La scoperta, i trattamenti protettivi e i restauri del teatro greco di Eraclea Minoa in Sicilia

Abstract

A recent survey of the archaeological site of Eraclea Minoa in Sicily made it possible to evaluate the state of con-servation of the archaeological evidence, brought to light by Ernesto De Miro and the subject of some restoration interventions during the 20th century. After having unearthed the remains of the Greek theatre, the need for ur-gent interventions aimed at preserving them became clear, which were then carried out in the early 1960s by the architect Franco Minissi, creating a protection of the cavea with transparent perspex sheets. The contribution recalls the events relating to the interventions that have taken place in the attempt to protect the archaeological remains of the theatre, highlighting in particular the role of the ICR and the research of the chemist Salvatore Liberti, involved since 1954 in the experimentation of consolidating and protective substances to be ap-plied on the remains of the theatre, largely reduced to an incoherent mass of disintegrated or pulverized marly limestone. The restoration began in the summer of 1955, under the supervision of the chemist, with treatments based on co-polymers of acrylic and vinyl resins in organic solvents. But the consequences of a lack of monitoring and control of the effects resulting from the use of consolidating and protective substances, and maintenance never carried out, do not take long to manifest themselves with the further deterioration of the archaeological remains. The interventions carried out over the years have therefore not achieved the aim of slowing down the degradation processes, nor has the construction of the roof, which is still present on the site today, installed almost thirty years ago after the removal of the Perspex shells and the subsequent restoration interventions. After having retraced the events just mentioned, the contribution presents the assessments relating to the current state of conservation of the theatre of Eraclea Minoa, also through the results of a thermographic investigation.