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minerals Article Ancient Roman Mortars from Villa del Capo di Sorrento:A Multi-Analytical Approach to Define Microstructural and Compositional Features Concetta Rispoli 1,2,* , Renata Esposito 3, Luigi Guerriero 1 and Piergiulio Cappelletti 1,2 1 Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e delle Risorse, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant’Angelo, Ed. L, Via Cintia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy; [email protected] (L.G.); [email protected] (P.C.) 2 Center for Research on Archaeometry and Conservation Science, CRACS, Ed. L, Via Cintia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy 3 Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Porta di Massa 1, 80133 Naples, Italy; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: This research provides a characterization of ancient Roman mortars from “Villa del Capo di Sorrento” (commonly known as “Villa di Pollio Felice” or “Bagni della Regina Giovanna”). A deepened analysis of cementitious binding matrix and aggregates was conducted with the aims of determining possible sources of raw materials and the mix recipe, and to evaluate the minerogenetic secondary processes. Twenty samples taken from the Villa were investigated by means of a multi-analytical Citation: Rispoli, C.; Esposito, R.; approach, including polarized optical microscopy on thin sections, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning Guerriero, L.; Cappelletti, P. Ancient electron microscopy analysis, energy dispersed spectrometry, simultaneous thermal analyses, and Roman Mortars from Villa del Capo di mercury intrusion porosimetry. Bedding mortars were made with slaked lime mixed with volcanic Sorrento: A Multi-Analytical Approach to Define Microstructural materials, whereas coating mortars were made adding to previous recipe as ceramic fragments. and Compositional Features. Minerals All samples were classified as hydraulic mortars. Cementitious binding matrix was characterized 2021, 11, 469. https://doi.org/ by gel-like C-A-S-H, calcite, hydrocalumite, and gypsum, deriving from lime/pozzolanic material. 10.3390/min11050469 Geomaterials used for mortar production had a local origin. Pozzolanic materials, such as volcanic fragments, scoriae, pumice, and crystal fragments derived from both pyroclastic rocks of the Campi Academic Editors: Daniel Flegrei district and from rocks of the Somma-Vesuvio complex; porosity test suggest that the products Albero Santacreu, José Cristóbal related to minerogenetic secondary processes, make mortars more resistant. Carvajal López and Adrián Durán Benito Keywords: ancient mortars; analytical characterization; Sorrento Peninsula Received: 8 April 2021 Accepted: 27 April 2021 Published: 29 April 2021 1. Introduction Campania felix Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral The Campania region was renowned during ancient times as , thanks to with regard to jurisdictional claims in its climate, beautiful landscapes, and fertile land. For these reasons, the region was among published maps and institutional affil- the favorite places to live in Roman times, with highly populated cities and otium villae on iations. the coast [1]. Nowadays, the region has plenty of major archeological sites, such as the eternal Vesuvian cities, Pompeii, and Herculaneum, the Campi Flegrei, which were often visited by rich Roman senators because of the natural baths and the stunning villae maritimae, found from Posillipo to Punta Campanella [2]. Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. These sites, like other remarkable examples in the Campania region, are still preserved This article is an open access article despite their location in an aggressive environment, such as the seaside, and the impact of distributed under the terms and waves and weathering, which is why they have been the object of many scientific studies. conditions of the Creative Commons The Department of Earth Sciences, Environment, and Resources (DiSTAR), Federico II Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// University of Naples, for more than twenty years has been engaged in the application of creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ mineralogical and petrographic studies of several ancient finds and monuments, especially 4.0/). of Campania region, such as Roman concrete, mortars, and ceramics, e.g., [3–7]. Minerals 2021, 11, 469. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11050469 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals Minerals 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 21 The Department of Earth Sciences, Environment, and Resources (DiSTAR), Federico II University of Naples, for more than twenty years has been engaged in the application Minerals 2021, 11, 469 2 of 21 of mineralogical and petrographic studies of several ancient finds and monuments, espe- cially of Campania region, such as Roman concrete, mortars, and ceramics, e.g., [3–7]. InIn thisthis studystudy the the area area of of interest interest is the is Sorrentothe Sorrento Peninsula, Peninsula, between between the village the village of Aequa of (nearAequaVico (near Equense Vico Equense) and the) and far the side far of side the Sorrentineof the Sorrenti peninsulane peninsula with its with adjoining its adjoining islets (Figureislets (Figure1a). A total1a). A of total 24 ruins of 24 have ruins been have identified been identified as structures as structures related to relatedvillae maritimae to villae, commonlymaritimae, commonly dated, based dated, on theirbased building on their building techniques, techniques, between between Late Republican Late Republican period (133–21period (133–21 B.C.) and B.C.) the and start the of start the 2nd of the c. A.D.2nd c. [2 A.D.]. In particular,[2]. In particular, we have we focused have focused the study the onstudy ancient on ancient roman roman mortars mortars of one of of one the of most the most remarkable remarkablevilla maritimavilla maritimaof the of Sorrento the Sor- Peninsula:rento Peninsula:Villa delVilla Capo del Capo(commonly (commonly known known as Villa as Villa di Pollio di Pollio Felice Feliceor Bagni or Bagni della della Regina Re- Giovannagina Giovanna; Figure; Figure1). 1). Twenty lime-basedlime-based mortars mortars were were carefully carefully selected selected from from different different structures structures of Villa of Villa del Capodel Capo(Figure (Figure1c) with 1c) with the aimthe aim of characterizing of characterizing them, them, especially especially regarding regarding the cementitious the cementi- bindingtious binding matrix matrix and aggregates, and aggregates, to determine to determine the provenance the provenance of raw of materialsraw materials and mixand recipe,mix recipe, improve improve the knowledge the knowledge of Roman of Roman construction construction techniques, techniques, and study and thestudy secondary the sec- minerogeneticondary minerogenetic processes processes affecting affecting the investigated the investigated mortars. mortars. Figure 1. (a) Map of Italy and location of Sorrento in the Campania region (Italy); (b) satellite pic- Figure 1. (a) Map of Italy and location of Sorrento in the Campania region (Italy); (b) satellite picture ture of Villa of Capo; (c) sketch map of Villa del Capo with sampling points in red (modified after of Villa of Capo; (c) sketch map of Villa del Capo with sampling points in red (modified after [8]). [8]). 2. Geological Context Villa del Capo is located along the northwestern sector of the Sorrento Peninsula at the base of the north facing slope of the Corbo Mt. The ancient building is placed on the distal part of a small promontory that developing in NNW-SSE direction forms the so-called Punta del Capo. Being part of the Sorrento Peninsula horst, the Corbo Mt. is formed of Cretaceous Minerals 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 21 2. Geological Context Villa del Capo is located along the northwestern sector of the Sorrento Peninsula at the Minerals 2021, 11, 469 base of the north facing slope of the Corbo Mt. The ancient building is placed on the distal3 of 21 part of a small promontory that developing in NNW-SSE direction forms the so-called Punta del Capo. Being part of the Sorrento Peninsula horst, the Corbo Mt. is formed of Cretaceouslimestones, limestones, that widely that crop widely out incrop the out Sorrento in the Sorrento Peninsula Peninsula promontory, promontory, overlined over- by lineda transgressive by a transgressive Miocene Miocene succession, succession, locally lo coveredcally covered by quaternary by quaternary rocks rocks [9] (Figure [9] (Fig-2). ureForming 2). Forming a morphologic a morphologic boundary boundary between between two semi-grabens two semi-grabens located located to the to north the north and andto the to souththe south (i.e., (i.e., Gulf Gulf of Naplesof Naples and and Gulf Gulf of of Salerno, Salerno, respectively respectively [ 9[9,10],10] (Figure(Figure2 2),), the the Sorrento Peninsula isis characterizedcharacterized by by a a structural structural setting setting dominated dominated by by NNW-SSE NNW-SSE normal nor- malfaults, faults, resulting resulting from from the Plio-Quaternarythe Plio-Quaternar transcurrenty transcurrent and and extensional extensional tectonics tectonics [10 –[10–12]. 12].Less Less significant significant is the is the structural structural expression expression of of the the Late Late Miocene–Pliocene Miocene–Pliocene compressive tectonics.tectonics. Similar Similar to to the the Corbo Corbo Mt., Mt., the the Lattari Lattari Mts. Mts. Range, Range, forming forming the the Sorrento Sorrento Peninsula, Peninsula, isis consistently

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