Consolidation of Painted Ancient Stone Surfaces

This publication, a slight revision of my MA thesis from 1967, is the first published report showing the modern Maya use of palygorskite (then called attapulgite), a clay mineral used by the ancient Maya to make Maya Blue, an unusual pigment that is resistant to weathering and retains it rich blue color over time. Most of the report is devoted to demonstrating that the potters of Ticul used palygorskite in their temper, and that they  recognized its unusual properties. The report suggests that nearby Sacalum and perhaps Ticul were sources of the pigment used to obtain palygorskite for Maya Blue since those communities are so close to Mayapan where the pigment was widely used. (In this report, II thought that Maya Blue was made locally and traded widely, but I no longer believe that this is the case.)

Scanning microscopy techniques have emerged as powerful scientific tools for analysing materials of architectural or archaeological interest, since the commercialization of the first scanning electron microscopy instrumentation in the early 60s. This study is aimed at reviewing and highlighting the significance of several scanning microscopy techniques employed in the protection of built heritage. The diffusion of scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis (SEM-EDX) is proven to be the widest among the available scanning microscopy techniques, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) applications are steadily present in the field of built heritage protection. The building material characterization, the weathering mechanism investigation, and the development of compatible and performing conservation materials are some major research areas where the application of the aforementioned techniques is discussed. The range of techniques, along with a...

Phase three of the project for the restoration and rehabilitation of the Peristyle took in the northern part of the western colonnade with the first, second and third floors of the Cipci Palace, and the arch of the ancient portico alongside the Decumanus in the Grisogono Palace. The works in this part of the Peristyle went on from the end of 2007 to the middle of 2008.

As part of the fourth phase of the project, the scaffolding went back to the eastern colonnade. Because of the complexity and short period of time for the completion of the operations, phase four works were divided into two parts. The first sub-phase included the colonnade along the length of the third, fourth and fifth columns looking from St Roch Church. The second sub-phase includes the remaining part of the colonnade to the Prothyron, that is, the sixth column, the anta and the low wall on which the sphinx is placed.

Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, in Washington, DC, is an institute of Harvard University dedicated to supporting scholarship internationally in Byzantine, Pre-Columbian, and Garden and Landscape Studies through fellowships, meetings, exhibitions, and publications. Located in Georgetown and bequeathed by Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Barnes Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks welcomes scholars to consult its books, images, and objects, and the public to visit its garden, museum, and historic house for lectures and concerts.

An onsite experimental procedure was used to identify and quantify acid rain damage to carbonate stone, based on the change in rain runoff chemical composition. Observed changes in runoff from stone are attributed to the interaction of acidic species present in the rain with the stone surface. Onsite data obtained during the summer and fall of 1984 at three locations in the northeastern United States indicate that carbonate stone surface recession is related to acid deposition. Although the study is continuing, current data are not adequate to distinguish differences in the acid-stone reaction between limestone and marble nor among the three study sites. A single linear relation between carbonate stone surface recession (the dependent variable) and hydrogen ion loading to the stone surface (the independent variable) appears to describe the data set.

"Studies of industrial sites have tended to focus on purely functional understandings of their origins, layout, design and meaning. Industrial buildings have often been seen as an entity apart from other forms of post-medieval architectural expression. This is symptomatic of the isolation of industrial
archaeology, not only from the broader spectrum of archaeological thought but also from other disciplines which strive towards a deeper understanding of the development of consumer society. This paper explores the origin of the typical industrial complex, arguing that elements of medieval
cognition were retained into the 19th century."

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This article explores how themes and questions developed within the field of reception studies can be usefully applied to the study of the restoration of ancient sculpture. It focuses on a second-century AD statue which was restored at the very end of the eighteenth century by the Roman sculptor Giovanni Pierantoni and which is now in the collections of the Lady Lever gallery in Port Sunlight. This statue originally represented Antinous, but Pierantoni’s addition of a cup and jug turned the figure into Ganymede. Here I show how the restorer’s choices responded to contemporary trends in sculptural restoration, allegorical portraiture, and Catholic worshipper imagery; in particular, I argue that the myth of Zeus and Ganymede was newly configured to match a Christian model of interaction between mortal and divine.

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The Mosque of Emir Ulmas al‐Hagib was built by Prince Sayf al‐Din Ibn Ab‐dallah in 1330 AD (730 H). The mosque mausoleum contains several stucco ornaments representing seven units (Sorra) with high and low reliefs executed with moulds. The transition zone of the mausoleum dome also contains stucco ornaments. The dome mural stucco was darkened and severely damaged due to the effects of the groundwater and the presence of salts which have caused significant detachments of the ornaments. It was also seriously affected by both acidic and alkaline environments due to rainfall, temperature, and moisture among others. Prior to the conservation intervention, the materials were characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray fluorescence. After the material characterization, the conservation and restoration of the stucco ornaments, which included including cleaning, injection grouting, consolidation, res...

3
rd International Conference on Machine learning and Cloud Computing (MLCL 2022)
will provide an excellent international forum for sharing knowledge and results in theory,
methodology and applications of on Machine Learning & Cloud computing. The aim of the
conference is to provide a platform to the researchers and practitioners from both academia as
well as industry to meet and share cutting-edge development in the field.

The church of St. Peter the Great was built within the walls of the part of the city which also got its name from the church. It was the citiy's oldest cathedral, corroborated by the archbishop's palace adjacent to it until the middle of the 14th century, as well as its location within the walls of the first phase of expansion of the city walls. Only fragments of interlace sculpture are what remains of the once representative architecture and sculpture of the pre-romanesque church of St. Peter. However, by thorough analysis from all aspects the fragment lives, because a property of the fragment is to conserve a vital trait of the whole, a part of the basic meaning. By inspection of available pre-romanesque interlace fragments with preserved traces of polychromy several conclusions can be noted. The pigments are on a base of lime or with mixed lime binders. Basic tones predominate among colours, mostly cold or dark for painting the background and warm or bright colours for painting the very ornament. On certain fragments consolidation of the polychrome layer is necessary. In the colour of individual motifs lie the answers to their meaning, their symbolic.

Scanning microscopy techniques have emerged as powerful scientific tools for analysing materials of architectural or archaeological interest, since the commercialization of the first scanning electron microscopy instrumentation in the early 60s. This study is aimed at reviewing and highlighting the significance of several scanning microscopy techniques employed in the protection of built heritage. The diffusion of scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis (SEM-EDX) is proven to be the widest among the available scanning microscopy techniques, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) applications are steadily present in the field of built heritage protection. The building material characterization, the weathering mechanism investigation, and the development of compatible and performing conservation materials are some major research areas where the application of the aforementioned techniques is discussed. The range of techniques, along with aspects of instrumentation and sample preparation are, also, considered.

In 2005, the historic defences at Lyme Regis were examined and recorded during a large scale environmental improvement scheme undertaken by West Dorset District Council. New light was shed onthe construction phases of two famous local landmarks - Cobb Gate Jetty and Lucy's Jetty - prior to their burial beneath the new sea shore. Additionally, the removal of rock armour south of The Cobb, known as the Beacon Rocks, revealed a a previously unknown jetty.

A device for the infusion of grouts in murals’ substrates is introduced. Additionally, the results of its application for the consolidation of a wall-painting’s surface with respective pathology, is examined. A short literature review on methods previously used, as well as the parts and operation of the “Sistema di micro-iniezioni e fugatura” are documented. The device enables real-time instrumental measurement of the mortar injection process, with precise pressure regulation, quantity of the enema and removal of infused material. The calibration controls in order for a perfectly safe application to be achieved are presented. Also described are the technical problems and modifications made to individual components from the apparatus manufacturer, after the in situ technical observations. The wall-paintings conserved are in the church of “The Virgin Mary Dormition”, in Gelanthi, Mouzaki district, Karditsa prefecture, Greece and date in 1843. The mural’s substrate pathology was complete loss of areas, detachments from the stonemasonry, plastic deformities and cracks, which in all cases had carried the painting surface along. Conclusively, the pros of the apparatus versus the traditional method of manual enemas are evaluated. Through the overall assessment of the equipment its suitability in mural’s substrates and mortars consolidation is eventually established.

In this paper, the consolidation and conservation works that have been carried out since 2012 within the scope of Olympos Ancient City excavations are introduced. The research initiated in Olympos in 2000 has been continued as a site survey to document the current state of the city and the existing archaeological remains until 2006. Excavations started in 2006 and since 2012, conservation works have been initiated within the scope of both commitment to the principles of protect cultural heritage and measures for life safety. In the works carried out, consolidation, which is used as a method of preserving the original texture with the least intervention in transferring cultural heritage to the future, was preferred. Priority in consolidation works was given to the North Necropolis Street located on the tour route and the Acropolis hill structures on a steep cliff next to the beach where the tourists swim. The applications in the buildings started with mechanical cleaning, firstly the joint gaps and the outer surface of the wall were cleaned with pressurized water and air. After this process, reinforcement grout was applied into the wall with injection tubes fixed with mortar. Along with the wall consolidation works, the consolidation and preservation procedures of the remains of the wall paintings, which were brought to light by the excavation work, were carried out. The surfaces of the paintings have been mechanically cleaned, and the gaps between the plaster and the wall surface were filled with injection mortar. After the fixing was completed, the wall painting fragments were bordered with plaster. Finally, protective material was applied to the thoroughly cleaned surfaces.

Joint paper co-authored with Dr G. Verri, Dr P. Collins, Dr J. Ambers and T. Sweek proving the effectiveness of a new scientific tehnique in the detection of traces of Egyptian Blue on ancient sculptures. The results on this case prove that it was extensively used on Assyrian sculptures from the reign of Sargon and the colour scheme was very similar to that of wall-paintings known from Til Barsib.

Virtual Reality: Color Reconstruction on 3D-Models

The originally polychrome figures in the tomb complex of the first Chinese emperor Qin Shihuangdi show hardly any color today. Therefore the motive for this project was to demonstrate the original colorful appearance of the warriors utilizing three-dimensional computer models. From 2004 to 2006 a total of eight warriors, three bronze birds as well as a crossbow were scanned. The resulting lattice models provided the basis for texturing the surface. For this purpose digital photos were used which show the current condition of the figures. On the basis of these textures, virtual color reconstructions were carried out using 3D-paint software. Documented research results on the former chromaticity of the warriors served as the starting point for the reconstruction.

Current work includes the conversion of the disordered polygon-models into ordered surfaces as well as testing new methods for texturing 3D-models.

The position of a kneeling archer is described in literature as “ready to shoot“, but it has in fact not been clarified what he held in his arms. The virtual reconstruction of a crossbow may give an answer to this question.

da intraprendere nei confronti dei beni sommersi è sempre parsa quella di recuperare, adeguatamente trattare, restaurare e, quindi, conservare in spazi museali climatizzati tutto il recuperabile 4 . Il patrimonio architettonico, immobile per definizione, è stato condannato all'abbandono e all'inevitabile, progressivo disfacimento 5 .

Since the 18th century, Punta de San García has been the background of several fortification projects, given its geographical position in Algeciras Bay, opposite Gibraltar. This paper is a brief description of three kinds of military fortification located there: a 16th century tower of vigilance, an 18th century coastal fort and nine 20th century bunkers. We focus on the first results of the 2006 archaeological and restoration works realized due to the first centennial of the “Conferencia de Algeciras” and the creation of the board of port works.

Riassunto: in questo articolo si affronta il problema della sopravvivenza, della musealizzazione e valorizzazione dei siti e giacimenti del Pleistocene inferiore-medio in Italia. Partendo dalla storia degli studi e delle ricerche, si giunge ad enucleare una tendenza che partendo dalla necessità della conservazione dei siti giunge, solo negli ultimi anni, a percorsi di valorizzazione vera e propria, anche con l’utilizzo di moderni sistemi comunicativi.

Abtract: this paper deals with the problem of survival, musealization and valorisation of sites and deposits  of the lower-middle Pleistocene in Italy. Starting from the history of studies and researches, we come to enucleate a trend which, starting from the need of conservation of sites, reaches, only in the last years, an actual valorisation process, even with the use of modern communication systems.

Resumen: este artículo trata sobre el problema de la supervivencia, musealización y valorización de los sitios y los depósitos del Pleistoceno Inferior-medio en Italia. A partir de la historia de los estudios e investigaciones, llegamos a enuclear una tendencia que, partiendo de la necesidad de conservación de los sitios, llega, sólo en los últimos años, a un proceso de valorización real, incluso con el uso de los modernos sistemas de comunicación.

The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) is responsible for the conservation and management of historic buildings and archaeological sites in the Emirate. Laboratory analysis has been critical for understanding the composition of historic materials and establishing appropriate conservation treatments across a wide variety of building types, ranging from Iron Age earthen archaeological sites to late-Islamic stone buildings. Analysis was carried out on historic sites in Al Ain, Delma Island and Liwa Oasis using techniques such as micro-x-ray fluorescence (MXRF), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Testing was conducted through consultant laboratories and in collaboration with local universities. The initial aim of the analysis was to understand historic earthen materials and to confirm the suitability of locally sourced clays for the production of mud bricks and plasters. Another important goal was to characterize materials used in historic stone buildings in order to develop repair mortars, renders and grouts.

In several Italian archaeological sites, the presence of the so-called emblemata has been attested to the Republican Roman Age (2nd to 1st century B.C.). They are small mosaics made on a stone or terracotta tray using the opus vermiculatum. This particular technique, which originated in Egypt and/or in Greece during the Hellenistic period (3rd century B.C.), uses very small tesserae (of size less than 0.5 cm) producing a pictorial effect. In the literature, this type of mosaic has been studied from a technical approach only for a small group of mosaics from Greece (Delos, Samos and Rhodes island), while for the Italian area, a project on their archaeometrical and archaeological study is in progress. In a few cases, by observing the surface of the mosaics, it was possible to detect the presence of a painting layer on the mortar. This feature was never reported in the literature, probably because the painted details have survived only in traces, and they are visible only by direct observation. A mosaic from Rome (preserved in site, under the church of St. Susanna), was sampled and analyzed by Raman spectrometry, while two vermiculata mosaics from Privernum (LT) were observed in situ by a portable instrument. Thanks to the characterization, it was possible to observe the use of a luxurious palette of pigments, including cinnabar and Egyptian Blue. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A joint paper giving the first results of a scientific investigation into evidence for polychromy on first century Parthian architectural stuccoes excavated in the nineteenth century at the site of a large house in Uruk/Warka. This is part of a wider investigation into such evidence and further research on related material is planned.

Il lavoro di ricerca propone, su una base metodologica ormai consolidata, un risultato globalmente nuovo e di interessante utilità applicativa. Nella ricerca sui marmi storici piemontesi mancava un approfondimento sui marmi bianchi impiegati nell'architettura e nella scultura di età moderna a causa di oggettive difficoltà nel riconoscere e distinguere a livello petrografico i diversi materiali di questa categoria. Dopo che precedenti studi avevano individuato un contesto territoriale e cronologico di sicuro interesse e sufficientemente documentato, la ricerca si è sviluppata in diverse direzioni:
- l'approccio storico, attraverso la ricerca di documenti d'archivio e al riscontro sul campo e sulle opere; in questo senso prevale la documentazione tecnico amministrativa legata alla produzione artistica e architettonica, ma non mancano riferimenti importanti riguardo alla ricerca e alla valorizzazione di marmi pregiati nel territorio piemontese nel XVIII secolo, fino alla ricca documentazione della scoperta e dell'apertura delle cave di marmo statuario di Pont Canavese;
- l'approccio geologico-petrografico per la localizzazione delle antiche cave, anche non altrimenti documentate con il duplice scopo di evidenziare le diverse implicazioni a livello territoriale dei cantieri architettonici e artistici e, con quello di campionare i materiali per analisi di laboratorio e per i necessari confronti sulle opere;
- l'approccio sperimentale di laboratorio ha permesso di ricavare una significativa quantità di dati utili a codificare le qualità fisiche dei diversi materiali con una specifica attenzione alla definizione delle caratteristiche di aspetto e lavorabilità che distinguono un marmo statuario propriamente detto dai più comuni marmi bianchi.
I dati di laboratorio hanno anche indagato il comportamento dei marmi rispetto all'acqua con un importante risvolto di conoscenza rispetto alle più comuni problematiche di degrado e quindi di conservazione dei materiali stessi.

Mining and quarrying activities in Europe generate approximately 55% of total industrial wastes, according to a recent Eurostat report. Most of these wastes are directly dumped on land or deposited in landfill sites. The first solution may lead to negative environmental impacts on land (removal of vegetation, deforestation, land slope changes and increased risk of erosion), water (pollutant transport through surface runoff, soil infiltration and contamination of water resources), may lead to the contamination of agricultural goods and may impose risks on human health. In Portugal, about 20% of industrial waste produced originates from mines and quarries, particularly from Panasqueira mining, one of the largest tungsten mines in the world. Currently, Panasqueira mining generates almost 100 tonnes of waste-rock, per day. Such waste-rock have accumulated over a number of years into very large heaps and it is desirable to seek new economic solutions that can contribute towards their reuse. In this context, this work discusses the potential for reuse of waste-rock piles of Panasqueira tungsten mine, which may be a case statement to be followed. The proposed solution described in this paper consists in developing innovative polymer-based composite materials, obtained from non-contaminated waste-rock tailings. Such materials must have suitable properties for technical-artistic value added applications, such as conservation, restoration and/or rehabilitation of historic monuments, sculptures, decorative and architectural intervention, or simply as materials for building revetments.

In 2006 I was invited to join a small group of archaeological researchers who were exploring the origins and development of Moor Hall, a private house near Wixford, in Warwickshire.
The first part of the paper is a summary of the project and some of its findings to date, written by Di Budd, the research team leader.  The second part – The Recusancy Years - opens a window into religiously intolerant England during the late 16th century and 17th century, at which time the house was home to a branch of the Throckmorton family.  As devoted Catholics, life at Moor Hall was ever tainted by a backdrop of institutionalized discrimination.
The lengths to which the government went in order to root out the recusants never ceases to amaze me.

Obiteljska grobnica obitelji Vodanović na mjesnom groblju u Supetru na otoku Braču djelo je kipara Ivana Rendića, jednog od poznatijih hrvatskih secesijskih umjetnika iz vremena prijelaza iz 19. u 20. stoljeće. Prof. Duško Kečkemet spominje ovu obiteljsku grobnicu u monografiji Ivana Rendića iz 1969. godine. Numerirana je rednim br. 237. u opusu Rendićevih djela (slika 1.). U opisu grobnice iz 1969., na kraju je navedena napomena kako je kamen oštećen zbog utjecaja soli. Isti razlog je bio i ovom konzervatorsko-restauratorskom zahvatu na samom spomeniku. Prije početka konzervatorskih radova napravljen je detaljan uvid u zatečeno stanje, kako bi se odabrale što adekvatnije metode pri restauraciji spomenika. Vizualnim uvidom u stanje nadgrobnog spomenika utvrđena su sljedeća Slika 1. Fotografija je snimljena 1968. godine u povodu tiskanja monografije Ivana Rendića, autora Duška Kečkemeta. Već na ovoj fotografiji naziru se oštećenja kamena u vidu osipanja reljefa na središnjem dijelu spomenika. Istu fotografiju nam je ustupio prof. Kečkemet prilikom izrade replike kamenog elementa koji je bio uništen. Na originalnoj fotografiji dadu se iščitati oblik i modelacija golubice, kao i rubnog ornamenta.

This article is a part of the results of the master thesis, which aim was to improve significantly the studies of the conditions of pictorial elements in a rock art mural, that is, to know the materials that were used and their interactions with the open air. This academic exercise introduces new aspects in the research process concerning the materials present in these rock art works and leads up to the works about technology of pigments in the studied area, extending the descriptive possibilities of the conservation conditions of rock art. The study of the materials opens a route towards the conservation work, and constitutes an essential way for the projected studies on dating. In this work, pigments were analyzed, some accretions, the rock substrate and the possible raw material of the rock art paintings. This analysis was done using Spectrometry Infrared. This investigation process is set in the context that the research group GIPRI has developed, as an extension of the methodological model of record and documentation of rock art in Colombia, especially in the cundiboyacense highplateau. The rock chosen was "La Piedra de La Cuadrícula ", located in a set of 167 rocks in Tequendama's area, Soacha's Municipality, in Cundinamarca's department. This sector is one of the most important archaeological sites of the country. In this site cultural stratigraphic sequences between 12 500 B.P. and 2500 B.P. have been found. On the other hand, there have been developed very important studies of the Pleistocenic and Holocenic environment.

It has not been expected that a  PhD study (2009-2014), which concerned historic sandstone epitaphs from 16th – 18th centuries in Lower Silesia (SW Poland) located on the outer walls of churches, would lead to such interesting results. This study was undertaken to find natural (without the use of synthetic resins) sandstone preservation methods. Fifteen sandstones epitaphs from old churches were selected, and tested in the petrographic and conservatory examination (CL ,,cold”cathode, scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM and EDS), TEM with SEM/FIB and conservatory studies. There were also observed some suprising and interesting elements of the processes which part of them are observed only in metathamorfic precesses  [Kruhl, Wirth, Morales, 2013] led to an interesting, brave hypothesis. The searching for answers of this processes led me to raise a question: “Is it possible to reproduce minerals in the weakened parts of the sandstone? Could CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) be useful as a method of growing crystal minerals in plasma in high temperature by low pressure? Further analysis led me to rise a question - is it possible that well known ancient monuments may store significant for people information about important  processes, among others a.o. ,,how or where Life began on the Earth” ? And is there a link between Epitaphs and Stonehenge (stone +-heng, probably orig. “something hanging”) ?
This article presents the results of research, hypothesis and poses questions that are worth seeking answers in the international and interdisciplinary team of researchers.

SUMMARY
The research of stone creation of sacral objects from the Pre-Romanesque period
begun actively at the end of the nineteenth century. By broadening the perspectives on the
processes of creation of some artwork one reaches new conclusions and views on wattle
reliefs. Giving importance to polychromy remnants (not just the visible ones, but also
some secondary details) on Pre-Romanesque reliefs the main motif can be discerned with
certainty from the ancillary one and thus provide us with a step forward in understanding
motifs, their mutual relations and meaning. The chemical analysis of the dye composition
can differentiate the background of the said dye. An additional perspective is achieved by
constructing an individual artefact as a replica of the original Pre-Romanesque fragment.
By going through each phase of creating an individual piece, always keeping in mind the
context (sacral object, a part of the liturgical fitting) to which the relief belonged to, it can
take us that much closer to the time of creation of the artwork. In understanding these
phases we can reach new conclusions on the Pre-Romanesque sculpture, regardless if
it belonged to the Byzantine towns by the sea or in their hinterland. Interweaving and
cohesion of the role of the client, donor, draughtsmen, clergy and stone-cutter must not be
overlooked. Stone-cutters, builders, blacksmiths, painters and other craftsmen circulated
from the Byzantine town centres to the Croatian hinterland. Gathered statistical data of
the stone cutting process can serve with calculating the time needed for the decorations
construction of the other pieces of stone fitting that correspond to the Pre-Romanesque
period and style and that are made by the traditional stone cutting technique.
Keywords: Pre-Romanesque stone sculpture, wattle compositions, polychromy on
stone, dye (pigments), traditional stone cutting techniques, medieval craftsman-stone-cutter