Dal frammento ceramico alla biografia materiale: le tracce come archivi e palinsesti gestuali

The approach to ceramic studies developed at the University of Genoa within the SHERDs project shifts attention from morphology and chronology to the material traces that record the life and multiple uses of artifacts. Ceramics are understood as dynamic supports that reflect daily practices, economic strategies, and symbolic values. The research focused on two complementary urban contexts, Pompeii and Nora, offering a long-term perspective on use and reuse from the late Republic to the 6th century AD. The analysis of approximately 33,000 fragments revealed traces of handling, consumption, technical modification, and architectural reuse, highlighting complex patterns of exploitation and adaptation. Variations between the two sites reflect both historical and economic conditions and different states of preservation, showing that ceramics were not disposable goods but durable and versatile resources. These results demonstrate the value of an integrated methodology that transforms ceramic objects into biographical testimonies of human behavior and provides a replicable model for diverse contexts.