Restoration and Strengthening Techniques for Ancient-Greek Monuments

Abstract

ABSTRACT Beginning from the late 1970s, at the Acropolis of Athens, and from the 1990s, in many other significant archaeological sites around Greece (Epidaurus, Arcadian Bassai, Nemea, Olympia, Delos et al.), numerous restoration projects of ancient constructions have been carried out, mostly concerning classical cult temples. The projects were supervised and carried out by multi-disciplinary groups (archaeologists, architects, engineers, conservators, stone-masons etc.), on the basis of common principles. The combined effort of so many experts, as well as the talent of individuals in all rungs, often led to innovative intervention and strengthening techniques, which can be applied for the restoration of dry-stone monuments in general. Many of these techniques, and various scientific benefits derived as side-results from the restoration projects, are presented in this article synoptically. Despite the concise way of the subject presentation, and the diversity of nature of the aforementioned techniques, it is quite clear that all these techniques are firmly based on two common characteristics of the restoration projects: the multi-disciplinary approach of every intervention, and the respect and preservation of the original structural system of the monuments.