Rock Art Congress

TRACCE no. 9 – by Julia Petushkova

2nd International Congress of Rupestrian Archaeology
2-5 October 1997 DARFO BOARIO TERME
Microbiology and protection of archaeological stone objects.
The paper is focused on microbiological investigations of archaeological stone objects in town of Moscow and near the Black sea area.

The paper is focused on microbiological investigations of archaeological stone objects in town of Moscow and near the Black sea area. Specially the interaction of rock inhabiting micro-organisms with consolidants, water repellent and biocides has been examined. Non-destructive technique was used in the course of the studies.

The microflora of the furnace complex XY c. excavated in the 1980’s in Moscow of the Romanov Palace territory in Zariadie was investigated. Experimental sites of the earthen furnaces treated by consolidants both synthetic polymers and mineral binder have been subjected to comparative studies.

Micro-organisms of various groups, among them green algae and cyanobacteria, lichens, chemoorganotrophs and lithotrophic bacteria, inhabiting stone objects of an archaeological site of the Greco-Roman town Gorgippus (6-4th century B.C.) near the Black sea were investigated. The abundance of micro-organisms responsible for their biodeterioration have been evaluated.

The microbiological impact of conservation treatment of archaeological stone in different periods were investigated. Four slabs of “Roman way” in Gorgippus, 2 slabs of low porosity stone and 2 mollusc’s shell slabs of high porosity stone were treated by Russian and Italian protective and consolidating products as well as by their combinations including the application of biocides and herbicides.

These approaches and results obtained will be taken into account in our work on biodiagnostic and protection of Karelian rock art.

TRACCE no. special issue for RA Congress 1997