Читать книгу Monument Future - Siegfried Siegesmund - Страница 93

Ancient rock reliefs in the necropolis of Naqsh-e Rustam (Iran) are important testimonies of the development of an outstanding monumental art over the centuries, in close relationship with their natural context. The rock reliefs underwent natural and anthropic decay processes in the course of time leading to the loss of fragments and in some cases to severe structural instability. This paper focuses on the oldest group of rock reliefs, dating back to the Achaemenian period; due to their location on the top of a sloping cliff, they are less accessible and more challenging by a conservation point of view. The reliefs have been studied in field and by means of a multi-analytical laboratory procedure, in order to identify the decay patterns, along with an assessment of the state of conservation. In order to frame the problem in a proper historical context, archival material including photographs, drawings and descriptions – created by western scholars between the 17th and the 20th century – were also analyzed focusing on any indications as regards deterioration problems. Fragments were studied by means of optical microscopy, SEM-EDX and XRD analyses. Among the main decay causes and mechanisms, the chemical dissolution of the stone substrate and the heavy microbiological subsurface growth play a major role. The layered aluminosilicate encrustations imply a continuous exposure of the limestone monument to the moisture ingress from the outer environment. Also, indications of the recent impact of atmospheric pollutants were observed, which is noteworthy, considering the distance of the monument from the urban areas.

Keywords: damage characterization, decay pattern, Iran, rock relief