Historical Restoration Research Articles

The Cassaïre wetland restoration project: defining the reference ecosystem

Defining a reference ecosystem for ecological restoration project is an essential step. The reference can correspond to the historical ecosystem, can be defined to solve environmental issues or can correspond to a socioecosystem. For the restoration of the Cassaïre site in the Camargue delta in southern France, the reference ecosystems chosen are : Mediterranean temporary wetlands and Mediterranean meso-xeric grasslands. The choice of these two reference ecosystems appears logical considering their contribution to regional biodiversity. Temporary wetlands and meso-xeric grasslands are rare, adapted to the Mediterranean climate, seriously endangered and host a high species richness. They are potentially achievable restoration targets because patches of these ecosystems remain in the Camargue area and close to the Cassaïre site. Moreover, an ecological history approach reveals deep human imprints on ecosystems and ensures that historical restoration targets (the state prior to human impacts) cannot be reached, because they are associated with hydraulic functioning (flooding of the Rhône and Durance) that no longer exists. The restored site is planned to be suitable for livestock grazing, thus presenting a new agricultural opportunity, while simultaneously offering new services, such as hunting.

Biophysical Impacts of Historical Disturbances, Restoration Strategies, and Vegetation Types in a Peatland Ecosystem

AbstractRewetting of disturbed peatlands is an important restoration strategy for climate change mitigation. Previous work primarily focuses on the biogeochemical processes altered by rewetting and few studies have investigated the biophysical impacts, which can diminish or amplify biogeochemical effects beyond the ecosystem scale. We used a paired flux tower approach in a restored peatland to collect year‐round eddy covariance data to assess the biophysical impacts of disturbance and management practices. The first site was actively rewetted and is characterized by Sphagnum and white beak‐rush with patches of open water. The second site represents a disturbed ecosystem, which underwent natural regeneration and is dominated by scrub pine, Sphagnum, and low shrubs. We found that the actively restored site had higher net radiation compared to the second site due to more surface water ponding; however, the higher aerodynamic conductance at the passively restored site contributed to enhanced daytime turbulent fluxes, and hence, both sites had similar aerodynamic temperatures during the daytime. The actively restored site experienced warmer nighttime and seasonal aerodynamic temperature as much of the excess radiation during the day was stored in the water column and released at night. To achieve restoration goals, higher water tables are now maintained throughout large sections of the bog. The study implies that water table manipulation has the potential to minimize greenhouse gas emissions from the bog, thereby allowing the biophysical impacts of peatland restoration to enhance the biogeochemical benefits. Therefore, it is important to consider both biophysical and biogeochemical changes in peatland restoration management.

Book Review: From the mountains to the sea: The historic restoration of the Penobscot River

Book Review: From the mountains to the sea: The historic restoration of the Penobscot River

Consequences of above-ground invasion by non-native plants into restored vernal pools do not prompt same changes in below-ground processes.

Given the frequent overlap between biological plant invasion and ecological restoration efforts it is important to investigate their interactions to sustain desirable plant communities and modify long-term legacies both above- and below-ground. To address this relationship, we used natural reference, invaded and created vernal pools in the Central Valley of California to examine potential changes in direct and indirect plant effects on soils associated with biological invasion and active restoration ecosystem disturbances. Our results showed that through a shift in vegetation composition and changes in the plant community tissue chemistry, invasion by non-native plant species has the potential to transform plant inputs to soils in vernal pool systems. In particular, we found that while invasive plant litter decomposition was driven by seasonal and interannual variability, associated with changes in precipitation, the overall decomposition rates for invasive litter was drastically lower than native species. This shift has important implications for long-term alterations in plant-based inputs to soils in an amplifying feedback to nutrient cycling. Moreover, these results were independent of historic active restoration efforts. Despite the consistent shift in plant litter decomposition rates and community composition, we did not detect associated shifts in below-ground function associated with invasion by non-native plants. Instead, soil C:N ratios and microbial biomass did not differ between invaded and naturally occurring reference pools but were reduced in the manipulated created pools independent of invasion levels. Our results suggest that while there is an observed invasive amplifying feedback above-ground this trajectory is not represented below-ground, and restoration legacies dominated 10 years after practices were applied. Restoration practices that limit invasive plant feedbacks and account for soil legacy recovery, therefore offer the best solution for disturbed ephemeral ecosystems.

USING COLORS IN NAMES FOR INDICATION TOURISM TYPES

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to describe the types of tourism, to indicate which color names are used, to analyze the prospects of their development for the Lviv region, and justify the feasibility of introducing a new type of tourism for the Lviv region using the color names “red” and “black”, which are symbols of the OUNR and components of their revolutionary flag. Design/methodology/approach. The goals set in the study were solved using the following general scientific methods: – methods of synthesis and analysis (in the study of various types of tourism to denote which color names are used. This allowed to connect the types of tourism with the association of tourists with a particular event (red tourism), place of travel (green, white, blue tourism), the tourist's desire to get strong impressions or emotions (black tourism), a certain category of tourists (pink and grey tourism) or as a field of research aimed at protecting the tourist heritage from any forms of crime and danger (yellow tourism)); – methods of systematization, theoretical generalization, and abstraction (in formulating conclusions and generalizing the obtained scientific results). Based on the dialectical approach, the article comprehensively discloses the provisions on black, white, red, green, pink, grey, blue, and yellow types of tourism. This allowed expanding the understanding of how promising these types of tourism are for the Lviv region. Findings. The article describes the following types of tourism, to indicate which color names are used: black, white, red, green, pink, blue, and yellow tourism. The importance of using the phenomenon of color in tourism is substantiated, color transmits certain information that evokes different associations, memories, feelings, affects mood and emotions. This allows marketers to use the features of the color influence on the formation of a subconscious decision as a hidden factor for manipulating the actions of consumers. Prospects for the development of these tourism types for the Lviv region are analyzed. It is concluded that the most promising are green and black tourism, less – white and grey tourism, and pink, blue and red types of tourism are hopeless for the Lviv region. An important role in the life of the people of Galicia (in particular, Lviv region) is played by historical events of the twentieth century, historical and cultural heritage, national liberation struggle, the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists socio-political movement, as well as recognition of the importance of Stepan Bandera in defending the national idea and struggle for the independent Ukrainian state. That is why the author introduced into scientific circulation a new promising type of tourism for the Lviv region using the color names “red” and “black”, which are symbols of the OUNR and components of their revolutionary flag. Practical implications. Increased interest in historical events, territory, and persons associated with the OUN can be used to organize a new niche of red-black tourism in Lviv while applying the concept of color names to better identify the essence of tourism, link to the historical figure, and specific territory, which will increase its attractiveness and form a certain image concerning these historical events, preservation and restoration of objects related to the activities of the OUN, and indirectly – to stimulate the socio-economic development of the territory. Originality/value. In the article, the author introduced into scientific circulation a new type of tourism for the Lviv region – “red-black tourism” that will include trips to places where Stepan Bandera lived, worked, and as well as visits to other territories and sites that played an important role in the national liberation struggle of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. With the right organization, red-black tourism can have high prospects for development and become a business card of the Lviv region.

The restoration of the Oratory of the Partal Palace in the Alhambra of Granada, Grand Prix Europa Nostra 2019

This research focuses on the latest restoration of the Oratory of the Partal Palace (2013–2017), a 14th-century palatine mosque in the Alhambra, one of the most important UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites of Spain. This restoration was awarded the Europa Nostra Grand Prix 2019, the most prestigious European heritage award, promoted by the European Commission. The restoration revealed original inscriptions, decorative elements and constructive solutions from the Nasrid period that had been unknown to date. The interpretation of these discoveries enabled a deeper understanding of Nasrid carpentry techniques as distinctive from their Christian-mudéjar counterparts. The dendrochronology tests of the original decorated timber framework covering the prayer space consistently dated its timber elements as having been cut during the autumn/winter of 1332–1333. This would prove that the Oratory had been conceived of and its construction initiated on a date earlier than its widely accepted attribution to Yusuf I (1333–1355), most likely during the rule of the earlier sultan Ismai’l I (1314–1325), who had already made several interventions in the Partal Palace. The improved legibility of the last two 1846 and 1930 historical restorations has enabled the interpretation of the Oratory of the Partal Palace as a compendium of Spanish heritage preservation approaches over the last 180 years.

Rediscovering Ancient Egypt: consideration of the legacy, ethics and aesthetics of previously restored Egyptian artefacts

National Museums Scotland’s (NMS) new permanent Ancient Egypt gallery project at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh gave an opportunity for current conservators and curators to collaboratively assess and evaluate historic conservation and restoration treatments. Restoration had been an integral element in transforming archaeological fragments from Egypt into museum display objects in the UK, and restoration often went beyond the purposes of stabilisation and preservation to the point of obscuring or distorting original features. The evaluation of these earlier restorations informed treatment decisions and became one of the major challenges for conservators. Common overarching questions were applied in deciding the appropriate approach balanced against the principles of minimum intervention set out in NMS’s conservation policy and the time and resource limitations of a capital project. The process provided an important opportunity to review the collections’ history and to reassess the museum’s conservation and curatorial aims and values. This article examines some of the issues and challenges with dealing with previously restored ancient Egyptian collections through selected case studies from the project, involving gilded coffins, stone statuary, and smaller inlaid wood and faience items.

Study on the Workshop Design Strategies of South China Educational History Research Base (Pingshi)

Based on the policies and rural revitalization strategies launched by government, this paper studied the relevant cultural background of Lechang town of Shaoguan area from three aspects of history, folk custom and food, taking the South China Educational History Research Base (Pingshi) as an example. On account of these historical and cultural information, it provides a basis for the spatial organization in workshop mode and the functional space design in historical scene restoration. And further study the actualities and problems, which the workshop mode faced in how to combine the learning theme, architectural design and other aspects with history, regional culture, education. Finally, it summarizes the space design strategies of workshop mode of Pingshi Old Street through practical experience, which provides reference for the renovation design of research and study base under the educational history background.

Using Smart Technology in Conservation of The Ancient Egyptian Monuments from Environmental Impact and Anthropic Factors

The word realm refers to culture and identity. Which must be protected, but monuments, in particular, are subject to numerous types of deterioration. Traditional restoration techniques, on the other hand, do not show significant results or continue for long periods of time. The lack of smart approaches in managing projects in Egypt's valuable historical realm, especially the restoration of the Saqqara pyramids and the Karnak temple, is a liability issue. Meanwhile according to the literature review, nanomaterials and smart systems can help to avoid deterioration and share efficiently in restoration applications. So, the paper aims to look for novel aspects to manage historical monument restoration projects. The paper is based on two methodologies: First is a measurable one that reflects the key technical aspects that can be used to restore Egyptian monuments efficiently. Second, an empirical deductive approach to ensure the effectiveness of modern technical materials and their neutral impact on the material's authenticity. Finally, the paper concludes that; nanomaterials have great benefits that can really help in solving many of the problems that current techniques face in terms of enhancing the protection and restoration of damaged stones. Smart systems also have a noticeable impact on the restoration process, as enhancing the quality of all phases of the process and assist in the improvement of monumental preservation performance. this result will help to establish approaches to manage the restoration of the historical realm.

From survey to semantic representation for Cultural Heritage: the 3D modeling of recurring architectural elements

The digitization of Cultural Heritage paves the way for new approaches to surveying and restitution of historical sites. With a view to the management of integrated programs of documentation and conservation, the research is now focusing on the creation of information systems where to link the digital representation of a building to semantic knowledge. With reference to the emblematic case study of the Calci Charterhouse, also known as Pisa Charterhouse, this contribution illustrates an approach to be followed in the transition from 3D survey information, derived from laser scanner and photogrammetric techniques, to the creation of semantically enriched 3D models. The proposed approach is based on the recognition -segmentation and classification- of elements on the original raw point cloud, and on the manual mapping of NURBS elements on it. For this shape recognition process, reference to architectural treatises and vocabularies of classical architecture is a key step. The created building components are finally imported in a H-BIM environment, where they are enriched with semantic information related to historical knowledge, documentary sources and restoration activities.

한국의 역사 갈등과 과거사 정리: 묵은 갈등의 소환인가 새 정체성 형성의 진통인가

한국의 역사 갈등과 과거사 정리: 묵은 갈등의 소환인가 새 정체성 형성의 진통인가

Integration of Energy-Efficient Ventilation Systems in Historic Buildings—Review and Proposal of a Systematic Intervention Approach

Historic building restoration and renovation requires sensitivity to the cultural heritage, historic value, and sustainability (i.e., building physics, energy efficiency, and comfort) goals of the project. Energy-efficient ventilation such as demand-controlled ventilation and heat recovery ventilation can contribute to the aforementioned goals, if ventilation concepts and airflow distribution are planned and realized in a minimally invasive way. Compared to new buildings, the building physics of historic buildings are more complicated in terms of hygrothermal performance. In particular, if internal insulation is applied, dehumidification is needed for robust and risk-free future use, while maintaining the building’s cultural value. As each ventilation system has to be chosen and adapted individually to the specific building, the selection of the appropriate system type is not an easy task. For this reason, there is a need for a scientifically valid, systematic approach to pair appropriate ventilation system and airflow distribution solutions with historical buildings. This paper provides an overview of the interrelationships between heritage conservation and the need for ventilation in energy-efficient buildings, regarding building physics and indoor environmental quality. Furthermore, a systematic approach based on assessment criteria in terms of heritage significance of the building, building physics (hygrothermal performance), and building services (energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and comfort rating) according to the standard EN 16883:2017 are applied.

Fragments and fragmentary vision in nineteenth-century architectural photographs

The frequent absence of views of buildings as unified, whole objects in nineteenth-century French architectural photography is striking, especially in publications for a professional audience. Instead, photographic views of contemporary architecture often focused upon two fragmentary forms: the ornamental detail (commonly represented through the intermediary of a plaster cast) and the spatial view, depicting an isolated “crop” extracted from a building. The former continues an archaeological tradition, linking historic restoration and historicist production through an indexical chain from cast to photograph. Images such as those in Édouard Baldus’s Palais du Louvre (1869–75), Charles Garnier’s Le Nouvel Opéra de Paris (1875–81), and Anatole de Baudot’s Sculpture française (1884) freeze the subjective labor involved in ornamental design, disseminating it alternately for commercial reproduction or as motifs to inspire a living decorative tradition. Around 1870 another form of photographic fragmentation took hold, this time willfully dissolving the unity of the architectural object to focus upon moments of heightened visual interest. Motivated by a rising interest in spatiality, these “photo-scopic” images in the Gazette des architectes, Revue générale, Félix Narjoux’s Monuments élevés (1880–83), and other publications instantiate a dynamic conception of architecture, one now open to subjective and atmospheric perception. While the ornamental fragment was often intended for recombination in future eclectic tableaux, the later morceaux demonstrate a new, modern form of vision, one that would greatly influence architecture in the twentieth century.

Literature Review of Historical Building Restoration Technology

There are many directions and schools in the research on the restoration of historical buildings. The conflict of values between these directions and schools, the deviation of repair methods and practices, the insufficient performance of restoration technology in historical buildings, and the potential background factors affecting these conflicts and deviations are all factors to be considered. This study analyzes the relevant literature and puts forward the conceptual views, and finally produces a research plan for the extensive discussion and understanding of the literature. In addition, this study also hopes to reveal the substantive problems of unreasonable use or lack of use of historical buildings, demolition of old buildings to build new ones, and disconnection of theory and technology. And find a practical building repair technology

Innovative Methods for Restoration and Digital Landscape Design of Abandoned Railway Ruins

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the abandoned railway runis, intervene in the innovative methods of digital landscape desgin, and explore various possibilities of historical restoration of abandoned railway under the background of digital acquisition, protection, restoration and dissemination through four stages. This paper analyzes the fusion path between the historical restoration of rail way site and the digital landscape design, which provides a reference for the construction of the digital protection system of railway industrial historical and cultural heritage.

Art, Religious Memory, and Mormon Polygamy

What happens when part of the religious history a person believes in turns out to be incorrect? A dissonance is created that must be addressed through new interpretations of past, present, and possibly the future. This article explores early indicators of a reinvented "chain of memory" unfolding in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—a faith that is itself grounded in a concept of historical restoration—due to a new public understanding of its history of polygamy. Specifically, it considers the example of contemporary visual art that interrogates and rearticulates memories of historical Mormon polygamy as one link in this new chain.

First evidence of Opuntia Ficus-Indica leaves used in ancient surface finishing treatments of stone architecture in Salento (Apulia, Italy)

Abstract The application of hydrophobic coatings on the Lecce stone is a widespread practice today to preserve stone monuments from decay. The practice of covering the stone facades of the buildings was also used in the past in Salento (Apulia, Italy): in fact, ancient sources report that natural waterproofing agents were used for esthetic, protective, hygienic and conservative purposes. The materials and methods of preparation of these finishes became often secret of the workshop and were not handed down, and when known, they may have undergone changes over time. The identification of the materials and methodologies used on historical buildings for their protection, plays a major role to establish correct protocols for their restoration. For this purpose, selected religious and civil buildings (based on requirements, such as historical reasons, conservation status, restoration interventions and presence of visible or documented surface treatments), made of Lecce stone and located in the territory of the Salento, were studied and the presence of surface treatments was investigated. Samples were analyzed by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis (Py-GC/MS) with and without thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation. The results of the analyses showed that these buildings have been protected with different natural products. This paper, indeed, gives evidences of the presence of surface treatments, i.e. identifies the ancient finishing techniques through diagnostic analyses. Furthermore, for the first time, the identification of chemical biomarkers of prickly pear leaves confirms the use of Opuntia Ficus-Indica in finishing treatments of Lecce stone.

Twórczość plastyczna Jadwigi Simon-Pietkiewicz w obozie koncentracyjnym w Ravensbruck. Personalizm somatyczny

In her article, Barbara Czarnecka analyses Jadwiga Simon-Pietkiewicz’s artwork at the concentration camp in Ravensbruck through the prism of somatic personalism. The contemporary discussion on historical matters in the public space is far-reaching and multi-threaded; it is co-created – according to the researcher – by topics not only strictly museum-related, but also those related to unconventional memorial sites, or even memorial (non-)sites in public space, historical tourism and historical restoration movements, historical performance, the role and potential of oral history, contemporary archival work and social archives, visualizations of history and its presence in the media, not only in historical film and radio, but also, for example, comics, popular music, board games and computer games. Nevertheless, the optimistic aspect of most of these activities and perspectives is democratization assuming the inclusion of individual voices, faces and bodies, such as those recorded in the camp works of Simon-Pietkiewicz, in the macrohistory discourse.

Harvester ant seed removal in an invaded sagebrush ecosystem: Implications for restoration.

A better understanding of seed movement in plant community dynamics is needed, especially in light of disturbance‐driven changes and investments into restoring degraded plant communities. A primary agent of change within the sagebrush‐steppe is wildfire and invasion by non‐native forbs and grasses, primarily cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Our objectives were to quantify seed removal and evaluate ecological factors influencing seed removal within degraded sagebrush‐steppe by granivorous Owyhee harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex salinus Olsen). In 2014, we sampled 76 harvester ant nests across 11 plots spanning a gradient of cheatgrass invasion (40%–91% cover) in southwestern Idaho, United States. We presented seeds from four plant species commonly used in postfire restoration at 1.5 and 3.0 m from each nest to quantify seed removal. We evaluated seed selection for presented species, monthly removal, and whether biotic and abiotic factors (e.g., distance to nearest nest, temperature) influenced seed removal. Our top model indicated seed removal was positively correlated with nest height, an indicator of colony size. Distance to seeds and cheatgrass canopy cover reduced seed removal, likely due to increased search and handling time. Harvester ants were selective, removing Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides) more than any other species presented. We suspect this was due to ease of seed handling and low weight variability. Nest density influenced monthly seed removal, as we estimated monthly removal of 1,890 seeds for 0.25 ha plots with 1 nest and 29,850 seeds for plots with 15 nests. Applying monthly seed removal to historical restoration treatments across the western United States showed harvester ants can greatly reduce seed availability at degraded sagebrush sites; for instance, fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) seeds could be removed in <2 months. Collectively, these results shed light on seed removal by harvester ants and emphasize their potential influence on postfire restoration within invaded sagebrush communities.

Recommendations For Restoration Of Historical Transparent Coatings In Pushkin Museum

Due to the intensification of historical buildings restoration works that are cultural monuments and related to architectural monuments, numerous questions arise about the possibility of increasing the efficiency of translucent structures, including their energy efficiency, using modern innovative technologies. The cost of competent reconstruction of windows and lanterns with the preservation of historical elements is much higher than the cost of standard modern structures, as a result of which there are numerous examples of barbaric illegal replacement of historical windows with modern ones. This not only spoils the appearance of buildings, but also contradicts federal laws (with all the ensuing consequences). Earlier, NIISF RAASN carried out multifactorial field studies of historical translucent coverings of a cultural monument of federal significance – the main building of the Pushkin Museum, on the basis of which their inconsistency with modern requirements for such structures was established. According to the technical assignment and the project for the reconstruction of the building, 13 options were proposed for the possible restoration of these coatings. To assess the proposed options, a comprehensive computer simulation and corresponding calculations were carried out in accordance with the certified software package “WINDOW TECT”. On the basis of the conducted examinations and computer calculations, optimal solutions were proposed for the restoration of historical translucent coatings of the main building of the Pushkin Museum, providing for the preservation of the original elements of metal structures and ensuring an increase in the thermal characteristics of the lantern and side lamp.