2' min read
2' min read
It may seem unusual to place nanotechnology alongside cultural heritage, yet it is precisely in the unexpected encounter between past and future that the work of the Centre for Cultural Heritage Technology (Ccht) in Venice, which I coordinate, one of the eleven satellite centres of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), is focused. In the place that symbolises the fragility and beauty of the world's cultural heritage, since 2019 we have been developing advanced technologies at the service of conservation, with the aim of protecting and enhancing cultural heritage, combining humanistic skills with the most innovative scientific ones. The nanotechnology sector is strategic for us: we believe that matter is the primary vehicle of memory, and preserving its integrity means guaranteeing the transmission of heritage to future generations. It is with this in mind that we develop nanostructured materials, i.e. materials designed at the molecular level, which make it possible to maintain the structure of treated artefacts over time, improving their resistance and slowing down their degradation.
We believe that research is only truly effective if it is built together with those who will put its product into use. This is why we have been collaborating for years with the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, where we directly test solutions for conservation in situ. Today, in fact, the perception of conservation has changed: we no longer remove frescoes or mosaics to take them to museums, but try to make them usable in their original context, enhancing their relationship with the landscape and the history of the place.
This collaboration was born from a shared vision: the need to develop frontier technologies to address problems that traditional methods can no longer solve. An approach centred on the concrete needs of heritage custodians, with whom we build tailor-made solutions together. The technologies we develop are designed to be applicable in multiple contexts, especially where climate change affects cultural heritage with greater intensity, such as in desert areas, which are particularly vulnerable to extreme phenomena. This is the case in Al-'Ula, Saudi Arabia, where frescoes and ancient structures, now the focus of sustainable conservation strategies promoted by the Saudi Vision 2030 programme, are threatened by increasingly intense climatic events.
At the sixth Soft Power conference, held in Naples a few days ago, we presented our work as a concrete example of cultural diplomacy. Italy is internationally recognised for its leadership in conservation and restoration, a field in which we can build scientific and cultural bridges with other countries, sharing expertise and developing new collaborations. Conservation Science thus becomes not only a tool for conservation, but also a means for dialogue, encounter and global cooperation.
*Arianna Traviglia, Coordinator Center for Cultural Heritage Technology (Ccht).
