Trasformazione della materia e acquisto della proprietà. Nova species e materia manens nella riflessione dei giuristi romani

In the context of the specific issues related to the reuse of materials, this essay analyses the juridical concepts behind the transformation of matter in the period of classical Roman law. The Roman jurists frame the problem within the rules governing the acquisition of property, while also highlighting the difficulties arising from human activity that works on and transforms materials, sometimes creating uncertainty about who owns the new object produced. In particular, the essay analyses the role of specification, a legal concept that was already problematic in its earliest development and that has survived in modern legal codes mainly out of respect for ancient tradition.