An Example Of A Stratigrafic Test On A Wall. Royalty-Free Stock Photo

Any historic building has undergone modifications and rearrangements due to the change of intended use, the evolution of functional needs or the succession of different fashions and styles. More often, however, specific investigation methods must be adopted, such as stratigraphic tests or plugs, which on the whole are not very invasive but moderately destructive. Thanks to stratigraphic tests it is possible to verify the existence of ancient decorations, examine the characteristics of the surface finishes and establish their sequence. The procedure involves the delimitation of a not very large square or rectangular surface which is further divided into sectors marked by letters, Arabic or Roman numerals. At this point we proceed to progressively remove one layer at a time with a sharp scalpel until the rough masonry is revealed.