In this study, an innovative portable macro X-Ray Fluorescence (MA-XRF) scanner prototype has been employed in order to gain information on composition and distribution of corrosion products artificially grown on Cu-based coupons. First results have shown the importance of using artificially corroded reference samples before any assessment on archaeological artefacts. Moreover, the prototype used demonstrated to be a powerful tool for understanding complex corrosion processes which might occur on Cubased alloys. The scanner was able to detect light elements as S and Cl, essential for studying the distribution of specific corrosion compounds. Using imaging techniques, it was possible to observe a gradient in Cu elemental maps intensity caused by the overlapping of a thicker corrosion product layer.

Among the princely tumuli near Vetulonia (Tuscany, Italy) the one of Poggio Pepe has never thoroughly been investigated. A joint project among three different departments of the University of Florence, lead to a new investigation campaign on this tumulus. The main goals are to verify the conservation structures state and to identify the tomb ancient access by means of geophysical methods. Moreover, this project aims to evaluate the influence on the geophysical acquired data of the error in collecting the geographical coordinates of the surface acquisition points. Optimizing the input data, in fact, it is possible to improve the anomalies localization and therefore facilitate the design of the excavation survey and the management of the research funding. The first results allow to make some assumptions about the state of the structures buried and suggest that in case of consistent error in locating acquisition points the measurement accuracy is strongly influenced.

Computational modelling is employed to investigate the mechanical behaviour and failure scenarios of the Marble block - Steel clamp ancient masonry system utilized on the Athens Acropolis monuments, under static loading and modal analysis. The input data for the model are acquired by laboratory testing results such as tensile strength measurements and metallography, as well as bibliographic sources from various scientific fields (i.e. materials properties, archaeometry, restoration, structural engineering and geology). The effects of corrosion to the mechanical behaviour of the clamps are examined for two types of steel (E = 50 and E= 200 GPa) and the mechanical behaviour of the clamp - marble block system is examined for three realistic scenarios: (a) a well preserved ancient clamp, embedded in cast lead metal, (b) a well preserved early 20th century restoration clamp, embedded in Portland cement mortar and (c) a heavily corroded clamp surrounded by corrosion products. The aim is to build up a methodology that will take into account different states of preservation of the original and/or the restoration materials. This methodology could evolve further and be used as input for scaling up to structural engineering modelling.

Information related to the evolution of geomagnetic field in space and time are recorded in the rocks and are the subject of archaeomagnetic studies. These studies allowed us to better understanding the geomagnetic field evolution as well as to improve our comprehension of several geological aspects of the historic evolution of the Earth and human history. Here, based on the description of the functioning principia and models of past and presently used magnetometers we provide, based on our past experience, some suggestions to improve accuracy of archaeomagnetic measurements on fired archaeological materials and volcanic products.

The measure of distances is a recurring theme in astrophysics. The interpretation of the light coming from a luminous object in the sky can be very different depending on the distance of the object. Two stars or galaxies may have a different real brightness, although they may look similar. The correct measures came by women computers a century ago. Special mention to Williamina Fleming who supervised an observatory for 30 years working on the first system to classify stars by spectrum. Antonia Maury helped locate the first double star and developed her classification system. Henrietta Leavitt found a law to determine stellar distances. The most famous of the Harvard computers was Annie Jump Cannon. An expert in photography, she catalogued over 350,000 stars and expanded the classification system used today but was Henrietta Leavitt to leave an indelible mark.