When from Technology Comes Beauty: A Glass-Gem Case Study to Promote Inclusive and High-Quality Learning Paths in Heritage Science

The glass-gem collection at the National Archeological Museum of Aquileia (Italy) was recently studied by in-depth archaeometric investigation campaigns, which are still running. Some objects in this very rich collection were characterized by performing a completely non-destructive analysis. In order to enhance our knowledge of Heritage Science, specific educational paths were designed, which, in one case, were already tested in a summer school involving Italian middle-school students. This article will characterize a single glass-gem (as a case study), highlighting how ancient craftsmen combined technical skill and product beauty expertly. A multidisciplinary approach yielded valuable details about morphology, composition, and production technique, demonstrating additional information beyond that gleaned from typological and iconographic studies. At the same time, educational pathways based on this research study are valuable, inclusive, and high-quality examples in the so-called STEM field that develop better knowledge, conservation methods, and techniques for the enhancement of cultural heritage collections.