San Marino: the “Dama di Domagnano” returns to the Republic
The Lady of the “treasure of Domagnano”, ambassador of the Republic of San Marino in the world, from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 was present at the Dubai 2020 Universal Exposition thanks to the reproduction of experimental archeology of the “Domagnano treasure”, exhibited in the San Marino Pavilion.
Friday 8 April 2022 The Government Commissioner General for the Dubai 2020 Universal Exposition returned the experimental reproduction of the “treasure” to the Director of the Cultural Institutes. On Monday 11 April, after checking the state of conservation, the archaeological reproduction was once again included in the exhibition path of the State Museum.
Symbol of the Goths in Italy and of the period of the Great Migrations, the “treasure of Domagnano” (end of the 5th – beginning of the 6th century AD) is an exceptional set of gold jewelery and ornamental accessories attributed to an Ostrogothic noblewoman linked to the king’s court Theodoric.
After the accidental discovery which took place in 1893 in the countryside of Domagnano, the “treasure” was sold on the antiques market and has been found in various museums around the world.
An original element of the “treasure” and the archaeological reproduction of the complex are exhibited at the State Museum of San Marino.
The reproduction of experimental archeology was carried out in the years 2004-2006 by the goldsmith and experimental archaeologist Marco Casagrande, who used techniques compatible with ancient tools and availabilities, according to the methods of experimental archeology. It was thus possible to study and experiment the goldsmith techniques of late antiquity. The project, conceived and coordinated by the State Museum of the Republic of San Marino with the support of the San Marino diplomatic network, was made possible thanks to funding from the Rotary Club of San Marino and the Cassa di Risparmio San Marino-SUMS Foundation.
Protagonist of the San Marino Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020, where it was admired by about 390,000 visitors, the experimental reproduction of the “Domagnano treasure” is back in the Territory Archeology Section of the State Museum. Ready to welcome all visitors who want to learn more about an important moment in the history of the San Marino territory, also in light of the archaeological research carried out in Domagnano over the last twenty-five years.