRIN 2009 (Prot. 2009Z8P8RJ_003) “Studio sperimentale di processi di alterazione subiti da manufatti ceramici in seguito al contatto prolungato con acqua di mare”.
Collaborations
Peter Day, Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, UK;
Miguel Angel Cau Ontiveros, Departament de Historia i Arqueologia, University of Barcelona, Spain;
Ioannis Iliopoulos, Department of Geology, University of Patras, Greece;
Anno Hein, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, N.C.S.R. "Demokritos", Greece;
Babette Becthold-Verena Gassner, Instituts für Klassische Archäologie, University of Wien, Austria;
Maureen Carroll, Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, UK;
Gilberto Artioli, Dipartimento di Geoscienze, University of Padua, Italy;
Mauro Francesco La Russa, Dipartimento di Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra, University of Calabria, Italy;
Antonio Pezzino, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, University of Catania, Italy.
Active research
X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF).
X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD).
Scanning Electron Microscopyand Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (SEM-EDS).
Optical microscopy (reflected and plane polarized light).
Services delivered under the right of third parties
