L'impiego dell'opera musiva nelle catacombe romane tra espedienti tecnici e problemi di natura conservativa

The research conducted between 2017 and 2022 investigated the preservation status of mosaics in the Roman catacombs, focusing on cemeteries within the fourth mile from the Aurelian wall circuit. This inquiry contributed to quantifying the decorations, contextualizing interventions within the evolutionary history of cemetery complexes. Reasons for the diffusion of mosaics in the 4th century and their cessation in the early 5th century (with some exceptions) were identified, shedding light on issues related to the conservation of the apparatuses and highlighting new aspects regarding execution procedures and materials used, as well as the lighting of the mosaics in a subterranean setting.