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Cultural Heritage at Risk - Perspectives on Technologies, Materials, Modelling and Digitalization

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A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408). This special issue belongs to the section "Cultural Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 21488

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Giuseppina Padeletti

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Guest Editor

ISMN-CNR Area della Ricerca Roma1, via Salaria km 29.5, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy
Interests: cultural heritage; ceramics; glasses; lusters; mortars; pigments; oxides; nanomaterials; nanotechnology; synchrotron radiation; X-ray photo electron spectroscopy; scanning electron microscopy; atomic force microscopy; built heritage
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Dr. João Pedro Veiga

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Guest Editor

Department of Conservation and Restoration & CENIMAT/i3N, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Interests: cultural heritage; mining heritage; mineralogy; crystallography; crystal chemistry; ceramics; glasses; mortars; rock weathering; synchrotron radiation
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Dr. Anne Bouquillon

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Guest Editor

Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France (C2RMF) UMR 171, Paris, France
Interests: material characterization; X-ray diffraction; SEM analysis; ceramics; surface analysis; EDS; ion beam analysis; chemical weathering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The cultural and societal impact of cultural heritage assets has generated an increased interest in the scientific community, promoting innovative approaches to issues raised by the necessity of preserving our identity. Materials research has an unquestionable role in this approach by developing strategies and methodologies, crosslinking different aspects related to cultural heritage materials, attaining a better comprehension of their properties and historical applications, disclosing correlations and interactions between materials and raw materials with different origins, and supporting a compatibility evaluation with new and improved materials in the context of qualified interventions on heritage assets. In recent times, CH is endangered by several different factors, requiring, even more, detailed diagnostics and appropriate solutions to guarantee its preservation and transmission to future generations.

This Special Issue provides an appropriate forum for presenting multidisciplinary cutting-edge scientific and technological approaches to cultural heritage concerns and perspectives involving the large and varied community of international experts in art, archaeology, ancient technology, materials, conservation, weathering, restoration strategies, climate change and anthropic pressure. Within the framework of the current complexity of the economic and social context, this special issue intends to address the most pressing concerns facing CH and to point to possible new routes, bridging all areas of knowledge, presenting updated reflections, alongside the dissemination of good practices, by promoting a close cooperation between CH researchers, professionals, students, policymakers and authorities. The attendees of the EMRS Spring Meeting 2023 Symposium U, as well as other interested colleagues, are encouraged to submit for publication their contributions on the several hot topics, including but not restricted to:

Materials and methodologies;
Conservation and restoration;
Sustainability;
Climate impact;
Risk assessment;
Modelling and theoretical approaches;
Multi-scale imaging;
Monitoring and remote sensing;
Dating and authenticity;
Geoarchaeology;
Archaeometry;
Historical studies;
Cultural tourism and economy.

Dr. Giuseppina Padeletti
Dr. João Pedro Veiga
Dr. Anne Bouquillon
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Heritage is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 6019 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Guardianship: Innovative Strategies in Preserving Armenian’s Epigraphic Legacy

by Hamest Tamrazyan and Gayane Hovhannisyan

Heritage 2024, 7(5), 2296-2312; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7050109 - 30 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1086

Abstract

In the face of geopolitical threats in Artsakh, the preservation of Armenia’s epigraphic heritage has become a mission of both historical and cultural urgency. This project delves deep into Armenian inscriptions, employing advanced digital tools and strategies like the Oxygen text editor and EpiDoc guidelines to efficiently catalogue, analyze, and present these historical treasures. Amidst the adversities posed by Azerbaijan’s stance towards Armenian heritage in Artsakh, the digital documentation and preservation of these inscriptions have become a beacon of cultural resilience. The XML-based database ensures consistent data, promoting scholarly research and broadening accessibility. Integrating the Grabar Armenian dictionary addressed linguistic challenges, enhancing data accuracy. This initiative goes beyond merely preserving stone and text; it is a testament to the stories, hopes, and enduring spirit of the Armenian people in the face of external threats. Through a harmonious blend of technology and traditional knowledge, the project stands as a vanguard in the fight to ensure that Armenia’s rich epigraphic legacy, and the narratives they enshrine remain undiminished for future generations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage at Risk - Perspectives on Technologies, Materials, Modelling and Digitalization)

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19 pages, 5664 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Three-Dimensional Analysis for the Documentation of the Restoration of an Earthquake-Damaged Triptych

by Emma Vannini, Irene Lunghi, Emanuela Grifoni, Petra Farioli, Marina Ginanni, Andrea Santacesaria and Raffaella Fontana

Heritage 2024, 7(4), 2176-2194; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7040103 - 17 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1206

Abstract

The 3D digital reproduction of panel paintings is an efficient practice through which to document their state of conservation thanks to the ability to study artwork both at the microscopic level, visualising the craquelure and the detachments of pictorial layers, and at the macroscopic level, analysing support structures and their deformations. In recent years, research has focused on new methodologies to handle multiple 3D scans acquired over time and to achieve data fusion to obtain multi-resolution products. In this paper, we present the results of the acquisition of the central panel of an earthquake-damaged triptych using two different 3D techniques (close-range photogrammetry and structured light) before and after its restoration to carry out a multi-temporal analysis of the conservation status and document the effects of the restoration. Furthermore, we performed laser scanning micro-profilometry on a small area of the painting to study the artist’s technique and identify previous restorations. Finally, we merged the two 3D datasets (obtained by structured-light projection and micro-profilometry) to produce a multi-resolution 3D model with the aim of increasing the accuracy and readability of the final product. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage at Risk - Perspectives on Technologies, Materials, Modelling and Digitalization)

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18 pages, 30804 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Disappearing Technology and Products of Traditional Tibetan Village Blacksmiths

by Chandra L. Reedy

Heritage 2024, 7(2), 965-982; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020046 - 12 Feb 2024

Viewed by 2167

Abstract

Tibetans have a long history of iron mining, smelting, and forging. For centuries, craftsmen in major cities and large iron production centers made high-quality swords and suits of armor, as well as decorative iron ritual objects for monasteries and the elites, but blacksmithing workshops in small villages have always produced and repaired everyday objects for agricultural and home use. Modern political changes, along with greater availability of industrial objects in local markets, have greatly reduced the rank of the village blacksmith. Ethnographic fieldwork reported here from two Tibetan Bön villages in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, China (once part of traditional Amdo area of Tibet), highlights some of the threats to the continued existence of village blacksmiths. Both a part-time blacksmith in one village and a full-time blacksmith in another make only a marginal living from their work. Their descendants are unlikely to continue the business. Many of the village blacksmiths in the area have already stopped production and closed their workshops. It is likely that the village blacksmith tradition might soon disappear altogether in this region of the world without support. Preservation of this tradition could benefit both cultural and environmental sustainability goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage at Risk - Perspectives on Technologies, Materials, Modelling and Digitalization)

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23 pages, 15192 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Query Model Framework Design for Conservation History and Endowments Database: A Case Study on the Digitization of the Sumedang Larang Kingdom’s History and Endowments in Indonesia

by Raden Sudrajat, Budi Nurani Ruchjana, Atje Setiawan Abdullah and Rahmat Budiarto

Heritage 2023, 6(12), 7508-7530; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6120394 - 29 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1830

Abstract

The use of structured query formulation languages is a method for gaining access to data in information management systems. Writing structured queries is a powerful method of data retrieval, and end users can generate complex database queries by becoming proficient in a particular query language. Digitization of database information systems, history and endowment, and technology conservation are some examples of database conservation techniques in the process of displaying data that require optimal query techniques. Historical and endowment properties comply with a certain set of laws governing waqf recipients, which sets them apart from heritage and cultural assets. Trusted property typically comprises real estate, valuables, or both and has an infinite preservation term so long as it may still be put to use. A solid information technology infrastructure is essential for ensuring comprehensive data security. Given the availability of knowledge and the quick development of information technology, ensuring its sustainability is a challenge. This research is aimed at preserving historical and waqf databases based on the case study of the Kingdom of Sumedang Larang (KSL), Indonesia, through examination of the database, synchronization of digital data with physical data, as well as looking at its relationship with organizations and management. The proposed method, namely the Design and Analysis of Database Query Model for Preservation Information System (DAQMP), creates a recurring query model from the original tabular data placed in the next table as a special table check for data specifications containing important data. The results must be accurately aligned between digital and physical records regularly to serve as a record of any changes and as evidence to determine whether data has been corrupted, altered, or lost. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage at Risk - Perspectives on Technologies, Materials, Modelling and Digitalization)

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27 pages, 25148 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Deformed Muqarnas Dome at the Sala de los Reyes in the Alhambra: Graphic Analysis of Architectural Heritage

by Antonio Gámiz-Gordo, Ignacio Ferrer-Pérez-Blanco and Juan Francisco Reinoso-Gordo

Heritage 2023, 6(12), 7400-7426; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6120388 - 27 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3420

Abstract

The muqarnas are small pieces grouped together, adopting surprising three-dimensional forms. They are a symbol of identity of the 14th century Nasrid architecture at Alhambra in Granada. This research’s aim is to graphically analyze the plaster muqarnas dome located to the south of the Sala de los Reyes, in the Palacio de los Leones. The methodology followed combines historical images analysis and modern digital graphic techniques. First, a compilation of unpublished drawings and photographs documenting architectural transformations and significant alterations in the roof structures since the 16th century is provided. Although these muqarnas were drawn by Jones and Goury in the 19th century, the current research identifies and draws, digitally for the first time, its nearly two thousand pieces of this dome. Additionally, metric data of the current state has been collected using 3D laser scanning, revealing significant deformations. In this way, the knowledge of these fragile architectural elements is achieved to promote their heritage dissemination and to facilitate the conservation of a monumental site included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage at Risk - Perspectives on Technologies, Materials, Modelling and Digitalization)

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20 pages, 9434 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Study of Architectural Bricks from Khorsabad and Susa Sites: Characterization of Black Glazes

by Emmie Beauvoit, Anne Bouquillon, Odile Majérus, Daniel Caurant, Julien Cuny and Ariane Thomas

Heritage 2023, 6(9), 6291-6310; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6090329 - 8 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1659

Abstract

In this study, the well-preserved glazes of 13 colored bricks representative of the decoration of the palaces of Sargon II (Khorsabad, 8th century BC) and of Darius I (Susa, 6th century BC) were examined. The purpose of this research is to gather information about the ancient brick manufacturing processes by examining the colored glazes and, in particular, black glazes using a combination of methods that included optical microscopy, SEM-EDX, synchrotron µ-XRD, and µ-Raman spectroscopy. The results revealed different coloring techniques for producing black glazes in the Neo-Assyrian and Persian Achaemenid periods. Regarding the black glazes of Susa, it is particularly interesting to note that their chemical composition varies according to the function of the glazes on the bricks: manganese oxide (for colored fields of glaze) and iron-rich compounds (for raised lines separating glazed areas). In comparison, the black glazes from Khorsabad are characterized by the presence of spherical copper sulfide and galena nanoparticles (ranging from less than 100 nm to about 1 µm) for both the glazed areas and the separating lines. This coloring technique to obtain black glazes is very rarely described in the literature, as well as the mechanism of formation of these spherical nanoparticles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage at Risk - Perspectives on Technologies, Materials, Modelling and Digitalization)

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15 pages, 25746 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of an Iron Age Gilded Silver Earring by XRF, SEM-EDS and Multifocus OM

by Sofia Serrano, Alexandra Rodrigues, Rui J. C. Silva and Elin Figueiredo

Heritage 2023, 6(5), 4187-4201; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6050220 - 6 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2090

Abstract

The use of gold for artefact productions underwent substantial developments during Iron Age in western Europe, with the diversification of alloy compositions and the introduction of new technologies and aesthetics. This work presents a detailed study of a Late Iron Age earring from the western Iberian Peninsula and a discussion taking into consideration the alloys and technologies used at the time. The earring has a complex structure, composed of block- and strip-twisted wires and granulation. Characterization by multifocus optical microscopy, portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF), micro-XRF and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) were performed to obtain information on the chemical composition and manufacturing techniques. Results show that the earring was manufactured with wires and granules made of a silver-rich alloy, covered with a gold-rich layer 45

μ

m thick on average, which acted as an external coating making the entire earring resemble gold. This is a rare example of an Iron Age gilded earring, and its detailed study provides further information on the manufacturing solutions adopted by the Iron Age goldsmiths. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage at Risk - Perspectives on Technologies, Materials, Modelling and Digitalization)

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27 pages, 4450 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The KERES Ontology: Protecting Cultural Heritage from Extreme Climate Events

by Jürgen Reuter, Tobias Hellmund, Jürgen Moßgraber and Philipp Hertweck

Heritage 2023, 6(5), 4015-4041; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6050211 - 28 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1598

Abstract

Protecting and preserving cultural heritage (CH) in view of global climate change is the main objective of the KERES project. For managing climate impact with proper measurements, including prevention and responsive actions, an ontology has been devised in the course of this project in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders of selected CH assets that serve us as case studies. In particular, the ontology supports modeling specific CH assets with respect to the challenges of climate change. It turns out the main challenge is to subsume the diversity of models and processes specific to individual assets on a proper level of abstraction. Based on the ontology, we succeeded in creating software that assists stakeholders in managing their CH challenges, including an interactive app for suggesting preventative measurements and a web application for creating route cards that are used by emergency service professionals in the case of rescuing cultural assets. We are confident that our methodology of CH assets abstraction and modeling will be applicable to a broader range of CH assets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage at Risk - Perspectives on Technologies, Materials, Modelling and Digitalization)

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14 pages, 6735 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fringe Projection Method for 3D High-Resolution Reconstruction of Oil Painting Surfaces

by María del Carmen Casas Pérez, Gamaliel Moreno Chávez, Francisco Castillo Rivera, Damiano Sarocchi, Carlos Mares and Bernardino Barrientos

Heritage 2023, 6(4), 3461-3474; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6040184 - 31 Mar 2023

Viewed by 2766

Abstract

The fringe projection (FP) method is an outstanding tool for reconstructing painted surfaces. This technique, which has been used for conservation and digitization, does not damage the artwork and can reach sub-millimeter accuracy. To carry out this type of analysis, it is necessary to achieve the most accurate measurements possible. Measuring the precision that a projector-camera-object arrangement can achieve is a complex task. In this paper, we show an experimental method used to measure the accuracy of this technique with instrumentation within the reach of most conservation laboratories. The method consists of capturing, as a reference model, a stepped cylindrical Nylamid^® pyramid, as a construction whose shape, size, and manufacturing accuracy are known with high precision. The pyramid has eight well-defined steps, which are fashioned with an accuracy more exact than that of the fringe projection method. The height of each step was measured, obtaining the mean and variance of the height measurements fitted to a Gaussian distribution. In this work, we show the measured heights of the steps, obtained by varying the period of the fringes. The smallest detectable step height was less than 44.1 µm; however, this was obtained with a variance in the order of the step height. The smallest detectable step height with a small variance was 0.1008 mm. In addition to this accuracy measurement, a qualitative evaluation of a painting was carried out, finding the presence of possible superimposed thin layers, fabric, and microcracks, which commonly occur in the drying and aging processes. Further research would provide an experimental measurement of the method’s accuracy and its variance as essential for obtaining a confidence criterion that could then be applied to the model of the painting’s surface. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage at Risk - Perspectives on Technologies, Materials, Modelling and Digitalization)

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22 pages, 7368 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Chalcolithic Ceramics from the Lisbon Region, Portugal: An Archaeometric Study

by Rute Correia Chaves, João Pedro Veiga and António Monge Soares

Heritage 2022, 5(3), 2422-2443; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5030126 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2222

Abstract

The Chalcolithic period in the Lisbon region, Portugal, is usually divided into three phases chronologically: the Early Chalcolithic, characterized by cylindrical corrugated cups, Full Chalcolithic by so-called acacia-leaf decoration, and Late Chalcolithic by Bell Beaker pottery. The aim of this research is to determine if Chalcolithic ceramic raw materials and production techniques have remained the same over time and whether the pottery is locally produced. Regarding the Lisbon region, 149 ceramic samples from four Chalcolithic settlements (Vila Nova de São Pedro, Penedo do Lexim, Espargueira and Baútas) were evaluated concerning textural, chemical and mineralogical compositions. Textural analysis was performed using optical microscopy, chemical characterization was achieved using micro-energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and mineralogical characterization was undertaken using X-ray powder diffraction and petrographic microscopy as main techniques. Results suggest that production techniques may have remained similar throughout all the Chalcolithic period, with firing temperatures between 700 and 800 °C. Multivariate analysis of results from chemical and mineralogical analyses suggests that multiple sources of raw materials must have been used in the manufacture of the pottery collected at the four Chalcolithic settlements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage at Risk - Perspectives on Technologies, Materials, Modelling and Digitalization)

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