Search Results (69)

The preservation of cultural heritage within museum environments requires systematic control and monitoring of indoor microclimatic conditions. Over the past four decades, scientific evidence has established the critical role of environmental parameters, including air temperature, relative humidity, light, and airborne pollutants, in the preventive conservation of artifacts. International standards and national guidelines mandate continuous, non-invasive monitoring protocols that integrate conservation requirements with the architectural and operational constraints of historic buildings. Effective implementation necessitates a multidisciplinary approach balancing artifact preservation, human comfort, and building energy efficiency. Recent international recommendations further promote adaptive approaches wherein microclimate thresholds are calibrated to site-specific “historical climate” conditions, derived from minimum one-year baseline datasets. While essential for long-term conservation management, the design and implementation of such monitoring systems present significant technical and logistical challenges. This study presents a replicable methodological approach wherein preliminary surveys and three short-term monitoring campaigns (duration: 2 to 5 weeks) supported design, sensor selection, and spatial deployment and will allow the validation of a long-term continuous monitoring infrastructure (at least one year). These preliminary investigations enabled the following: (1) identification of priority environmental parameters; (2) optimization of sensor placement relative to exhibition layouts and maintenance protocols; and (3) preliminary assessment of microclimate risks in naturally ventilated spaces in the absence of HVAC systems. Full article

This paper presents a knowledge-based and interpretative model for the conservation of the House of Arianna, located in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, developed within the CHANGES project, Spoke 6—History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage. The research focused on two critical components of the site: the free-standing peristyle columns and the mosaic and frescoed surfaces preserved in situ. This workflow yielded a high-resolution digital model, analytical condition maps, and diagnostic datasets that directly inform conservation decisions. The results show that the columns exhibit internal discontinuities and weaknesses at their joints, a condition linked to heterogeneous construction techniques which increases the risk of drum slippage under wind and seismic loading. The mosaics display a marked loss of tesserae in exposed sectors over recent years, driven by moisture ingress, biological growth and mechanical stress. These findings support the adoption of low-impact, reversible measures, embedded within a prevention-first strategy based on planned conservation. The study formalizes a replicable methodology that aligns diagnostics, monitoring and conservation planning. By linking ‘skin’ and ‘structure’ within a unified interpretative matrix, the approach enhances both structural safety and material legibility. The workflow proposed here offers transferable guidance for the sustainable preservation and inclusive interpretation of exposed archaeological ensembles in the Vesuvian context and beyond. Full article

The sustainability of managing archaeological iron collections presents both environmental and economic challenges for heritage institutions. Energy-intensive climate control and rising operational costs necessitate evaluation of conservation treatments and preventive storage strategies. This study examines the environmental impacts of treatments commonly used for archaeological iron, including sodium hydroxide and sodium disulfite desalination, as well as emerging microbially derived “greener” approaches. Life cycle assessment (LCA) analyses quantify the global warming potential, toxicity, and energy requirements of these treatments. Preventive conservation strategies, including relative humidity (RH) control in storage and display, are assessed for energy efficiency and sustainability. Air exchange rates, dehumidifier performance, and silica gel replacement schedules were measured and modelled to estimate energy consumption and associated environmental impacts. Results highlight that chemical treatments contribute minimally to overall environmental burden, whereas operational energy demands for storage and display are significant. The findings provide evidence-based guidance for implementing more sustainable conservation practices for archaeological iron, balancing material preservation, resource efficiency, and environmental responsibility. Full article

This study presents the preliminary results of the design and implementation of an advanced data management infrastructure developed to enhance the study, interpretation, and preservation of historical and archaeological contexts. Conducted within the framework of the PNRR CHANGES Project, Spoke 6, the initiative promotes the integration of scientific research, digital innovation, and cultural heritage enhancement. One of the principal outcomes of the project is the development and configuration of ARPAS (“Analisi del Rischio nel Paesaggio Stratificato” or “Risk Analysis of Stratified Landscape”), a centralised Geospatial Database capable of ensuring reliable data archiving, real-time analytical processing, and collaborative information sharing among researchers and institutions engaged in cultural heritage management. The paper discusses key methodological challenges related to the heterogeneity of available documentation and the limitations of existing tools currently used for heritage research and protection in the Italian, and particularly Sicilian, context. At the same time, it highlights the potential of the proposed system in terms of data accessibility, verifiability, and query ability, as well as its ability to integrate and interrelate heterogeneous datasets within a multilayered, interdisciplinary framework for cultural landscape research. The pilot deployment focuses on a geographic area in southeastern Sicily, drawing upon documentation of the cultural landscape across four provinces—Agrigento, Catania, Ragusa, and Siracusa—and integrating archaeological, architectural, and environmental data to support risk assessment and heritage conservation strategies. Results appear to demonstrate ARPAS’s potential to improve the completeness of information, manage stratification across temporal layers, and support predictive and preventive analyses for cultural heritage at the landscape level. Full article

The use of epoxy resin/carbon fiber multilayer materials can effectively prevent damage to artifacts during underwater archaeological artifact extraction. However, the high viscosity of epoxy resin limits the coating ability and curing quality. To solve this problem, propylene carbonate (PC) was used as a diluent to reduce the viscosity and improve the properties. This study investigated the gel time, curing time, curing degree, and mechanical strength of the cured products by varying PC concentrations. It was found that the PC significantly enhanced the flowability of epoxy resin blends, extending the gel time from 22 min to 38 min, with minimal impact on the curing time. The glass transition temperature (Tg) ranged from 25.80 °C to 12.28 °C. Compared to E44/PC0, PC reduced the CTE values in the weft direction. The multilayer materials exhibited good temperature stability. The cured product had good mechanical properties and toughness, and could wrap irregular artifacts. The E44/PC10 formulation was used to prepare the epoxy resin/carbon fiber multilayer material. Waterlogged wooden artifacts were successfully extracted from 13 m deep calm water, using the multilayer material. Full article

A key goal when managing copper alloy heritage is preventing “bronze disease,” which damages surface detail and may disintegrate objects by oxidation and hydrolysis of nantokite (CuCl), forming voluminous copper trihydroxychlorides (Cu₂(OH)₃Cl). The success of mitigation strategies is difficult to evaluate due to the complexity of copper alloy corrosion profiles, limitations in non-destructive analytical methods and incomplete understanding of the corrosion mechanisms and reactions involved in bronze disease. Without better understanding, it is impossible to design truly effective solutions for the safe storage and display of archaeological copper alloys. Advancing current understanding, this paper examines oxidation and hydrolysis of CuCl using oxygen consumption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, recognised as the basis of bronze disease. Variables potentially affecting bronze disease processes are evaluated, including relative humidity (RH) (15–80%RH at 20 °C) and the presence of metallic copper with CuCl and their respective ratios. Results confirm that these variables influence the reaction mechanisms and kinetics of bronze disease. The rate of oxidation and hydrolysis of CuCl accelerates with RH, and its effect is quantified. The presence of copper is shown to be important for producing bronze disease; it facilitates a cyclic reaction forming Cu₂(OH)₃Cl, increases its formation rate at lower RH than by hydrolysis of CuCl alone and prevents formation of soluble chloride compounds. The formation of Cu₂(OH)₃Cl without counteracting copper ions is shown to promote formation of CuCl₂ and CuCl₂·2H₂O, accelerating bronze disease. This new understanding is used to better quantify risk of bronze disease as a function of RH, providing a more quantitative tool for managing preservation of archaeological copper alloy collections. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive approach to risk management and planned preventative maintenance (PPM) for cultural heritage, focusing on the hypogeum archaeological site beneath the Chamber of Commerce in Rimini, Italy. Hypogeal environments pose unique conservation challenges due to their microclimates, biological threats, and structural vulnerabilities. Applying the ABC Method—developed by ICCROM and CCI—this research systematically identifies, analyzes, and prioritizes risks associated with agents of risks. The methodology was complemented by the Nara Grid to assess the site’s authenticity and cultural value, aiding in the delineation of risk areas and informing strategic conservation priorities. The study identifies efflorescence formation, flooding risks, and lack of management guidelines as extreme threats, proposing tailored treatments and practical interventions across multiple layers of control. Through environmental monitoring, empirical analysis, and a multidisciplinary framework, the research offers a replicable model for sustainable conservation and preventive heritage management in similar subterranean contexts. Full article

This paper aims to explore the potentialities and systemic relationships between the ‘regenerative’ process and ‘circular economy’ concept within the conservation and reuse of a built cultural heritage framework through contextualizing the concept of ‘process programming’ of the Preventive and Planned Conservation methodology. As a case study, it depicts a decommissioned industrial agricultural silo in Corbetta—a small historic city with its hinterland located in the protected Southern Milan Regional Agricultural Park. The context includes the industrial agricultural lands of the 20th century, together with historical water infrastructure, farmhouses, and the typical flora of the Lombardy region, all evidences of Corbetta’s rural archaeological values and the sophisticated material culture of its past collective production/economy system—the locus in which the silo was once one of the main productive symbols of Corbetta’s agricultural identity. Within such a complex and challenging context, this paper argues in favor of the constructive role of such a methodology in upholding circular economy principles within the process of conservation and reuse of the silo, highlighting its broader application of the ‘coevolution’ concept from a multidisciplinary long-term perspective. Full article

The archaeological complex of the Benzú rock shelter and cave, located in Ceuta (Spain), represents a heritage site of significant scientific and historical value that is currently at risk due to natural processes and, in particular, the activity of a nearby quarry. This site has been occupied from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age and consequently has been the subject of systematic research since 2002, focusing on its stratigraphic sequence, lithic technology, exploitation of marine resources, and the connection between both shores of the Strait of Gibraltar. With the aim of preserving this endangered heritage, a methodology based on advanced digital technologies such as photogrammetry, 3D laser scanning, and GNSS georeferencing has been implemented. These tools have enabled the creation of high-precision, three-dimensional models of the rock shelter and the cave, which are useful for both documentation and monitoring of their structural condition. In addition, fracture networks have been identified, revealing a high degree of geotechnical vulnerability, exacerbated by blasting activities at the nearby quarry. The project has produced a digital twin of the site in an open access format, serving not only for preventive conservation but also for its enhancement through virtual tours, augmented reality, and accessible outreach activities. This digitalization has been essential to facilitate the access to heritage, particularly in areas that are physically difficult to access. Finally, the integration of these digital resources into institutional policies for the sustainable management of heritage is proposed, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary approaches that combine archaeology, geotechnology, and scientific communication. The experience at Benzú is presented as a replicable model for the protection, interpretation, and dissemination of heritage sites located in fragile and threatened environments. Full article

The waterlogged archaeological wood from the Qiantang River Ancient Seawall site faces significant preservation challenges due to its unique and complex preservation environment. Without targeted dehydration and consolidation treatments after excavation, these artifacts are at risk of severe deformation, cracking, or even complete destruction. This study focuses on the waterlogged wood from Chaitang (bundled firewood structure) and Zhulong Shitang (bamboo–stone structure) within the ancient seawall, comparing two methods: ethanol dehydration and polyethylene glycol (PEG) dehydration. Both methods were combined with natural drying for comparative analysis. In addition to traditional metrics such as dimensional stability and weight percentage gain, the study employs a multidimensional evaluation framework, including colorimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), to comprehensively assess the effectiveness of dehydration and consolidation. Combining natural drying with PEG, although it may reduce the chromaticity of WAW to some extent, effectively fills cellular cavities, enhances diffraction peak intensity, improves dimensional stability, and effectively prevents cracking and deformation. The results provide differentiated treatment strategies for WAW from different historical periods and varying degrees of degradation. This study offers valuable insights and a scientific basis for the further restoration and preservation of the WAW from the Qiantang River Ancient Seawall. Full article

Dehydration is the principal conservation process for waterlogged archaeological wood (WAW), with the aim of preventing shrinkage and cracking. For well-preserved WAW, shrinkage mainly takes place when the moisture content is below the fiber saturation point. Here, we conduct a new trial using ionic liquid as a dimensional stabilizer to maintain a stable swollen state of WAW. Molecular dynamics simulation (MD), shrinkage measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) were adopted to investigate the interactions and effects of 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim][Cl]) on WAW (Dipterocarpaceae Dipterocarpus sp. with a maximum moisture content of 80.3%) in comparison with the conventional material polyethylene glycol (PEG). The results show that [Bmim][Cl] and its water mixtures have a comparable or slightly greater ability to swell amorphous cellulose than does water at room temperature, while crystalline cellulose is left intact. The samples treated with [Bmim][Cl] show less shrinkage than the PEG 300- and PEG 2000-treated samples at all tested concentrations after air-drying. The best dimension control was achieved by 40 wt% [Bmim][Cl], with volumetric shrinkage reduced from 5.03% to 0.47%. DVS analysis reveals that [Bmim][Cl] reduces moisture contents at moderate and low relative humidity (<80%) when the concentration is at or below 20 wt%, which suggests that good dimensional stability was not achieved by simply preserving the moisture content but possibly through the interaction of the ionic liquid with the wood polymers. Full article

Animal and plant remains recovered from two archaeological sites in Iași city (NE Romania) were analyzed in this work. The aim of this study was to contribute to the economic and environmental evaluation of an old urban settlement. The analyzed sites, both of value in archaeological preventive research, are dated to the 18th–19th centuries. The archaeozoological analysis consisted of anatomical, taxonomic, and taphonomic identifications, quantification, estimations of age at slaughter and sex, and osteometry. The results revealed that the animal remains are of domestic origin, as indicated by traces of butchering, and can be mainly described in terms of their frequencies (i.e., number of identified specimens and minimum number of individuals), selection for slaughter, morphology, and size. The results show that animal husbandry (e.g., cattle, sheep/goat, pig, and horse) had significant importance in the economy of the settlement, and cattle were preferred for consumption. Few remains were identified for wild mammals (i.e., red deer, wild boar, and hare), birds, and mollusks. The phytolith analysis indicated that some plant resources were used in the economy of this settlement. The identification of opal silica bodies revealed the presence of grasses and cultivated cereals. Full article

Natural stone has been used worldwide in the construction of archaeological and historical heritage. However, its preservation continues to be threatened by weathering and degradation phenomena. Water is widely recognized as the most threatening external component that contributes to stone deterioration, increasing the need for the development of protective hydrophobic coatings to eliminate water penetration. This study intends to contribute to the better understanding of natural stone treatment strategies to prevent water penetration and subsequent stone alteration by studying the effect of coating and stone substrate temperatures, and the number of coating applications, on the effectiveness, compatibility, and durability of commercial hydrophobic coatings. The results obtained revealed that while more than one application increases coating hydrophobic effectiveness, it frequently leads to changes in the aesthetic appearance of natural stone, including whitening and darkening of the substrate’s original hues. Improved hydrophobic effectiveness (maximum gain of ≈ 9%) is also achieved when applying the commercial coatings at 4 °C to natural stone substrates maintained at room temperature, conditions that are feasible to be used in real life. Additionally, the commercial coating composed of silane/siloxane with modified fluorinated additives was found to be the most effective and durable hydrophobic solution. Full article

Desertification in semi-arid environments poses a significant risk to the archaeology within arid and semi-arid regions. Due to multiple political and physical barriers, accessing desertification-prone areas is complex, complicating pathways towards generating a hands-on understanding of the time–depth and distribution of archaeology throughout these regions. This research developed a remote sensing methodology to determine the areas of Sistan experiencing the highest levels of desertification and the threat of that desertification to known and potential archaeology. As desertification processes are occurring rapidly, this work’s methodology is straightforward and efficient. In a region of vast archaeological value, desertification threatens to prevent archaeologists from potential insight and discovery. This work showcases the opportunity for remote sensing to work as a tool for accessing archaeology in physically inaccessible desertification-prone regions. Full article

In recent years, special attention has been paid to the lessons in sustainability offered by traditional and vernacular architecture, especially with regards to the promotion of both material and technical production in earthen construction. However, these systems were already widely found in past societies, whose legacy in terms of construction is presented through the complex cultural framework of archaeological sites, which require highly variable work that lacks professional consensus, usually transcending the adaptive and sustainable nature originally observed. This dual nature aids the social operation of these scenarios and can prematurely hinder earthen construction’s life cycle and didactic quality, cementing its status as a necessary reflection for the identification and prevention of future problems. In terms of sustainability, the aim of this study is to analyze the spectrum of architectural interventions used for the preservation of earthen structures in archaeological sites in the Iberian Peninsula, in natural, social, and economic terms, while examining their capacity to adapt in the face of adverse phenomena. For this reason, following bibliographical review and fieldwork collection, a database was established combining a series of architectural characteristics and a history of interventions in 85 selected archaeological sites conserved in situ. Following reflection on these sites, maps were drawn up to show the geographical scope of these principles and offer a general overview of perspectives, highlighting the aspects deserving of varying levels of attention, as well as proposing strategies for sustainable preservation which will allow its transmission over time for the scientific and cultural enjoyment of coming generations. Full article