Aplicabilidad de la conservación preventiva a la cerámica arqueológica impactada por biodeterioro

Abstract

This paper propose to evaluate traditional knowledge of preventive conservation associated with environment factors regulation, plague control and, its applicability to archaeological ceramic affected by biodeterioration process. The aim is to attain a better understanding of how this process works on ceramics, discover patters and establish relations between biological agents and ceramic styles to generate proposals related to the mitigation of this issue for a better improvement on conservation for archaeological contexts, museums, on transit collections from research institutions and technique reserves. To achieve this, available literature from archaeology and conservation disciplines regarding this issue along with archaeological field and cabinet practices is discussed and contrasted with data obtained from a systematic study of biodeterioration by lichens, fungi and bacteria on surface ceramic from archaeological site La Cuestecilla, Antinaco central valley, La Rioja province, Argentina. Biodeteriorarion systematic research on archaeological pottery, so far, includes laboratory essays and culture based microbiological methods where species were identified. Surfaces studies to assess the damage provoke by biodeterioration were performed, namely: stereomicroscopy, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Surface analysis there were also made by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. So far, results corroborate the complexity of this process and the severity of the damage on archaeological pottery enlighheritage exposed to environmental conditions. This enlight the importance of adequate preventions cares for investigators and material conservation. Inquiry that is exposed and discussed here.

El presente trabajo se propone evaluar la aplicabilidad de los conocimientos tradicionales de la conservación preventiva en la cerámica arqueológica afectada por el biodeterioro. El objetivo es alcanzar una mayor comprensión de cómo opera este proceso en la cerámica y generar propuestas vinculadas a la mitigación del problema para su mejor conservación en contextos arqueológicos, museos, colecciones en tránsito de institutos de investigación y reservas técnicas. Para ello se discute y contrasta la literatura disponible sobre el tema y la práctica arqueológica en el campo y el gabinete, con los datos obtenidos del estudio sistemático del biodeterioro por líquenes, hongos y bacterias en la cerámica superficial de la localidad arqueológica La Cuestecilla, valle de Antinaco central, provincia de La Rioja, Argentina.