ELAICH - Educational Linkage Approach in Cultural Heritage. For more information and presentations, please visit: http://elaich.technion.ac.il/ What can be done?

1. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage Prof. JoAnn Cassar and Roberta De Angelis – University of Malta The Conservation Process Module 4 Basic Cour s e Teaching Material Topic 4.2 What can be done? Educational Toolkit

2. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage Copyright ©ELAICH Beneficiaries 2009-2012 This material is an integral part of the “ELAICH – educational toolkit” and developed as part of the project ELAICH – Educational Linkage Approach in Cultural Heritage within the framework of EuroMed Cultural Heritage 4 Programme under grant agreement ENPI 150583. All rights reserved to the ELAICH Beneficiaries. This material, in its entirety only, may be used in "fair use" only as part of the ELAICH – educational toolkit for the educational purposes by non-profit educational establishments or in self-education, by any means at all times and on any downloads, copies and or, adaptations, clearly indicating “©ELAICH Beneficiaries 2009-2011” and making reference to these terms. Use of the material amounting to a distortion or mutilation of the material or is otherwise prejudicial to the honor or reputation of ELAICH Beneficiaries 2009-2011 is forbidden. Use of parts of the material is strictly forbidden. No part of this material may be: (1) used other than intended (2) copied, reproduced or distributed in any physical or electronic form (3) reproduced in any publication of any kind (4) used as part of any other teaching material in any framework; unless prior written permission of the ELAICH Beneficiaries has been obtained. Disclaimer This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the ELAICH Consortium and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. Prof. JoAnn Cassar and Roberta De Angelis – University of Malta

3. Abstract Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage What do conservators do when they are hidden away behind scaffolding? Why do conservation works seem to take a long time to be completed? The building may need strengthening, dirty surfaces may need to be cleaned or harmful chemical changes may need to be stopped. Conservators perform different types of hands-on conservation treatments or remedial treatments . These treatments are designed case by case and we will learn more about some of them. Conservation hands-on treatments are not enough to keep heritage sites in the best possible condition! The long-term preservation of the heritage site can only be attained by reducing the causes of deterioration before intervening directly on the site, promoting the appropriate use of the site, and setting up a suitable long-term maintenance plan . Prof. JoAnn Cassar and Roberta De Angelis – University of Malta

4. What can be done? Prof. JoAnn Cassar and Roberta De Angelis – University of Malta Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage

6. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage This wall painting is located right below the dome What can be done? Do you notice anything peculiar about the deterioration of this painting? Losses are located along the joints of the stone support... Can you think why? Let’s see as an example this wall painting This is a problem clearly due to water infiltration. (detail) View from the exterior of the building

7. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage What can be done? View from the exterior of the building (detail) Inspection of the roof shows that the waterproofing membrane covering the masonry is damaged and allows water in!!! Before repairing the damage on the painting, or even cleaning the painting, it is necessary to stop water infiltration , since this is causing the problem! Would you first clean the painting or repair the roof of the building?

8. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage What can be done? Hands-on conservation intervention Monitoring, maintenance & proper use Module 4 Modules 5 & 6 ? Understanding the heritage site and its problems Addressing the causes of deterioration (preventive conservation) Investigations! (history, materials, deterioration, etc.) See modules 1, 2 and 3 see Module 3 Before conservation After conservation Long-term preservation!

9. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage What can be done? Hands-on conservation intervention Module 4 It takes place AFTER the site and its deterioration have been recorded (photos, drawings, reports) and understood, and the causes of deterioration addressed To strengthen the building and its materials Before conservation After conservation

11. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage Hands-on conservation intervention 2. Treatment trials 1 Before starting any conservation hands-on work on the building, a detailed plan listing and explaining all necessary treatments (for example cleaning, consolidation, etc.) is prepared. This is called Treatment proposal. ©Mystic Arts, LLC

12. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage Hands-on conservation intervention 2 Each treatment is first tested on small areas of the building to check that the materials and methods used by conservators are safe. These tests are called Treatment trials or tests . Scientific investigations are often used at this stage to help evaluate materials and methods used. whitewash uncovered areas Cleaning tests performed with different cleaning agents to remove the whitewash covering a wall painting

13. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage Hands-on conservation intervention Observations, decisions and treatments are documented with drawings, photographs and written statements at every stage. This helps to keep a record of what is done on the building – a sort of a “medical record” of the building – so that in the future curators or conservation specialists will have a better idea of the origin of problems and solutions implemented. 3 And now, let’s see some treatments...