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Applied Sciences
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Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation
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Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Earth Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 October 2022) | Viewed by 20778

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia, IRNAS-CSIC, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
Interests: cultural heritage; air pollution; geochemistry; biodeterioration; geomicrobiology; environmental microbiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The roots of each country and region are anchored on their own cultural heritage. This implies the conservation of movable (paintings, sculptures, artifacts) and immovable (monuments, archaeological sites, industrial archaeology) properties. Today, our cultural heritage is exposed to air pollution, flooding, earthquakes, wrong management activities, etc., which threaten their integrity. This Special Issue intends to attract reviews and articles on research and technologies focused on analyzing and mitigating deterioration and enhancing the conservation of cultural heritage. These goals can be achieved through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary studies in the fields of applied sciences and engineering. The keywords below are not meant to be limiting at all, and we will consider culture heritage in its widest sense in this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • deterioration of building materials
  • structural engineering of ancient buildings
  • risk management
  • remote sensing
  • digital technologies
  • analytical techniques
  • laser-based technologies
  • consolidants, coatings, and adhesives
  • nanoparticles and composites
  • eco-efficient cements

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 196 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue on Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation
by Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1824; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031824 - 31 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 917
Abstract
UNESCO defines cultural heritage as “the legacy of physical artefacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations” [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

27 pages, 63201 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Raw Materials on the Stability of Grisaille Paint Layers
by Carla Machado, Márcia Vilarigues, Joana Vaz Pinto and Teresa Palomar
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(20), 10515; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122010515 - 18 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1408
Abstract
Grisaille is a glass-based paint made by mixing metal oxides (iron or copper) with ground lead-silica glass. The different materials used in the grisailles production (coloring agents, base glasses, or vehicles) can significantly impact their long-term stability along with the firing conditions. The [...] Read more.
Grisaille is a glass-based paint made by mixing metal oxides (iron or copper) with ground lead-silica glass. The different materials used in the grisailles production (coloring agents, base glasses, or vehicles) can significantly impact their long-term stability along with the firing conditions. The main objective of this study was to achieve a better understanding of how raw materials influence the production and stability of these paints. To achieve this goal, 27 grisailles were produced, changing the raw materials, proportions, and firing conditions. The produced grisailles were characterized by X-ray fluorescence and diffraction, colorimetry, roughness measurement, and contact angle analysis. Adhesion and cleaning tests were also made. The use of different coloring agents has a significant impact on the final appearance and on the chemical and mechanical stability of the grisailles, but the latest is more affected by both firing temperature and the proportion between pigments and base glasses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation)
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14 pages, 7904 KiB  
Article
Cleaning of Phototrophic Biofilms in a Show Cave: The Case of Tesoro Cave, Spain
by Valme Jurado, Mariona Hernandez-Marine, Miguel Angel Rogerio-Candelera, Francisco Ruano, Clara Aguilar, Juan Aguilar and Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7357; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157357 - 22 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1314
Abstract
Show caves have different grades of colonization by phototrophic biofilms. They may receive a varied number of visits, from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Among them, Tesoro Cave, Rincon de la Victoria, Spain, showed severe anthropic alterations, including [...] Read more.
Show caves have different grades of colonization by phototrophic biofilms. They may receive a varied number of visits, from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Among them, Tesoro Cave, Rincon de la Victoria, Spain, showed severe anthropic alterations, including artificial lighting. The most noticeable effect of the lighting was the growth of a dense phototrophic community of cyanobacteria, algae and bryophytes on the speleothems, walls and ground. The biofilms were dominated by the cyanobacterium Phormidium sp., the chlorophyte Myrmecia israelensis, and the rhodophyte Cyanidium sp. In many cases, the biofilms also showed an abundance of the bryophyte Eucladium verticillatum. Other cyanobacteria observed in different biofilms along the cave were: Chroococcidiopsis sp., Synechocystis sp. and Nostoc cf. edaphicum, the green microalgae Pseudococcomyxa simplex, Chlorella sp. and the diatom Diadesmis contenta. Preliminary cleaning tests on selected areas showed the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite. A physicochemical treatment involving the mechanical removal of the thickest layers of biofilms was followed by chemical treatments. In total, 94% of the surface was cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, with a subsequent treatment with sodium hypochlorite in only 1% of cases. The remaining 5% was cleaned with sodium hypochlorite in areas where the biofilms were entrapped into a calcite layer and in sandy surfaces with little physical compaction. The green biofilms from the entire cave were successfully cleaned. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation)
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24 pages, 5597 KiB  
Article
A Multi-Analytical Approach to Infer Mineral–Microbial Interactions Applied to Petroglyph Sites in the Negev Desert of Israel
by Laura Rabbachin, Guadalupe Piñar, Irit Nir, Ariel Kushmaro, Mariela J. Pavan, Elisabeth Eitenberger, Monika Waldherr, Alexandra Graf and Katja Sterflinger
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(14), 6936; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12146936 - 08 Jul 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2300
Abstract
Petroglyph sites exist all over the world. They are one of the earliest forms of mankind’s expression and a precursor to art. Despite their outstanding value, comprehensive research on conservation and preservation of rock art is minimal, especially as related to biodeterioration. For [...] Read more.
Petroglyph sites exist all over the world. They are one of the earliest forms of mankind’s expression and a precursor to art. Despite their outstanding value, comprehensive research on conservation and preservation of rock art is minimal, especially as related to biodeterioration. For this reason, the main objective of this study was to explore the factors involved in the degradation of petroglyph sites in the Negev desert of Israel, with a focus on biodegradation processes. Through the use of culture-independent microbiological methods (metagenomics), we characterized the microbiomes of the samples, finding they were dominated by bacterial communities, in particular taxa of Actinobacteria and Cyanobacteria, with resistance to radiation and desiccation. By means of XRF and Raman spectroscopies, we defined the composition of the stone (calcite and quartz) and the dark crust (clay minerals with Mn and Fe oxides), unveiling the presence of carotenoids, indicative of biological colonization. Optical microscopy and SEM–EDX analyses on thin sections highlighted patterns of weathering, possibly connected to the presence of biodeteriorative microorganisms that leach the calcareous matrix from the bedrock and mobilize metal cations from the black varnish for metabolic processes, slowly weathering it. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation)
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19 pages, 6207 KiB  
Article
Use and Management in the Heritage Conservation of the Historic Water Supply of Canal de Isabel II, Madrid
by Jorge Bernabéu-Larena, Beatriz Cabau-Anchuelo, Pedro Plasencia-Lozano and Patricia Hernández-Lamas
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(13), 6731; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12136731 - 02 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1749
Abstract
The historic water supply to large cities constitutes a constructed heritage characterised by comprising a range of public structures—dams, canals, tanks, siphons and aqueducts—over a large geographical area. Within this international context, this paper looks at the case of Canal de Isabel II [...] Read more.
The historic water supply to large cities constitutes a constructed heritage characterised by comprising a range of public structures—dams, canals, tanks, siphons and aqueducts—over a large geographical area. Within this international context, this paper looks at the case of Canal de Isabel II (CYII) and its historic infrastructure, built in the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. The purpose of this study is to analyse how these water supply public works, which maintain their original use, have also taken on new functions through the conversion of some of their parts and added new values to the existing ones. In order to do this, an inventory was drawn up with the location and cultural value of each structure based on its historic, technological, landscape and symbolic features, as well as its use. The results establish the significance of the overall system, not only in functional terms but also as a cultural resource. It is essential to understand the historic water supply infrastructure as a whole, not just as individual components but rather as pieces of a network. This is also essential for the management and preservation of the system, both where the structures are still in use as part of the water supply and where they have been converted for other uses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation)
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16 pages, 4698 KiB  
Article
Holistic Approach to the Restoration of a Vandalized Monument: The Cross of the Inquisition, Seville City Hall, Spain
by Valme Jurado, Juan Carlos Cañaveras, Antonio Gomez-Bolea, Jose Luis Gonzalez-Pimentel, Sergio Sanchez-Moral, Carlos Costa and Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(12), 6222; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12126222 - 18 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1539
Abstract
The Cross of the Inquisition, sculpted in 1903 and raised on a column with a fluted shaft and ornamented with vegetable garlands, is located in a corner of the Plateresque façade of the Seville City Hall. The Cross was vandalized in September 2019 [...] Read more.
The Cross of the Inquisition, sculpted in 1903 and raised on a column with a fluted shaft and ornamented with vegetable garlands, is located in a corner of the Plateresque façade of the Seville City Hall. The Cross was vandalized in September 2019 and the restoration concluded in September 2021. A geological and microbiological study was carried out in a few small fragments. The data are consistent with the exposure of the Cross of the Inquisition to an urban environment for more than 100 years. During that time, a lichen community colonized the Cross and the nearby City Hall façades. The lichens, bryophytes and fungi colonizing the limestone surface composed an urban community, regenerated from the remains of the original communities, after superficial cleaning of the limestone between 2008 and 2010. This biological activity was detrimental to the integrity of the limestone, as showed by the pitting and channels, which evidence the lytic activity of organisms on the stone surface. Stone consolidation was achieved with Estel 1000. Preventol RI80, a biocide able to penetrate the porous limestone and active against bacteria, fungi, lichens, and bryophytes, was applied in the restoration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation)
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18 pages, 6001 KiB  
Article
Spectroscopic and Microscopic Characterization of Flashed Glasses from Stained Glass Windows
by Teresa Palomar, Marina Martínez-Weinbaum, Mario Aparicio, Laura Maestro-Guijarro, Marta Castillejo and Mohamed Oujja
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(11), 5760; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12115760 - 06 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2054
Abstract
Flashed glasses are composed of a base glass and a thin colored layer and have been used since medieval times in stained glass windows. Their study can be challenging because of their complex composition and multilayer structure. In the present work, a set [...] Read more.
Flashed glasses are composed of a base glass and a thin colored layer and have been used since medieval times in stained glass windows. Their study can be challenging because of their complex composition and multilayer structure. In the present work, a set of optical and spectroscopic techniques have been used for the characterization of a representative set of flashed glasses commonly used in the manufacture of stained glass windows. The structural and chemical composition of the pieces were investigated by optical microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (FESEM-EDS), UV-Vis-IR spectroscopy, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Optical microscopy and FESEM-EDS allowed the determination of the thicknesses of the colored layers, while LIBS, EDS, UV-Vis-IR, and LIF spectroscopies served for elemental, molecular, and chromophores characterization of the base glasses and colored layers. Results obtained using the micro-invasive LIBS technique were compared with those retrieved by the cross-sectional technique FESEM-EDS, which requires sample taking, and showed significant consistency and agreement. In addition, LIBS results revealed the presence of additional elements in the composition of flashed glasses that could not be detected by FESEM-EDS. The combination of UV-Vis-IR and LIF results allowed precise chemical identification of chromophores responsible for the flashed glass coloration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation)
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18 pages, 7195 KiB  
Article
Weathering Processes on Sandstone Painting and Carving Surfaces at Prehistoric Rock Sites in Southern Spain
by Juan Carlos Cañaveras, Enrique Sanz-Rubio and Sergio Sánchez-Moral
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(11), 5330; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12115330 - 25 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2474
Abstract
The sandstones which constitute the host rock for the prehistoric artwork in the Rock Groups of Tajo de las Figuras and Peñas de Cabrera (southern Spain) show a serious degree of alteration, due both to natural processes and those related to anthropogenic and [...] Read more.
The sandstones which constitute the host rock for the prehistoric artwork in the Rock Groups of Tajo de las Figuras and Peñas de Cabrera (southern Spain) show a serious degree of alteration, due both to natural processes and those related to anthropogenic and animal activity. A detailed study was carried out on the petrological and compositional characteristics of the sandstones (fresh and altered rock) in both rock groups, and on the geological and climatological characteristics of the area in which they are located. The sandstones have very similar petrological and compositional characteristics in both areas. This likeness causes the nature of the natural weathering processes to be similar in the rock areas studied. These processes can be divided in terms of the predominant mechanisms of alteration into three inter-related categories: mechanical weathering, chemical weathering, and bio-induced alteration processes. However, the different climatic conditions of the areas in which the two rock areas are located directly influences the intensity of these processes. The precipitation and the range of temperature variation with heavy winter frosts in the area of El Tajo de las Figuras are significantly higher than in the area of Peñas de Cabrera; this translates into a higher rate of weathering at El Tajo de las Figuras. Regarding the anthropogenic action, two types of influence on the deterioration can be distinguished: a direct one, which consists of scouring and wetting of the walls in order to increase the chromatic contrast; and an indirect one, which is the extraction of blocks of sandstone in the upper part of rock shelters, which in turn encourages the development of the chemical weathering processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation)
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12 pages, 1983 KiB  
Article
Ontology-Driven Cultural Heritage Conservation: A Case of The Analects of Confucius
by Fengxiang Wang, Tong Wei and Jun Wang
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(1), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12010287 - 28 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1758
Abstract
Confucianism, recognized as the belief system of Chinese, is one of the most important intangible cultural heritages of China. The main ideas of its founder, Confucius, are written in The Analects of Confucius. However, its scattered chapters and the obscurity of ancient [...] Read more.
Confucianism, recognized as the belief system of Chinese, is one of the most important intangible cultural heritages of China. The main ideas of its founder, Confucius, are written in The Analects of Confucius. However, its scattered chapters and the obscurity of ancient Chinese have prevented many people from understanding it. In order to overcome this difficulty, it needs some modern ways to reveal the vague connotation of Confucianism. This paper aims to describe how to construct the Lunyu ontology in which all concepts are abstract within the core scope, i.e., morality of Confucianism. The key task of this project lies in identifying essential characteristics, a notion that is compliant with the ISO principles on Terminology (ISO 1087 and 704), according to which a concept is defined as a combination of essential characteristics. This paper proposed an approach in the practice of identifying essential characteristics of abstract concepts from different meanings of its Chinese terms in The Analects of Confucius. With this work, Lunyu ontology established a semantic, formal, and explicit representation system for concepts of Confucianism, and the new proposed approach provides a useful reference for other researchers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation)
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13 pages, 4567 KiB  
Article
Environmental pH Evaluation in Exhibition Halls of Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC, Madrid)
by Daniel Morales-Martín, Fernando Agua, Josefina Barreiro, Angel Luis Garvía, Manuel García-Heras and Maria Angeles Villegas
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10091; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110091 - 28 Oct 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1372
Abstract
Optical sol-gel environmental pH sensors have been applied for air evaluation in exhibition halls of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Madrid, Spain). Sensor synthesis and calibration was undertaken following a previous patent by some of the present authors. Monitoring was carried out [...] Read more.
Optical sol-gel environmental pH sensors have been applied for air evaluation in exhibition halls of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Madrid, Spain). Sensor synthesis and calibration was undertaken following a previous patent by some of the present authors. Monitoring was carried out for one full year to check the influence of meteorological seasons as well as quality of surrounding outdoor air to a big avenue located in downtown Madrid and close to the museum. Particular sites selected for sensor positions were inside showcases, under the free environment of exhibition halls, and outdoor façades of the building, for comparison purposes. pH recordings showed that exhibition halls near the outdoor air entrance had slightly low pH values, which can be attributed to outdoor pollution. However, halls located far from air entrance had neutral conditions. Concerning showcases tested, some of them showed slightly acidic pH while others were moderately acidic due to natural goods exhibited and/or to materials with which showcases were made. pH values recorded allowed the museum to make some decisions on its preventive conservation strategy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation)
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14 pages, 1784 KiB  
Article
Biodeterioration of Salón de Reinos, Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, Spain
by Valme Jurado, José Luis Gonzalez-Pimentel, Bernardo Hermosin and Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 8858; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11198858 - 23 Sep 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2449
Abstract
The Salón de Reinos, a remnant of the 17th century Palacio del Buen Retiro, was built as a recreational residence under the reign of Felipe IV between 1632 and 1640 and was the main room for the monarch’s receptions. This Salón [...] Read more.
The Salón de Reinos, a remnant of the 17th century Palacio del Buen Retiro, was built as a recreational residence under the reign of Felipe IV between 1632 and 1640 and was the main room for the monarch’s receptions. This Salón owes its name to the fact that the coats of arms (shields) of the 24 kingdoms that formed Spain in Felipe IV’s time were painted on the vault, above the windows. In addition, the ceiling shows an original decorative composition. The painted ceiling and window vaults showed deterioration evidenced by fissures, water filtration, detachments of the paint layer, and black stains denoting fungal colonization related to humidity. Ten strains of bacteria and 14 strains of fungi were isolated from the deteriorated paintings. Their biodeteriorative profiles were detected through plate assays. The most frequent metabolic functions were proteolytic and lipolytic activities. Other activities, such as the solubilization of gypsum and calcite and the production of acids, were infrequent among the isolates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Researches for Cultural Heritage Conservation)
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