Per la tutela del Duomo di Cosenza

The characterization and the exact identification of the origin of the materials that compose monuments are significant factors to define the identity of the materials themselves as well as to get useful information to evaluate their processes of deterioration. The comparison between data from the analysis of the materials taken from quarries, which were identified as quarries of origin, and data from the characterization of the materials taken from monuments, allows to determine the extent of and the tendency to deterioration, not only of the material but also of the examined monument. The research includes a comparative analysis aimed at locating the origin of the constituent materials. In particular, the materials used to build the Cathedral of Cosenza and Mendicino quarries, historically known as quarries providing the building material for the construction of many monuments in the hinterland, were analyzed. In the specific instance, it was possible to identify the geological formations and the precise extraction front among the various quarries in the area of Mendicino. A further objective of the study was to delineate a consistent and rational method to manage the complex diagnostic knowledge in order to define interventions for the protection and conservation of an asset of historical and architectural value. Actually, the comparison between the original materials and those found in the monuments allows to get relevant information to identify and support adequate restoration work.