Читать книгу Monument Future - Siegfried Siegesmund - Страница 134

The sculptures comprising the complex monument are made of three varieties of granitoids, which were identified on the basis of petrographical studies of samples using thin-section microscopy (transmitted and reflected light) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-BSE): a fine-grained lithotype A1 (c. 1.5 mm grain size), a medium-grained lithotype A2 (c. 4 mm grain size) and a coarse-grained lithotype A3 (c. 5 mm grain size). Beside deviations in grain size, they also slightly differ in colour and accessory mineral content. Two of them (A1 and A3) show a more distinctive layering (stratification) and were both used for the two steles at the site. This choice is probably based on the stone intrinsic property and the resultant sheeting of the rock deposit, which facilitated the quarrying in the form of relatively thin layers. Another possibility is that the sheets were already available as separate boulders. The other variety (A2) is more bulky and was used for the human- and animal-shaped sculptures. All sculptures were probably processed and shaped by use of different chisels, whereby only some remnants of tool marks could be detected on the bottom side of one of a torso.

Figure 1: Monument of Ikh Khöshööt, 2019. © Institute of Conservation, University of Applied Arts Vienna.

Considering the age of the monument (almost 1,300 years), the harsh environment as well as the absence of previous large-scale conservation treatments and regular maintenance, the condition of the monument can be described as relatively good. The engraved inscription on the main stele, with a presumable original depth of some millimetres, is still visible in large parts, which indicates a comparably slow weathering and erosion of the upper surface layers.

Nevertheless, several damage and decay patterns are evident ranging from fractures to heterogeneous deposits comprising remnants of animal rubbings and bird droppings, which have partly converted to compact, thick, hardly removable crusts. Among 103them particularly two decay patterns common for granites, delamination and disintegration (Rodrigues 1980), attracted the attention and concern of the conservators and conservation scientists.