Ricerc@Sapienza

Earth's microbial biosphere extends down through the crust and much of the subsurface, including those microbial ecosystems located within cave systems. Here, we elucidate the microbial ecosystems within anthropogenic 'caves'; the Iron-Age, subterranean tombs of central Italy. The interior walls of the rock (calcium-rich macco) were painted ~2500 years ago and are covered with CaCO3 needles (known as moonmilk).

A white deposit covering the walls in the Stanza degli Scudi of the Tomba degli Scudi, Tarquinia, Italy,
has been investigated. In this chamber, which is still preserved from any kind of intervention such as
cleaning and sanitization, ancient Etruscans painted shields to celebrate the military power of the
Velcha family. Scanning electron microscopy analysis has revealed the presence of characteristic
nanostructures corresponding to a calcite secondary mineral deposit called moonmilk. Analysis of the

Microbiological methodologies allow understanding the causes that lead to the development of a certain microbial community colonizing an artistic surface, to characterize its composition and describe its role in the deterioration of the constituent materials. Metagenomics allows identifying microbial communities directly in their natural environments, bypassing the need for isolation and cultivation of individual species, thus providing a more comprehensive picture of the biodiversity present on a surface compared with standard cultivation methods.