Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) are a relatively new class of unconventional green solvents. They are obtained by mixing two or more components, a hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA), which form a liquid at room temperature due to their lower melting point compared to the starting materials. DESs are characterized by their low toxicity, high environmental compatibility, non flammability, and non-volatility. While DESs have found applications in various fields such as organometallic chemistry and pharmaceutical production, their potential use in restoration of cultural heritage has not been explored until now. This research project aims to synthesize DESs and investigate their effectiveness as green products for restoration practices.
The results obtained from the first case studies highlight the promising use of DESs as green solvents and biocides, able to effectively removing the products of alteration and degradation of Cultural Heritage.

The presence of water in masonry, especially in confined spaces, is one of the most important causes of deterioration of stone building materials. If water is present, particularly rising damp, degradation processes such as loss of surface material, encrustations, micro-cracks, salt efflorescences, etc., may arise and be intensified. Treatment against these phenomena is therefore strongly recommended for the protection and conservation of ornamental materials and buildings in general, before their restoration. In the present work, a multi-analytical approach was employed to study the stone materials and determine their state of conservation in the washbasin of the sacristy of the Church of San Domenico in Cosenza. The results allowed us to reveal details not visible to the naked eye that was important to conduct its conservation intervention. As for the state of conservation, the integrated use of various techniques enabled the detection of phenomena generally correlated with the occurrence of water infiltration and migration which appear to affect a large part of the area in which the asset is located, causing noticeable damage. Results concerning the cleaning, consolidating, and protective treatments on the artifact are also presented.

A large number of ground stone tools have been unearthed in the archaic Messapian settlements of San Vito dei Normanni - Castello d Alceste (Brindisi) and Cavallino (Lecce), in southern Puglia. The questions raised by these tools concern exploitation of food resources and distribution of productive activities within the settlements. First results of phytolith analyses conducted on ten grinding tools are presented. Quantitative and morphological analysis aimed at estimating the amount of phytoliths in the sediment, but also at identifying the types of plants used in the sites. Phytoliths indicated the nature of the vegetal processed matter, including cereals plants used for human and animal nutrition. Together with those from the analysis of organic residues already conducted at the sites these results contribute to the understanding of the food processing and dietary practices of the archaic Messapic populations.

The text discusses the applications of the PICUS system in comparison to traditional auscultation techniques for analyzing detachments in historical and artistic artifacts. Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) techniques, although valuable for assessing the condition of materials and structures, face limitations in terms of feasibility, optimal operational conditions, and potential risks to delicate objects. In practical work environments, conservator-restorers often rely on traditional auscultation techniques, involving tapping the surface and observing vibrations, due to their accessibility, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness. These techniques provide immediate tactile feedback and insights into the condition and integrity of the artwork. However, they are subjective and rely on the expertise of the conservator-restorer. Overall, a combination of PICUS techniques and traditional auscultation can enhance the understanding of artifacts while considering practical constraints.

Plants in art are not only decorative elements, they have symbolic values that cannot be neglected, because are bearer of a message, which need to be understood. Moreover, they usually show the connection with the surrounding natural landscape. Indeed, the phytoiconographic elements are important tools to reconstruct the lost garden. Our works aims identifying the plant representation to provide useful information for the reconstruction of the the ancient villa’s garden. We studied decorated wall remains and ceiling structures identifying the plant species and attributing their symbolic value and garden role. Preliminary data show the presence of more than twenty plants, mainly Mediterranean. The symbolic groups present a slight prevalence of solar and salvific elements. For the garden we identified species to decorate and border the flowerbeds, but also with productive role. The analysis of these represented naturalistic elements gives support in understanding the historical landscape behind their representation.