Statistical tools applied in the characterisation and evaluation of a thermo-hygrometric corrective action carried out at the noheda archaeological site (Noheda, Spain)

Abstract

The Noheda archaeological site is unique and exceptional for its size, and the quality and conservation condition of the Roman mosaic pavement covering its urban pars. In 2008 a tent was installed as protection from rain and sun. Being of interest to characterise the microclimate of the remains, six probes with relative humidity and temperature sensors were installed in 2013 for this purpose. Microclimate monitoring allowed us to check relative humidity differences resulting from the groundwater level, as well as inner sensors reaching maximum temperatures higher than the outdoors ones as a consequence of the non-ventilated tent covering the archaeological site. Microclimatic conditions in the archaeological site were deemed detrimental for the conservation of the mosaics. Thus, in summer 2013, expanded clay and geotextile were installed over the mosaics as a corrective action. The outcomes of this study have proven the effectiveness of this solution to control temperature and relative humidity, helping to configure a more stable microclimate suitable for preservation of the mosaic.Our thanks to the Directorate General of Cultural Heritage of the Council of Education, Culture and Sport in the Community Council of Castilla-La Mancha, and to the Provincial Deputation of Cuenca for the institutional and economical support that they have been giving us throughout these years, which has been vital for the maintenance and adequate progress of the research project that offers relevant scientific results. This work was partially supported by the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion) under projects HAR2010-21944-C02-01 and HAR2010-21944-C02-02.Valero, MÁ.; Merello Gimenez, P.; Fernández Navajas, A.; García Diego, FJ. (2014). Statistical tools applied in the characterisation and evaluation of a thermo-hygrometric corrective action carried out at the noheda archaeological site (Noheda, Spain). Sensors. 14(1):1665-1679. doi:10.3390/s140101665S16651679141Valero Tévar, M. Á. (2013). The late-antique villa at Noheda (Villar de Domingo García) near Cuenca and its mosaics. Journal of Roman Archaeology, 26, 307-330. doi:10.1017/s1047759413000172Nava, S., Becherini, F., Bernardi, A., Bonazza, A., Chiari, M., García-Orellana, I., … Vecchi, R. (2010). An integrated approach to assess air pollution threats to cultural heritage in a semi-confined environment: The case study of Michelozzo’s Courtyard in Florence (Italy). Science of The Total Environment, 408(6), 1403-1413. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.07.030Kisternaya, M., & Kozlov, V. (2012). Preservation of historic monuments in the «Kizhi» Open-Air Museum (Russian Federation). Journal of Cultural Heritage, 13(3), S74-S78. doi:10.1016/j.culher.2012.03.013Calia, A., Lettieri, M., Leucci, G., Matera, L., Persico, R., & Sileo, M. (2013). The mosaic of the crypt of St. Nicholas in Bari (Italy): integrated GPR and laboratory diagnostic study. Journal of Archaeological Science, 40(12), 4162-4169. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2013.06.005Moropoulou, A., Bakolas, A., Karoglou, M., Delegou, E. T., Labropoulos, K. C., & Katsiotis, N. S. (2013). Diagnostics and protection of Hagia Sophia mosaics. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 14(3), e133-e139. doi:10.1016/j.culher.2013.01.006Alberghina, M. F., Barraco, R., Basile, S., Brai, M., Pellegrino, L., Prestileo, F., … Tranchina, L. (2014). Mosaic floors of roman Villa del Casale: Principal component analysis on spectrophotometric and colorimetric data. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 15(1), 92-97. doi:10.1016/j.culher.2012.12.004Faella, G., Frunzio, G., Guadagnuolo, M., Donadio, A., & Ferri, L. (2012). The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem: Non-destructive tests for the structural knowledge. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 13(4), e27-e41. doi:10.1016/j.culher.2012.10.014La Gennusa, M., Rizzo, G., Scaccianoce, G., & Nicoletti, F. (2005). Control of indoor environments in heritage buildings: experimental measurements in an old Italian museum and proposal of a methodology. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 6(2), 147-155. doi:10.1016/j.culher.2005.03.001Hygrochron Temperature/Humidity Logger iButton with 8KB Data-Log Memoryhttp://datasheets.maxim-ic.com/en/ds/DS1923.pdfTemperature Logger iButton with 8KB Data-Log Memoryhttp://datasheets.maxim-ic.com/en/ds/DS1922L-DS1922T.pdfIBM Software. SPSS 16http://www-01.ibm.com/software/es/analytics/spss/García-Diego, F.-J., Fernández-Navajas, Á., Beltrán, P., & Merello, P. (2013). Study of the Effect of the Strategy of Heating on the Mudejar Church of Santa Maria in Ateca (Spain) for Preventive Conservation of the Altarpiece Surroundings. Sensors, 13(9), 11407-11423. doi:10.3390/s13091140