An interdisciplinary analytical campaign was carried out on the exterior walls of the Santa Maria della Bruna and Sant'Eustachio Cathedral in Matera. Large areas of these walls have become darkened and the main objective was to evaluate the state of conservation of the stone material (a very porous, organogenic limestone called “Pietra di Matera”), and to suggest the best strategy for the current restoration. Several techniques were used in situ and ex situ-in laboratory analyses: X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, ion chromatography, pyrolysis/gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, colour change measurements, laser-induced fluorescence together with biological techniques. Ex-situ and in situ cleaning tests were also carried out on the stone surface. The results showed the presence of chlorophyll and bacteria on the surface, together with sulfation and calcium oxalate films as the main decay phenomena. In addition, the determination of saccharide and egg residues suggest both biological activity and past conservative treatments as the cause of oxalate films. Data obtained from the analyses proved to be very useful for the conservation work; a complex plan of restoration was adopted, including both traditional and innovative techniques (such as biocleaning, bacterial-gel and a laser system) together with a final evaluation of several protective methods.

An interdisciplinary approach to a knowledge-based restoration: The dark alteration on Matera Cathedral (Italy)

Rampazzi, Laura
;
Corti, Cristina;Zanardini, Elisabetta;
2018-01-01

Abstract

An interdisciplinary analytical campaign was carried out on the exterior walls of the Santa Maria della Bruna and Sant'Eustachio Cathedral in Matera. Large areas of these walls have become darkened and the main objective was to evaluate the state of conservation of the stone material (a very porous, organogenic limestone called “Pietra di Matera”), and to suggest the best strategy for the current restoration. Several techniques were used in situ and ex situ-in laboratory analyses: X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, ion chromatography, pyrolysis/gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, colour change measurements, laser-induced fluorescence together with biological techniques. Ex-situ and in situ cleaning tests were also carried out on the stone surface. The results showed the presence of chlorophyll and bacteria on the surface, together with sulfation and calcium oxalate films as the main decay phenomena. In addition, the determination of saccharide and egg residues suggest both biological activity and past conservative treatments as the cause of oxalate films. Data obtained from the analyses proved to be very useful for the conservation work; a complex plan of restoration was adopted, including both traditional and innovative techniques (such as biocleaning, bacterial-gel and a laser system) together with a final evaluation of several protective methods.
2018
http://www.journals.elsevier.com/applied-surface-science/
Biocleaning; Calcium oxalate film; Dark alteration; FT-IR, LIF; Py-GC–MS; Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Rampazzi, Laura; Andreotti, Alessia; Bressan, Mario; Colombini, Maria Perla; Corti, Cristina; Cuzman, Oana; D'Alessandro, Nicola; Liberatore, Lolita; ...espandi
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11383/2075009
 Attenzione

L'Ateneo sottopone a validazione solo i file PDF allegati

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 20
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 17
social impact