Sedimentology Applied to Cultural Heritage
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
This Course aims to prepare graduates for diagnosis of i) sedimentary rocks, ii) sedimentary and
petrogenetic environments, iii) preservation and weathering state of sedimentary natural stones, in view of
job activities for diagnosis and preservation of architectural, archaeological and sculptural materials and for
preservation and exploitation of sedimentary and archaeological environments and landscapes.
petrogenetic environments, iii) preservation and weathering state of sedimentary natural stones, in view of
job activities for diagnosis and preservation of architectural, archaeological and sculptural materials and for
preservation and exploitation of sedimentary and archaeological environments and landscapes.
Expected learning outcomes
Ability to: 1) observe, describe, recognize and classify sediments and sedimentary rocks; 2) recognize
provenance and weathering degree of sedimentary rocks as architectural, archaeological and sculptural
materials; 3) recognize the most common continental and transitional sedimentary facies, processes and
environments; 4) describe a sedimentary succession and landscape for archaeological purposes and
environmental fruition.
provenance and weathering degree of sedimentary rocks as architectural, archaeological and sculptural
materials; 3) recognize the most common continental and transitional sedimentary facies, processes and
environments; 4) describe a sedimentary succession and landscape for archaeological purposes and
environmental fruition.
Lesson period: First semester
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Teaching provided in alternate years, not active in the academic year 2025-26
Course syllabus
The Course is open to all the Students of the 1st and 2nd year of the MSc who are interested in the fields of i) diagnosis and preservation of stone materials in architecture and art, ii) geoarcheology and iii) study of the environmental cultural goods. Through theory and applications, skills in the fields of diagnosis of sedimentary rock types, properties and deterioration patterns will be achieved. The study of sedimentary processes operating in the most widespread continental and transitional environments will be applied to describe and interpret archeologic stratigraphies and to the characterize the natural environmental goods.
1) Sedimentary processes and environments
The sedimentary environment as a geographic dynamic setting; main continental and transitional sub-aerial and aquatic sedimentary environments; sedimentary materials; processes and controls on erosion, transport and deposition of sediments.
2) From sedimentary processes to sediment accumulations
Erosional and depositional dynamics; mobility of sediments and sedimentary environments; origin and hierarchy of sedimentary deposits: lamina, laminaset, bed and bedset; sedimentary facies; facies associations, hierarchy of sedimentary bodies and diagnosis of sedimentary environments.
3) From sediments to sedimentary rocks
Lithification and diagenesis of sediments; texture, composition and structure of sedimentary rocks; basic classification schemes.
4) From sedimentary rocks to architectural and archaeological materials
Sedimentary rocks for construction purposes (building and/or ornamental stones) and as sculptural materials; diagnosis of provenance of natural stones.
5) Settings of architectural and archaeological materials
Erosion and deposition in athropogenic contexts; environmental dynamics and natural stratigraphy at archeological sites: from observation to interpretation.
6) Sedimentary processes, environments and rocks in the frame of human activity
Diagnosis of weathering degree of natural stones; diagnosis for restoration and replacement of weathered sedimentary artifacts; sedimentary environments and landscapes as cultural assets and cultural heritage.
1) Sedimentary processes and environments
The sedimentary environment as a geographic dynamic setting; main continental and transitional sub-aerial and aquatic sedimentary environments; sedimentary materials; processes and controls on erosion, transport and deposition of sediments.
2) From sedimentary processes to sediment accumulations
Erosional and depositional dynamics; mobility of sediments and sedimentary environments; origin and hierarchy of sedimentary deposits: lamina, laminaset, bed and bedset; sedimentary facies; facies associations, hierarchy of sedimentary bodies and diagnosis of sedimentary environments.
3) From sediments to sedimentary rocks
Lithification and diagenesis of sediments; texture, composition and structure of sedimentary rocks; basic classification schemes.
4) From sedimentary rocks to architectural and archaeological materials
Sedimentary rocks for construction purposes (building and/or ornamental stones) and as sculptural materials; diagnosis of provenance of natural stones.
5) Settings of architectural and archaeological materials
Erosion and deposition in athropogenic contexts; environmental dynamics and natural stratigraphy at archeological sites: from observation to interpretation.
6) Sedimentary processes, environments and rocks in the frame of human activity
Diagnosis of weathering degree of natural stones; diagnosis for restoration and replacement of weathered sedimentary artifacts; sedimentary environments and landscapes as cultural assets and cultural heritage.
Prerequisites for admission
The Course is open to all the Students enrolled in any of the two years of the MSc. No specific pre-requisites are rnecessary. The background provided by the BSc degrees in Science and Technology for Cultural Goods and by the Earth Sciences and Natural Sciences BSc degrees are adequate to participate to the lectures.
Teaching methods
The Course is based on theory and practicals. Every group of concepts and notions introduced during frontal lectures will be soon applied to real cases through trained and personal exercises. During lectures, topics for trained personal/group work will be suggested, also in view of presentation during the final exam.
Teaching Resources
The Ariel site of the Course contains:
1) full set of lecture slides (in .pdf format)
2) Course manual by the teacher
3) collection of edited sedimentary rocks pics for personal exercise
4) UNI Normal about stone deterioration and the ICOMOS 2006 Glossary on the same topic.
Manuals
Tucker, M. - The field description of Sedimentary Rocks. Geological Society of London Ed.
Nichols G. (1999) - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Blackwell Science, 355 pp.
Siegesmund, S. & Snethlage, R. (2014) - Stones in architecture (Properties, Durability). Springer, 550 pp
1) full set of lecture slides (in .pdf format)
2) Course manual by the teacher
3) collection of edited sedimentary rocks pics for personal exercise
4) UNI Normal about stone deterioration and the ICOMOS 2006 Glossary on the same topic.
Manuals
Tucker, M. - The field description of Sedimentary Rocks. Geological Society of London Ed.
Nichols G. (1999) - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Blackwell Science, 355 pp.
Siegesmund, S. & Snethlage, R. (2014) - Stones in architecture (Properties, Durability). Springer, 550 pp
Assessment methods and Criteria
The evaluation is based on an oral exam, during which the Candidates will be asked to describe and diagnose two sedimentary rock specimens, to describe and interpret a stratigraphic profile and to illustrate the personal work they selected. As an alternative, a general question covering any issue of the Course program will be asked to those candidates who decided to skip the personal work.
The general evaluation criteria include: 1) the verification of the degree of autonomy achieved in the diagnosis of sediments, sedimentary environments, stratigraphic successions, sedimentary rock types with their material properties and deterioration patterns; 2) the evaluation of the degree of awareness of the correct use of diagnoses throughout the application fields of Sedimentology to the study of the architectonic and artistic goods, to geoarcheology and to the characterization and preservation of the environmental cultural goods.
The general evaluation criteria include: 1) the verification of the degree of autonomy achieved in the diagnosis of sediments, sedimentary environments, stratigraphic successions, sedimentary rock types with their material properties and deterioration patterns; 2) the evaluation of the degree of awareness of the correct use of diagnoses throughout the application fields of Sedimentology to the study of the architectonic and artistic goods, to geoarcheology and to the characterization and preservation of the environmental cultural goods.
GEO/02 - STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours