New Technologies for the Study of the Ancient Polychromy on Roman Marble Sarcophagi
SICaR for the documentation and management of ancient colour data

The need of integration and sharing of data about the ancient polychromy (colour and gilding) requires common working methods and tools. A first effort in this direction was carried out thanks to the experimentation of the web-based Information System for the Restoration of Yards (S.I.Ca.R.) of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism (Mi.B.A.C.T.).

The test activity (soon available in S.I.Ca.R. w/b) has generated some important proposals of change that have been implemented to the system to enable the documentation and management of standardized data on the ancient (and modern) polychromy on Roman marble sarcophagi (and on all artefacts made of different materials).

Case study

The sarcophagus with bucolic scenes so-called 'Lateranense no.150 sarcophagus' (Musei Vaticani, inv. no. 31485) preserves a great among of polychromy and gilding. It was found in 1818 by Ignazio Vescovali near Tor Sapienza (at the third mile of the via Prenestina) during an excavation, and it is dated to the early 4th century (approx. 300 AD).

The sarcophagus was chosen as case study for this experimentation because represents one the most complex case study among the Roman polychrome sarcophagi investigated in this research for the especially polychromy and gilding preservation.

Methodology and testing activity
After a careful examination of the system, we have seen that it weaknesses were the lack of a scientific normalised vocabulary and the structural module dedicated to the scientific analyses integration. These data are essential for an accurate study of the ancient polychromy. Therefore, the experimentation was carried out through:
Results
The main goals were the creation of:
S.I.Ca.R. w/b
Credits
Manager:
Eliana Siotto (VC Lab ISTI-CNR, Pisa, IT)
Clara Baracchini (Superintendency BAPPSAE of Pisa and Livorno, IT)
Ulderico Santamaria (Musei Vaticani, State of the Vatican)
Paolo Liverani (University of Florence, IT)
Fulvia Donati (University of Pisa, IT)
Roberto Scopigno (VC Lab ISTI-CNR, Pisa, IT)
Test activity and 2D digitalization:
Eliana Siotto (VC Lab ISTI-CNR, Pisa, IT)
Scientific Analyses:
Ulderico Santamaria and Fabio Morresi (Musei Vaticani, State of the Vatican)
Restauration and polychrome cel:
Stefano Spada (Musei Vaticani, State of the Vatican)
Archaeological data:
Paolo Liverani (University of Florence, IT)
Photography:
Photographic Archives of the Musei Vaticani(Musei Vaticani, State of the Vaticano)
Acknowledgements:
Antonio Paolucci (Director of the Musei Vaticani, State of the Vatican)
Rosanna Dipinto (Musei Vaticani, State of the Vatican)
Vincenzo Palleschi and Stefano Legnaioli (ICCOM-CNR, Pisa, IT)
Alessia Andreotti (University of Pisa, IT)
Raffaella Grilli and Francesca Fabiani (Superintendency BAPPSAE of Pisa and Livorno, IT)
Donata Levi (University of Udine, IT)