THE TARANTOLA ETRUSCAN PEDIMENT: NDT AND 3D MODEL CONTENT

A.L. Ciuffreda, M. Coli 1 T. Donigaglia , P. I. Mariotti , T. Salvatici and G. Simoni 

Abstract

 The Tarantola Etruscan pediment comes from a single-chamber tomb located in the Tarquin-ia area, dating back to 520-530 B.C.; it was found in 1904, during some agricultural works, close to Villa la Tarantola, from where the name. It consists of a trapezoidal tympanum 3.5 m long and 1 m high with a painting banquet with four diners (men) recumbent on a mattress placed at ground level. Fabrizio Lucarini detached it on behalf of the Royal Archaeological Museum of Florence, now National Archaeological Museum, where it is still conserved. The Tarquinia tombs were carved into the local Quaternary calcarenite named “Macco”. The pictorial decoration was removed as solid-wall that was reinforced at the back with a layer of concrete. In the last years, the Tarantola pediment had been restored by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure (OPD). In the frame of a cooperation agreement between OPD and the Depart-ment of Earth Science (DST), it has been the subject of NDT analysis and survey for the re-construction of a 3D model content. According to the MIBACT guideline (2011), the NDT surveys consisted into georadar, sonic and thermographic investigations. The location of the NDT data in their real space in the 3D model allowed their correct interpretation for a multi-disciplinary evaluation about the structures of the pediment. The NDT survey also allowed identifying and locating minor and micro fissures and gypsum integrations below previous painting restorations. In conclusion, the 3D modelling and NDT brought positive improve-ments for the structural and conservation knowledge of the Tarantola Etruscan pediment al-lowing better well-addressed restoration works.