Il riuso razionale. Cantieri di smontaggio e depositi di manufatti marmorei nella documentazione archeologica ed epigrafica di età tardoantica

The salvage and reuse of building materials is one of the most widespread practices in the Late Antique Mediterranean. Unlike what generally assumed, the process of salvage and recycle of building materials does not appear as a haphazard procedure. Its diffusion is definitely related to remarkable economic benefits, in terms of material supply and professional figures involved. Moreover, specific archaeological indicators show that each of its phases implies appropriate technological devices and solutions. In these terms, the Late Antique reuse of building materials can be defined as a rationally planned procedure. Both archaeological and epigraphical sources allow identifying specific approaches towards disused monuments. They involve every stage of the process, concerning the moment of dismantling, storage and secondary provision of stone products. This paper aims to highlight the rationality of this process, in terms of functions, procedures and manpower involved, as well as the legal framework within which it can be placed.