Il volto d'avorio

An interdisciplinary investigation evaluates an exceptional illicitly excavated chryselephantine group recovered from a Roman villa near Anguillara Sabazia. Central to the assemblage is a life-sized eburnean mask displaying remarkable classical stylistic traits, likely representing a deity or an imperial figure such as Antonia Minor. Structural, compositional, and bio-diagnostic analyses conducted by the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro confirm that the artifacts were carved from elephant ivory (Loxodonta africana), derived from multiple adult tusks. Technical assessments reveal structural degradation caused by microclimatic fluctuations during burial, along with traces of modern acrylic consolidants (Paraloid B72) and synthetic mortars applied post-recovery. The ongoing conservation protocol focuses on controlled cleaning, structural consolidation, and specialized microclimatic monitoring using buffer agents and cold fiber-optic illumination. This study underscores the critical role of scientific restoration and law enforcement in preserving degraded, contextualized cultural heritage.