RT journal article
T1 Biodeterioration of marble in an underwater environment
A1 Cámara, Beatriz
A1 de Buergo, Miguel Ángel
A1 Bethencourt Núñez, Manuel
A1 Fernández Momblant, Tomás
A1 La Russa, Mauro F.
A1 Ricca, Michela
A1 Fort, Rafael
A2 Ciencias de la Tierra
K1 Bioerosion
K1 Biofouling
K1 Carrara
K1 Decay
K1 Macael
K1 Submerged archeology
AB This study examines the deterioration of geomaterials used throughout history that today may be found lying on the ocean floor. Submerged archaeological sites including cargoes from shipwrecks or ancient city ruins have been a topic of interest from a perspective of in situ musealization, as a way of making underwater cultural heritage accessible to the public. In an experimental study conducted at an underwater archaeological site in the Bay of Cádiz (SW Spain), we subjected two types of marble (Carrara and Macael) to three conditions to which submerged archaeological objects are often exposed: full exposure to the water column, natural processes of burial and unearthing, or permanent burial. After an 18-month study period, the factor found to mostly affect these materials was their biological colonization. This factor was assessed by estimating total surface biocover and the rate of surface biocolonization, and also through the identification of skeletons and associated alteration forms by light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Biofouling and bioerosion were the main causes of biodeterioration and dependent on the position of the marble specimens in the seawater. The response of both materials was similar, though dolomite crystals in the Carrara marble acted as a protective barrier against actively penetrating microorganisms. These investigations have allowed the study of tracers left by epilithic encrusting organisms and endolithic bioeroders on marbles intentionally exposed to seawater, providing new insights to the understanding of the biodeterioration processes occurring in cultural heritage stones, with significant implications when they are part of underwater archaeological remains.
PB ELSEVIER
SN 1879-1026
YR 2017
FD 2017
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/34387
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/34387
LA eng
NO Regional Government of Madrid (CAM) Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 10-may-2026