Marmo e patrimonio culturale: approcci e metodologie

The study of marble offers a unique perspective on cultural heritage, both in terms of artefacts made from this material and of landscapes transformed by human quarrying. This contribution presents several of the most up-todate methodologies for the investigation of marble used in Antiquity, such as archaeometric analyses and the study of the economic dimension and circulation routes; most of these perspectives are significantly strengthened through interdisciplinary collaboration. A special focus is devoted to the marble of Carrara (or marmor Lunense), for which new data (e.g. regarding the chronological span of use) have been acquired in recent decades thanks to such interdisciplinary research approaches. The article thus aims to demonstrate the advantages of a comprehensive investigation of the marbles used in Antiquity and in particular the implications for the conservation and valorisation of cultural heritage.