State Of Preservation Research Articles

3D SCANNING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE: THE CASE OF AMRIT (SYRIA) 3D

Abstract. The archaeological area of Amrit (350 ha) is located on the Syrian coastal region of Tartus and is known since the 18th century CE, due to its imposing archaeological remains dated to the first millennium BCE and to the Roman period. It was listed in the UNESCO tentative list in 2005.Since 2022, the University of Firenze (SAGAS) in collaboration with the CNR-ISPC and the DGAM-Syria, conducts a project that aims towards the documentation, restoration, public display, and community involvement of the archaeological site of Amrit, after more than 10 years of conflict and a still ongoing economic and social instability.Aim of this paper is to present the first results of the 3D survey at the site carried out in September 2022. This survey, conducted by archaeologists, aimed at obtaining a detailed documentation of the monumental structures on the site, to assess their state of preservation as of 2022, and to record the decay process of previous restorations and facilitate the planning for the archaeological park. The rapidity of acquiring data and the precision of this technique is obviously of great advantage in difficult contexts such as is Syria, where power cuts are systematic and there is a need of acquiring as much as data as possible in a limited time. This specific activity aims also at showing that archaeologists can acquire technological skills and gather specific knowledge to obtain the best possible results when dealing with damage assessment of heritage during and after a conflict.

Conservation Courses Effects on Architecture Students’ Conservation Awareness: Analyses of Isparta and Burdur Houses

As in every part of Anatolia, the building typology is diversified in the Western Mediterranean Region. Isparta and Burdur houses located in this region, as in other Anatolian houses, the construction technique is observed with masonry stone walls on the ground floors and wooden structures plastered with gypsum plaster on the upper floors. Within the scope of this study, a database was created by examining the conservation status of 22 registered buildings in Burdur and Isparta provinces was restored. The study aims to learn the effects of historical residences on architecture students, to reveal the extent to which the state of preservation is assimilated and their approach to conservation. The subjective evaluations of architectural students of both Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University and Süleyman Demirel University regarding the preservation status of these buildings were examined. The evaluation form was filled in by the students who took and did not take the conservation courses. The correct answers of the students were grouped under the headings of separate criteria for each structure and analyzed using SPSS software. As a result of the study, it has emerged that a different evaluation should be made with standard deviation and quarters analysis using SPSS software. The differences in the results of the students who took and did not take the conservation course were presented more clearly with statistical analyses.

BSDD TO DOCUMENT STATE OF PRESERVATION OF ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE IN OPEN-HBIM SYSTEMS

Abstract. This research explores the possibility of structuring an OpenBIM process useful to work in the BIM ecosystem also for cultural heritage and historical architecture, independent of any specific software and overcoming the difficulties arising from the unique characteristics of these artefacts. The main focus of this work is the use of bSDD as a methodology to add specific information on state of preservation of surfaces and materials directly to BIM models, making it shareable and readable in any IFC viewer.The complexity of historical architecture and the importance of information about its conservation status, puts higher requirements on the level of development of (H)BIM models and its possibility to realize a better interoperability among multiple disciplines and different software solution.To date, there is still no single, recognised, and accepted solution that allows information on the state of preservation of historical artefacts to be documented in BIM according to shared and open workflows. In this respect, the research proposes an ordered organisation - with the use of bSDD - of all decay information present in thesauri, vocabularies, ontologies and official regulations, making it possible to use it according to a predefined process.The testing operation used as a case study Villa Matarazzo, a historic house located in Ercolano (Naples, Italy).

A RAPID PIPELINE FOR PERIODIC INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ARCHITECTURAL SURFACES

Abstract. The contribution fits into the framework of Digital Heritage, within the diagnostic process, leading up to restoration. Control and monitoring of architectural heritage are still open topics, with respect to requirements as simplicity, non-invasiveness and cost-effectiveness of both procedures and equipment. A peculiar gap concerns the accessibility to the artefact, which could be compromised by bad state of preservation, poor hygienic/sanitary conditions, or unsafe post-emergency circumstances, as well as by considerable extent, complex morphology, or incidental access conditions, due to the simultaneous presence of multiple working groups.In recent years, literature is moving towards an optimization of the investigation phases, by implementing digital technologies for the acquisition, elaboration and interpretation of 2D/3D data, to assess the state of conservation of a building or its main components. Besides, digital image processing and artificial intelligence are progressively rationalizing the analysis of the collected data. Furthermore, easy common devices, like spherical cameras or smartphones, have been introduced for the virtual reconstruction and representation of architectural environments, with the purpose of assessing their morphology and conditions. However, there is still an absence of harmonized standard procedures.To address these issues, the paper proposes a rapid pipeline, involving easy-to-use devices and expeditious procedures, to remotely assess, quantify, and monitor the extension of surface decay of historical buildings. A workflow based on the use of 360° images and videogrammetry has been defined and tested on a representative case study, both for its cultural value and for its limited accessibility, demonstrating a great suitability to the topic.

GEOMATIC TECHNOLOGIES TO VALORIZE HISTORICAL WATERMILLS

Abstract. The watermills, due to their technological innovation, represent a clear example of historical industrial heritage. A census campaign of water-powered grain mills was conducted in the Marche region (Italy). Almost 1,000 of them were counted, distributed throughout the regional territory in several water catchment areas. After a long multidisciplinary activity conducted among the Universities of Marche region, a geodatabase was implemented by GIS to map and register the historical watermills. The geodatabase is used to compose and manage an overall, uniform, homogeneous and expeditious cataloguing of the historical watermills distributed throughout the Marche region. In the second step, to get precise geospatial information, to obtain dimensional data, achieving metric and georeferenced 3D models, and to verify the real condition and state of preservation of them, 3D survey campaigns were conducted. In this phase, for some selected watermills the survey was carried out using geomatic sensors, such as photogrammetry and 3D LiDAR scanner. The final step of this research was to connect the 3D digital models from geomatics surveys in the GIS geodatabase, to enrich the collected historical documentation of the watermills, to improve their knowledge and valorization.

BRANCACCI CHAPEL IN FLORENCE: SURVEYING AND REAL-TIME 3D SIMULATION FOR CONSERVATION AND COMMUNICATION PURPOSES

Abstract. In 2020 to diagnose and monitor the condition of the frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel in Florence, the CNR initiated an important diagnostic and three-dimensional survey of the monument. These restoration preparatory activities have provided the opportunity and data for the creation of a real-time 3D simulation model that will not only help conservators and art historians better understand and manage the artwork, but will also enable the planning of improvement measures and the communication of the fresco cycle and its state of preservation to the public via the Brancacci POV application. Brancacci POV is a hybrid multi-user experience that allows a group of tourists to visit the chapel under the guidance of an expert, either on-site or off-site. The Web3D application is based on ATON, a framework developed by CNR ISPC that integrates 3D simulation of the monument and the discovery of invisible layers (e.g., ultraviolet data) processed and optimised for real-time rendering. The article illustrates all the steps performed from the 3D survey to the Web3D implementation to obtain the 3D simulation and achieve the expected interactive result. In particular, we focus on the optimization workflow of the reality-based model developed for this case study and on the processing of high-resolution maps (visible and invisible layers) for real-time web interaction.

THE STONE ROOF OF THE THOLOS OF ATHENA PRONAIA IN DELPHI: STRUCTURAL HYPOTHESES STARTING FROM FRAGMENTS OF MARBLE TILES

Abstract. This contribution is the first step of a multi-disciplinary research project, aimed at studying the roof of the tholos of Athena Pronaia in Delphi, dating back to the first decades of the 4th century BC. The starting point of this research is the fascination exerted by the tectonic quality of the temple, comprising some complex fragments of marble tiles belonging to the roof of the tholos. Despite the number of studies on this sanctuary, the poor state of preservation and lack of original material did not allow archaeologists to perform concluding research on its original configuration, in particular with reference to the reconstruction of the roof. Aware of the complexity of this topic, this contribution aims at exploring two possibilities, namely, on the one hand, that the fragments of tiles constitute elements supported by a wooden structure, and on the other hand, that they are structural elements of a stone system subjected to compressive stresses. Our contribution intends to serve as food for thought on the need for archaeological studies to be accompanied not only by advanced surveys in the field, aimed at the precise definition of the geometry of the finds, but also by architectural and structural investigations which make it possible to verify the feasibility of the hypothetical reconstructions of the architectural elements aware of the construction techniques used in the past.

Analytical methods for evaluating the state of preservation of a historical manuscript dating back to the 15th century AD in Al-Azhar Library – Egypt

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the state of preservation of one of the most famous manuscripts dated back to the 15th century using some analytical techniques to identify the manuscript components, explain its deterioration mechanisms and produce some solutions for conservation processes in future studies. Design/methodology/approach The analytical techniques used were visual assessment, digital microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) with EDX, pH measurement, attenuated total reflection – Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR/FTIR) and cellulose crystallinity. Findings Stains, missed parts and scratching were the most common aspects of deterioration. Some insects were observed by digital microscope. The SEM showed that linen fibers and goat skin were used to manufacture paper sheets and leather binding. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis proved that niobium and tantalum were added during the manufacture of paper sheets. Carbon black ink was the main writing material. The other pigments used were cinnabar in red ink, gold color from brass and blue color from lapis lazuli. FTIR analysis proved that some chemical changes were noticed. Low crystallinity of the historical paper was obtained. There was a reduction in the pH value of the historical bookbinding. Originality/value The importance of the analytical techniques used to detect the main components, forms and mechanism of deterioration of the studied manuscript. The elements of niobium and tantalum were added to paper sheets, which protected them from deterioration. The insects such as house flies and Sitophilus granarius were found in the manuscripts.

R.A.O. Project Recovery: Methods and Approaches for the Recovery of a Photographic Archive for the Creation of a Photogrammetric Survey of a Site Unreachable over Time

The goal of this research is to make photogrammetric surveys of the walls of Cortona from 2012 accessible using new methodologies for recovering photographic material. This will allow a team of archaeologists to carry out a virtual reconnaissance of the surveyed stretch of wall as well as provide the basis for future investigations into any potential changes that may have occurred in the wall since 2012. Photogrammetry is a widely used technique in archaeology that can help researchers accurately measure, reconstruct, and analyze different architectural components of the wall. By using state-of-the-art photogrammetric techniques, including advanced computer vision algorithms, our team aims to produce high-quality 3D models and accurate measurements of different parts of the wall. The results of this research project will enable archaeologists to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the layout of the fortifications and the role of the Cortonese walls in the historical context of the area. Additionally, the research project will provide a detailed documentation of the wall that will be useful for both archaeological researchers and cultural heritage organizations. Finally, the research project will also provide the basis for future investigations into potential changes that may have occurred in the wall since 2012, which will be important for monitoring conservation and restoration efforts and providing an up-to-date record of the wall’s state of preservation.

Rzeszow Castle: History and Contemporaneity - proposal for a new interior adaptation

Abstract This paper discusses the adaptation of Rzeszow Castle in Rzeszow, Poland (also called the Castle of the House of Lubomirski in Rzeszow), which is a key building on the Subcarpathia’s map of monuments. The objective of the project was to identify the latest trends in conservation art, and, subsequently, to create a proposal for a contemporary interior arrangement for the castle and its site development. The aforementioned design work focused on creating new, innovative concepts for the revalorization of historical buildings, oriented towards development and modernity. The work presents bold, novel – and most importantly – workable solutions for a new functional programme for Rzeszow Castle. The main premise of the future modification of the monument was a complete change of use of the building: from administrative and office space (the current court) to a cultural facility with complementary functions. The proposals presented in the paper are aligned with new principles of cultural environment preservation, and primarily emphasize ideas that facilitate the development of culture and art, social engagement, and support new initiatives. The aforementioned new functional programme complements cultural facilities and events offered by the city of Rzeszow - the capital of the Subcarpathia Voivodeship (one of Poland's sixteen provinces). The article is based on thorough scientific and historical research. The characteristics of the building are presented, with focus on its architectural value, and the current state of preservation of the monument is described. The analysis of the functional-utility program became the basis for creating a contemporary and modern interior design. The final version of the interior plan was developed based on field studies and source research.

Revised lithostratigraphic classification of the Cambrian Kunzam La Formation and its biostratigraphic correlations from Zanskar to Spiti, Tethyan Himalaya

In the northwest Himalayas, the Cambrian sequences forming part of the Tethyan Himalayan Zone are well preserved in the Zanskar and Spiti regions. In the present work, we critically examine the geologic, stratigraphic and biostratigraphic aspects of the Cambrian Kunzam La Formation exposed in the Zanskar (i.e., in the Niri-Tsarap Chu and Kurgiakh valleys) and Spiti regions (i.e., in Chandra, Parahio, Pin and Sumna valleys sections). Although the Kunzam La Formation is extensively developed, none of the sections from Zanskar to the Spiti regions preserves its complete succession. The present work reveals the presence of a fault in each studied section, which has eliminated different stratigraphic portions of the Kunzam La Formation. Therefore, based on overall lithologic characteristics, biostratigraphic parameters and local preservation state, this formation is re-classified into three formal members: the Chandra, Parahio and Purni. We also present lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic correlations of the Kunzam La Formation from the Zanskar to Spiti regions, which validate our lithostratigraphic division.

Book Monuments in the National Museum of the Republic of Tyva

One of the urgent problems of domestic librarianship is highlighted, namely, the composition and content of book monuments stored in regional centers. These include the Aldan-Maadyr National Museum of the Republic of Tyva, one of the subjects of the Siberian Federal District of the Russian Federation. In 2011 the rare book sector was created in the museum, which concentrates the book monuments. The purpose of the article is to analyze printed publications published in the Tuvan People’s Republic, and now are the part of the book monuments of the National Museum of the Republic. It describes their composition, content and state of preservation. Newspapers, magazines, books, brochures and other types of printed products issued in the Tuvan People’s Republic give an idea of the state of the book culture of the country existed for twenty-three years: from 1921 to 1944. It shows the origin of printing and its development and graphic basis of local book publishing, its thematic repertoire and other aspects. The article gives recommendations on treatment of printed publications of the Tuvan People’s Republic, which can help to expand the directions and topics of museum information, educational, educational activities intended for the general public.

Sutherland, Kathryn. Why Modern Manuscripts Matter

Why Modern Manuscripts Matter makes a strong case for the preservation of manuscripts and authorial ephemera, not just for the reasons that we already know, but for future uses that we have not yet even begun to imagine. As Sutherland carefully illustrates, the history of manuscript scholarship already includes many surprising turns and revaluations of materials that were previously thought unimportant. The Introduction and Chapter 1 provide a clearly written, useful overview of the past and current state of modern manuscript studies and preservation for readers seeking background knowledge on this field. Chapter 2 discusses Samuel Johnson’s prescient understanding of the commercial potential of the writing life. Johnson’s constructed authorial persona played into the public’s fascination with celebrity authors and increased the importance of material objects owned or made by them. Collectors began to value written drafts as ‘an expression of a self’ (p. 83). Chapter 3 provides an overview of how the two-hundred-year-old mania for collecting celebrity autographs and other ephemera, including human hair and jewellery, often divorces these materials so completely from their original contexts that they lose much of their significance. However, Sutherland argues that these items – even very mundane artifacts such as paper pins and clips – can regain meaning when properly catalogued and displayed, and therefore should not be overlooked by professional archivists. Chapter 4 explores what Frances Burney’s manuscript archive reveals about her writing practices, particularly her tendency to regard previously published texts as endless works in progress. In Chapter 5, Sutherland argues that Sir Walter Scott’s manuscripts trouble our assumptions about manuscript authenticity and authority. Sutherland describes Scott’s archive as evidence of a highly collaborative and staged process in which no single draft of a work can stand as most authoritative. Chapter 6 suggests that Jane Austen’s manuscripts demonstrate stronger links to Romantic ideals about fragmentary writing than has usually been assumed and that this underlying experimental feature of her work, in turn, influenced the Modernists. In these case studies of Burney, Scott and Austen, Sutherland convincingly shows that examining their manuscript archives provides us with a stronger understanding of their writing habits and innovations.

Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Framework for Evaluating Historic Sites in Huai’an Ancient Cities

The preservation and restoration of historic sites is of great significance to the continuation of a city’s historical heritage and high-quality development. However, the conservation management of historic sites is still in the stage of exploration and improvement. The current states of development and preservation have been facing many problems, such as fragmented and poor states of preservation. It is crucial to retain and revitalize the authenticity of historic sites. A multi-criteria decision-making approach to an innovative evaluation model is proposed. Based on the cultural, social, and economic characteristics of the historical sites, an evaluation index system is constructed and weighted to judge its importance. The results suggest that the statuses of the historic relics at the facet layer have the most significant effect on the preservation of the authenticity of historic sites. The completeness of historic relics ranks first in weight among the evaluation indexes, which suggests that emphasis should be not only on their protection, but also on the preservation of their overall styles. The results will enable urban decision makers to effectively set the priorities of preservation and restoration by regions and stages. Huai’an, a major ancient city along the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal in China, was taken as an empirical case study to validate the feasibility of the evaluation index system and its ability to provide references for the preservation and restoration of historic sites.

Military archaeology and LIDAR data visualizations: a non-invasive approach to detect historical remains

The present paper belongs to a line of research known as aerial archaeology and compares some specific visualizations of LIDAR data (hill-shading, openness, and sky view factor) to understand which of them can provide the best approach to suitably identify and unveil some archaeological permanences as function of different boundary conditions. In the present case, such permanences belong to the very special material heritage consisting of the "physical traces" of the Great War, although latent, they persist in the present landscapes at different states of preservation and visibility, waiting to be unearthed to express their cultural potential. They represent an indispensable palimpsest of "minor signs" such as, for example, fragments of entrenchments, gun emplacements, shelters, bomb craters, and temporary shelters. Such elements made the war machine work at that time while, nowadays, if properly recognized and enhanced, could foster the historical and cultural revitalization of the territories where they are placed.

THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGES ON THE CONDITION AND REPRODUCTIVE PROCESSES OF PINE OF THE COMMON FINNISH ORIGIN IN THE CONDITIONS OF VINNYTSIA REGION

According to research results, it was established that all clones were characterized by intensive formation of microstrobils and pollination. Tree analysis showed that clones of Finnish origin entered the pollen maturation phase earlier compared to local origin. Externally, the anthers of the local population were much larger. The analysis of photographs showed that the clones were characterized by different intensity of pollen grain germination and also had a different proportion of pollen grains with abnormalities. A general review of the images revealed that most of the clones of Finnish origin and the local population are characterized by fairly high viability. It was determined that the average number of germinated pollen grains for the studied clones was 89, of which about half (44) had anomalies. According to the obtained research results, we determined that the largest number of germinated grains is 150 pcs. was noted in clone No. 13 (E 618). The minimum number was recorded in clone No. 21 (E1881) – 13 pcs. Accordingly, the same clones recorded the maximum and minimum number of ungerminated pollen grains. In particular, clone No. 10 had 218 units, and clone No. 21 had 223 units. The most pollen grains with anomalies were found in clone No. 10 – 95 pcs. It was found that the highest percentage of pollen without germination was characteristic of clone No. 21 and was about 94.2%. At the same time, the lowest share of such pollen was recorded in clone No. 13 – 40.5%. As a result of regular records of the preservation of clones on the plantation, a high level of preservation was noted, which is 94.8%. Out of the initial number of 413 clones, 22 died. The total loss of clones in the section of representative offices was 1-4 trees. The highest dropout was characteristic of clones: No. E2312 (33.3%), E2257 (20.0%) K801 (20.0%). According to the correlation analysis, a weak correlation was found between preservation and state of clones and preservation and fruiting (r = - 0.21 and 0.19, respectively). The analysis of correlation dependences indicates that the deterioration of the condition of clones is not the main reason for their death. It was established that the average intensity of the formation of cones during the last years fluctuated within the range of 1.3-2.0 points. The best level of seed bearing was noted in 2015 and 2018. Along with the local control, the formation of cones was more intense in clones E 80 and E 709 and averaged more than 2.0 points. As a result of conducting field research, it was determined that the average condition of clones has slightly deteriorated in recent years. In particular, there is an increase in the average status category from 1.3 to 1.7. The best condition, along with local control, is characterized by clones E 80 and E 2125 (condition category 1,2). Clones E 1591, E 2257, K 684, K 801, K 818 are in much worse condition.

Forest management to Achieve Sustainable Forestry Policy in Indonesia

Due to the uncertainty of forest areas in Indonesia, it often creates conflicts with various parties with an interest in forest areas, such as communities, institutions that have forestry business permits, and the government. Changes in forest area occur from time to time due to forest conversion for non-forestry sector development, encroachment, and forest fire. The government has issued Government Regulation Number 23 of 2021 about forest administration in relation to this issue. However, the law has not been effective in safeguarding forests from damage caused by humans, fires, natural disasters, pests, and diseases, nor has it preserved and protected state, community, and individual rights to wooded property. The method utilized in this study is empirical legal research employing sociological, conceptual, and statutory approaches. The specific objective of this research is to identify an ideal concept for forest utilization that is pro-environment, pro-development, and people-centered so that sustainable development-supporting forestry policies can be considered. The findings of the study reveal that sustainable forest management is largely dependent on the diversity and quality of enabling policies, as well as the legal and institutional conditions that serve as the basis for good forest governance. Forest management relies heavily on the collaboration between the government, the commercial sector, and the community.

Landscape Value in the Spanish Costa del Sol’s Real Estate Market: The Case of Marbella

Housing prices are influenced by extrinsic and intrinsic factors. This study aims to highlight the economic impact of the perceived landscape on single-family houses prices in a Spanish Mediterranean urban area (Marbella). Considering the landscape an important added value in real estate markets, this study also explores the landscape elements that contribute the most to the value of housing. A particularly positive influence of mixed views (urban elements and Mediterranean scrub) and sea views is detected in the analysis. Sea views are highly requested in the local housing market, but due to the graded topographical layout of Marbella, it is not very difficult to have sea views for houses. The low importance of views on natural land areas is worth noting when one of the attractions of this municipality is that of a highly valued Mediterranean natural environment. Views on the old town centre are somewhere in between: although the old town centre is highly regarded, with a generally good state of preservation, the sampled properties have poorer quality perspectives, with reduced visual basins and views centred on the foreground, usually the houses opposite.

A preliminary report on non-insect arthropods (Arachnida, Diplopoda) at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park

A preliminary report on non-insect arthropods (Arachnida, Diplopoda) at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park

Temporal scales, sampling designs and age distributions in marine conservation palaeobiology

Abstract Conservation palaeobiology informs conservation and restoration of ecosystems by using the fossil record to discriminate between baseline and novel states and to assess ecosystem response to perturbations. Variability in the time-scale of palaeobiological data can generate patterns that either exaggerate or mute the magnitude of biotic changes. We identify two approaches that remedy the challenges associated with the mixing of baseline and post-impact states and with the transformation of the stratigraphic depth to time. First, combining surface death assemblages with both (1) fossil assemblages preserved in the subsurface historical layers and (2) living assemblages can better resolve the nature of ecosystem shifts than within-core surveys or live–dead analyses alone. Second, post-mortem age distributions of skeletal particles and their preservation states are not only informative about stratigraphic resolution and time averaging of death assemblages but also about the timing of changes in abundance of skeletal producers. High abundance of the youngest age cohorts in surface death assemblages is a null expectation of disintegration and burial dynamic. When this dynamic is accounted for, age distributions of benthic invertebrates from Holocene sediments often reveal high volatility, prolonged turn-offs in production or pervasive regime shifts that are obscured in the raw stratigraphic record.