abstract
The deterioration of underground heritage caves caused by visitations has attracted extensive attention over the recent decades. Most previous research focused on investigating the impact of visitors on the microclimatic conditions of the interior of large show caves, but much less relevant effort was made for small confined caves, for example, megalithic burial dolmen caves. In addition to environmental condition issues, the structural performance of underground heritage caves also deteriorates in the long-term subject to both natural hazards (e.g. creep in geo-materials and extreme weather) and manmade ones (e.g. construction activities). To this end, a realtime Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) system is deployed inside an underground megalithic dolmen to monitor its structural performance with time so as to assess its long-term structural stability. Meanwhile, the WSN system together with other field sensors and inspection monitors the interior environmental change caused by human visitation effect, aiming to reveal the mechanism behind visitor-caused rock painting deterioration in the small confined dolmen chamber. Results show that structurally, the dolmen can be regarded as generally stable despite a progressive development of structural performance during the first 1.5 months and accidental instability of the near-opening pillar A. In terms of environmental condition, the presence of visitors leads to significant changes of interior microclimatic conditions frequently inside the confined cave against consistent rock painting conservation. Particularly, the cave paintings may deteriorate critically with time as visitation induces a 'hotbed' environment for interactions between microorganisms and microstructures of the rock paintings due to the variations of interior microclimate. To ensure long-term structural stability and restore acceptable level of interior microclimate, tinted hydraulic lime and steel rod/brace were recommended for enhancing structural robustness and a mechanical ventilation system for improving environmental resilience of the dolmen. A generalized monitoring approach was proposed for the reference of other similar caves.
keywords
WALL PAINTINGS; CONSERVATION; HERITAGE; TOURISM; IMPACT; STABILITY; LASCAUX; SYSTEM; DOLMEN; ART
subject category
Construction & Building Technology; Engineering
authors
Wang, C; Tavares, A; Fonseca, J; Soares, F; Li, ZL
our authors
Alice Maria Tavares Alves da Costa
Assistant Researcheracknowledgements
The research was financially supported by Science Foundation Ireland, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) of European COST Action CA18110 - Underground Built Heritage as catalyser for Community Valorisation. We thank for the suggestions, advice, and help, regarding the sensor deployment, offered by our collaborators from various backgrounds under the COST networking system. Meanwhile, the technical assistance, historical records and materials, and most recent information on the dolmen preservation and conservation kindly provided by the Museum of Oliveira de Frades and the Municipality of Oliveira de Frades are greatly appreciated. The author Alice Tavares thanks the financial support through a postdoctoral grant to FCT, MCTES, FSE funds, through Regional Operational Programme Centro and the EU, as well as to CICECO and the RISCO from the University of Aveiro.