Development of methodologies and protocols for the analysis of the geotechnical and structural safety of archaeological monuments from the pre-Nuragic age in Sardinia
Development of methodologies and protocols for the analysis of the geotechnical and structural safety of archaeological monuments from the pre-Nuragic age in Sardinia
Within the framework of the nomination for UNESCO recognition of the serial site Funerary Tradition in the Prehistory of Sardinia The domus de janas, a detailed analytical study was carried out on the monumental sites included in the nomination list.
The Domus de Janas (meaning 'House of the Fairies' in Sardinian) are unique rock-hewn tombs found across Sardinia. These ancient monuments often have several decorated rooms featuring paintings, engravings or bas-relief and were built between 3400 and 2700 BC, placing them in the late Neolithic to early Bronze Age periods.
The study included the geological survey, the identification of critical geotechnical issues, the analysis of the materials, the identification of the forms of decay and degradation taking place on the surfaces, the assessment of the stability of the artefacts and the risk levels arising from factors or events of natural or anthropogenic origin that could affect the conservation of the site. The assessments were carried out following a surveying campaign, the qualitative study of the cracking pattern, the assessment of any geotechnical and structural instability conditions at the monument scale, and hydrogeological instability conditions at the site scale. The data were systematised with the identification of risk categories, leading to a classification of the importance level of the sites according to a multi-risk approach. This paper illustrates the methodological process adopted and provides an overall view of the consistency of the monuments included in the UNESCO list, considering the results obtained through the critical interpretation of the data collected.
Giuseppe Tropeano; Giovanna Concu; Donatella Rita Fiorino; Daniel Meloni
4th International Symposium on the Preservation of Monuments and Historic Sites
Restoration Engineering and Structural Interventions
https://doi.org/10.53243/tc301-2026-34