The Sardinian coastal towers in the Mediterranean (16th-17th century): An archaeometrical approach for the study of masonry

The present study is part of wider research on the system of coastal towers in Sardinia aimed at investigating the material and construction features. Special emphasis was placed on the analysis of masonry techniques in the 16th and 17th century. This approach allowed us to achieve two different aims at the same time, that is: (1) to understand how a structure was made, and consequently to define a correct conservation project; (2) to identify typological and dimensional invariants referring to a specific geological context and period, able to represent ‘benchmarks’ that in the future can be useful tools for the comparison and dating of coeval structures, such as “minor architecture”, which are otherwise difficult to date. In the present paper, we examine 8 of the 105 towers, homogeneously distributed around the island. The selected cases synthesise common features and differences, referred to in any specific historical context. For the development of this study, a multidisciplinary protocol with an archaeometrical approach was adopted. Through cataloguing and the realisation of a GIS, it was possible to establish a dynamic comparison at several levels from the results obtained and then to arrive at a critical synthesis.