An Analysis of An Analysis of Archaeological Potential of Archaeological Potential of

Venetian Church FloorsVenetian Church FloorsBy:By:

Scott BlanchardScott BlanchardJeff CaputoJeff Caputo

Matthew ReganMatthew ReganMatthew ShawMatthew Shaw

Sponsors:Sponsors:Archeological SuperintendenceArcheological Superintendence

UNESCOUNESCO

Context: Large IssueContext: Large Issue

Historical Historical preservation and preservation and conservationconservation

Artifacts found in Artifacts found in churcheschurches Sacred GroundSacred Ground

Preservation Preservation problemsproblems Prohibitive CostProhibitive Cost Lack of OrganizationLack of Organization Lack of EffortLack of Effort

Context: Specific IssueContext: Specific Issue

Archaeological Archaeological Richness of VeniceRichness of Venice

ProblemsProblems Misguided Misguided

RestorationsRestorations RetrofitsRetrofits Neglect and Neglect and

Ignorant UseIgnorant Use FloodingFlooding

No complete No complete recordrecord

Project GoalsProject Goals To gather data about the church floor conditions and To gather data about the church floor conditions and

relative heightrelative height

To gather data about the artifacts, such as damage level To gather data about the artifacts, such as damage level and eraand era

To catalogue the artifacts and create and indexed To catalogue the artifacts and create and indexed database of themdatabase of them

To identify the candidates of greatest potential for future To identify the candidates of greatest potential for future archaeological excavation. archaeological excavation.

To analyze artifact and floor damage and identify To analyze artifact and floor damage and identify potential restoration and damage prevention measures potential restoration and damage prevention measures

OutlineOutline BackgroundBackground MethodologyMethodology Results & AnalysisResults & Analysis

Floor Plans and BurialsFloor Plans and Burials

For the rich and For the rich and powerful onlypowerful only

Napoleon put an end Napoleon put an end to in-church burials in to in-church burials in the early 19the early 19thth Century Century

Tomb LocationTomb Location NaveNave NarthexNarthex SanctuarySanctuary

Tombs designed for Tombs designed for reusereuse

MethodologyMethodology

Floor damage will be Floor damage will be graded on 0-4 scalegraded on 0-4 scale CracksCracks Joint GapsJoint Gaps HolesHoles Missing TilesMissing Tiles Floor ReplacementFloor Replacement

Floor heights will be Floor heights will be measured using laser measured using laser levellevel

Artifact damage will Artifact damage will be graded on the be graded on the same scalesame scale Perfect LettersPerfect Letters Damaged LettersDamaged Letters Unreadable LettersUnreadable Letters

Damage Assessment EquationDamage Assessment Equation

Used for both floors and artifactsUsed for both floors and artifacts Calculated for each quadrant and artifactCalculated for each quadrant and artifact

Results and AnalysisResults and Analysis

Results and AnalysisResults and Analysis

Archaeological Potential IndexArchaeological Potential Index

Excavation PotentialExcavation Potential Restoration PotentialRestoration Potential Archaeological PotentialArchaeological Potential

Questions or Comments?