Abstract
Heritage monuments across the world are affected by a variety of physical and biological stresses. Damage to heritage monuments due to insects and pests is growing with increasing anthropogenic pressure and changing climatic conditions. Cave monuments are habitats to microbes, algae, fungi, and insects, and are unique biodiversity sites due to their low temperature, little to no sunlight, and high moisture conditions. This study takes stock of available information on important factors that facilitate the growth of insect pests and degrade heritage monuments. Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO world heritage site in India, is a human marvel, important archaeological and heritage site of immense cultural and historic values. The present paper is an attempt to understand a variety of stresses and factors with a focus on insect pests that have substantially affected Ajanta cave paintings in the last few decades. The study also provides information on available approaches for damage control including the need for an integrated insect pest management for protecting cave monuments against rapid degradation across the country in general and Ajanta caves in particular. A light-based approach is the key highlight of the study that can be used as an effective and efficient approach to protect archaeological sites especially cave paintings from insect pests without disturbing the pollinator diversity and surrounding environment.
Highlights
Heritages structures are considered to be of immense value to society, culture, and country as they reflect the history and uniqueness of the place [1]
Though not many insect pests have been reported from Ajanta caves and the reason has been no work been carried out in this direction by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) or any other Government agency in the region [11]
Changing and irregular weather conditions coupled with increasing anthropogenic interferences have significantly affected and increased the threats to the heritage monuments
Summary
Heritages structures are considered to be of immense value to society, culture, and country as they reflect the history and uniqueness of the place [1]. India being rich in cultural and historical heritage has many historical buildings and heritage monuments, mostly administrated and conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) [5]. Many of these ancient heritage monuments are located far from human habitations inside forests, pristine areas including in secluded caves. Buddhist monks constructed Ajanta caves long back in the Vakatakas period [4]. These caves are renowned for the wall paintings of Hinayana and Mahayana beliefs of Buddhism [7].
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