Journal of Cultural Heritage最新文献

The traditional mounting process involves a critical and time-consuming board-restraint procedure. It is widely acknowledged in practice that the dimensional stability of a mounting improves with a prolonged restraint period on the drying board. Yet, the underlying reasons for the enhanced dimensional stability from long-term board-restraint are not well-understood. This study investigates the mechanisms at play through systematic experimentation. It was found that humidity cycling enhances the dimensional stability of the mounting by diminishing its hydroexpansivity and irreversible shrinkage. Specifically, humidity cycling induces fiber hornification, which reduces the hydroexpansivity of the mounting. Concurrently, it facilitates the redistribution of stresses and strains within the board-restrained mounting, mitigating internal stresses and the resulting irreversible shrinkage. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the board-restraint procedure and how it affects the dimensional stability of the mounting.

Alum-tawed skin has been widely used in the past for the production of bookbindings elements because of its physical–mechanical properties and production process, easier and faster than that required for leather. Nevertheless, unlike for other skin-based materials employed in books production, such as parchment and leather, for alum-tawed skin the manufacturing process appears to be less standardized and rather few data are available in the literature on its durability and sensitivity to deterioration.

In this work, a number of commercial samples of alum-tawed skin, from different manufactures and belonging to different animal species, were analysed by Light Transmission Analysis (LTA) to characterize their collagen hydrothermal stability, so as to gather useful information regarding their possible use for restoration works. The samples were then subjected to an artificial ageing process to assess their possible long term stability compared with that of some historical samples coming from 14^th, 15^th and 16^th century bindings.

The obtained results show that, as expected, the treatments the investigated alum-tawed skin samples undergo during the manufacture processes does not induce a level of stability of the collagen molecules higher than that of the vegetable and chrome tanning used for the leather treatment, although such treatment, in some cases, makes the alum-tawed skin slightly more stable than parchment. Moreover, accelerated ageing analysis showed that whatever the initial stability of the analysed samples, it decreases with ageing more rapidly and markedly than for parchment and leather, revealing a general lower durability of the alum-tawed skin to hydrothermal deterioration.

Cherished amber relics have undergone long-period burial environments carrying several ageing deterioration characteristics, such as crazing, discolouration, and decreased hardness, which makes amber artefacts fragile. Ageing is inevitable for amber exposed to air, emphasising the need for a suitable preservation environment based on the ageing mechanism. However, related research, specifically on the transformed compositions and structures of archaeological amber, has been limited due to complexities in deciphering the intricate components. In this research, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) were applied on geological and archaeological Baltic amber to find the ageing pathways. An untargeted metabolomics analysis developed for the linear modelling of molecular features data was utilised in combination with Py-GC/MS results, and statistically significant variations provided ten increased and ten decreased ageing markers. We propose an ageing mechanism for the succinite molecular structure, which involves oxidation of the polylabdanoid and hydrolysis of the esterification cross-link structure between succinic acid and labdanoid. Simultaneously, monoterpenes were released from the amber structure. Our untargeted Py-GC/MS metabolomics approach offers a groundbreaking and more systematic method for investigating the ageing mechanism of multi-component organic polymers in archaeological artefacts.

The Mont Saint-Michel abbey in Normandy, France, was an important pilgrimage site in Christianity, and its scriptorium produced numerous manuscripts between the end of the 10th and the middle of the 13th century. The present study investigates the practice of the Mont Saint-Michel scriptorium in the use of parchment to produce manuscripts in the 11th century, based on a corpus of 67 manuscripts produced between 980 and 1100. The combination of information gained from the codicological studies, proteomic analyses and thickness measurement of the parchments, revealed that copyists and/or artists deliberately select the type of skin depending on the content of the folio or the status of the manuscript. Thus, only sheep parchment is used for folios with text or only lightly illuminated manuscripts, while calf parchment is selectively used for the most valued part in the manuscript, such as full-page illuminations and often large ornate letters opening the manuscripts. For the most prestigious manuscripts, which concern four volumes in the corpus, calfskin is used in the entire manuscript, with the occasional addition in the Mont Saint Michel Sacramentary of goatskin, confirming the special status of these manuscripts for liturgical use. The demonstration of these practices constitutes for historians invaluable information on the parchment production at the time, as well as insight into the manuscript or folio significance.

The research is framed in the significant development of massive data capture techniques in the 21st century, with point clouds becoming essential in various fields. In the context of architectural heritage, this topographical information is particularly useful in identifying and analysing formal anomalies, among many other applications. The study focuses on systematizing the analysis of columns, vital structural elements with diverse formal definitions, especially in historical buildings. The research proposes a simple workflow based mainly on open-source software for the systematic formal study columns. The investigation explores two types of formal anomalies, namely buckling and bulging, testing different methodological approaches. The results offer insights into the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed methods, enabling detailed parameterization of the analysed anomalies. That information is crucial from the point of view of diagnosis and conservation.

Open-air marble relics in Beijing are experiencing degradation due to sugaring, dissolution and other illnesses. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a protective and reinforcing coating to the weathered surface. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) has significantly lower solubility and dissolution rate compared to calcite. Additionally, HAP has similar lattice parameters with calcite, suggesting that a cohesive layer of HAP can be formed over calcite. In fact, HAP exhibits a lattice mismatch of 5 % with calcite, which might potentially lead to stress if the layer exceeds a few nanometre in thickness. On the other hand, aluminum phosphates (ideally, B-AlPO₄) only exhibit a 1 % mismatch with calcite and have a solubility lower than that of calcite. In this study, in order to improve the property of HAP in marble conservation, sol–gel method was employed to synthesize nano AlPO₄, which were then incorporated into the phosphate solution to produce protective coating on the stone surface. The coatingʼs morphology and the structure were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high capacity 3D X-ray microscopy (XRM), optical microscope, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Moreover, the color, the contact angle, the three-point bending strength measurements, as well as the simulated acid rain test and freeze–thaw treatment were performed to assess the chromatic aberration, hydrophilicity, reliability, and durability of the coating. Results indicated that the nano AlPO₄, with its matched lattice parameters and nucleation site provision, facilitated the formation a coherent HAP layer of crystal flakes. Subsequently, the anti‑corrosion property, freeze-thaw resistance and consolidation property of the coating were improved, demonstrating the potential application the hybrid of HAP with nano AlPO₄ in the preservation of marble.

A large number of exquisite sandstone grottoes remaining along the Silk Road in Northwest China suffer from severe salt damage due to the vulnerability of the sandstone materials used and long-term continuous fluctuation of environmental conditions. Exploring the mechanism of salt weathering is crucial for the conservation of these grottoes. This study aims to quantitatively analyze the damage potential and the main impact factors of salt weathering in 14 grottoes along the Silk Road that were selected and investigated by using visual evaluation, salt analysis including thermodynamic modeling, and a comprehensive evaluation based on the entropy weight method. The results indicate that salt weathering of the sandstone grottoes is primarily characterized by efflorescences, peeling, and powdering. The overall salt content within the weathering layer typically exceeds a threshold of 1 %. Within the semi-arid area, the humidity fluctuations critical for significant volume changes in crystalline salts fall within the ranges 46–76 % and 16–30 %. In the semi-humid area, these ranges are 58–90 %, 42–50 %, and 16–30 %. A total of 14 salts can precipitate in the study area with NaCl, NaNO₃, KNO₃, Na₂SO₄·xH₂O and several double salts occuring most frequently. Generally, the damage degree of sandstones grottoes in the semi-humid area is more serious than that in the semi-arid area. Through a comparison of visual inspection and more comprehensive quantitative evaluation, it has been confirmed that the salt damage is primarily influenced by the factors salt content, salt type, and environmental conditions. Furthermore, the order of influence for each factor on salt weathering can be ranked as follows: salt content > salt type > environmental conditions. This study quantitatively reveals the impact of various factors on salt weathering and proposes a method to evaluate the salt damage potential, which is of great significance for the preventive conservation of sandstone grottoes.

Santalla de Bóveda Monument (Lugo, NW Spain) is a small semi-buried building, under the Bóveda parish church, built in the 18th century, with an apsidal quadrangular floor plan, which was divided into three naves, a small vaulted apse and a rectangular floor plan vaulted, where paintings depicting birds and plant elements have been well preserved. The monument has aroused great interest since its discovery, but its chronology and functionality has always been the subject of controversy. Several hypotheses have suggested that the monument was built in the Roman period and some others around the 5^h, 8th or 9th century AD. However, any direct evidence or absolute age has been provided until today. The stratigraphic analysis of the building suggests five constructive phases. Bricks and mortars of all phases were sampling to perform absolute dating techniques and to get a precise and accurate chronology. Radiocarbon dating of mortars and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating of bricks and mortars have been used to this purpose. A total of 34 samples were taken, being 20 used for luminescence (mortars and quartz aggregates) and 15 used for ¹⁴C ages (charcoal fragments of lime mortars). 5 brick samples were also dated by Thermoluminescence (TL). The obtained ages have allowed, for the first time, stablishing an accurate and precise chronology being the first phase assigned to the 4th Century AD. Alterations of the building and the vault paintings were performed in the early 7th century, while the construction of the second floor and occasional repairs were performed during the 10th-12th centuries.

Gems, especially from remote areas, were highly demanded and valued in Byzantine times, often used for sacred Imperial purposes. Because of their imperishable nature, they were often re-used over time and many of them passed, one way or another, from East to Western Europe. The history of the gems set in Byzantine relics that survived in medieval Europe is often impossible to reconstruct. The exceptional opening of the relics of St. John the Baptist in Siena, 200 years after the last inspection, has made it possible to study the magnificent gems that adorn it. Spinels, rubies, sapphires and other gems from oriental geographies, along with high quality glasses used together regardless of their monetary value, were identified in the relic and its reliquary case through gemological analysis and portable Raman spectroscopy, once again demonstrating the vital contribution of the trans-disciplinary approach in the study of ancient art goldworkings.

This study employs advanced ultrasonic tomography and Grasshopper software to investigate the internal anomalies within stone materials. We aim to enhance the non-destructive testing (NDT) methods with potential applications extending to modern architecture and stone engineering. Cavity damage and internal defects threaten the structural stability of stone cultural relics. Traditional non-destructive testing methods, while practical, have limitations in assessing these relics comprehensively. This paper proposes an enhanced ultrasonic testing method based on mathematical analysis to accurately detect cavity damage in stone cultural relics. We also investigate imaging techniques for internal defects, combining ultrasonic testing with Grasshopper software for efficient and accurate defect characterization. Additionally, we introduce an acoustic tapping method for detecting internal defects in ancient building stones. Verified through field tests and data analysis, this method is non-invasive, accurate, and fast. The process of detecting stone defects using this technology, along with data analysis methods, experimental results, and application effects, are detailed. This research contributes to the improved preservation and restoration of ancient buildings and extends to other fields, such as modern architecture and stone engineering, highlighting its significance in cultural heritage conservation.