The deterioration of Circular Mausoleum, Roman Necropolis of Carmona, Spain

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 518-519; pp. 65 - 77
• Main Authors: Cañaveras, Juan C., Fernandez-Cortes, Angel, Elez, Javier, Cuezva, Soledad, Jurado, Valme, Miller, Ana Zelia, Rogerio-Candelera, Miguel A., Benavente, David, Hernandez-Marine, Mariona, Saiz-Jimenez, Cesareo, Sanchez-Moral, Sergio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.06.2015
• Subjects: Anthropogenic changes; Biological colonization; Circularity; Conservation intervention; Damage; Deposition; Deterioration; Efflorescence; Efflorescences; In situ measurement; Pathology; Roman; Roman tombs; ANE, Spain; Efflorescences; Biological colonization; Conservation intervention; Deterioration; Roman tombs; Anthropogenic changes
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.02.095

The Circular Mausoleum tomb in the Roman Necropolis of Carmona was carved on a calcarenite sequence in an ancient quarry located in the town of Carmona, Southern Spain. This rock-cut tomb, representative of Roman burial practices, currently suffers from serious deterioration. A detailed survey over several years permitted the identification of the main tomb's pathologies and damaging processes, which include loss of material (scaling, flaking, granular disintegration), surface modifications (efflorescences, crusts and deposits) and extensive biological colonization. The results obtained in this study indicated that anthropogenic changes were largely responsible and enhanced the main alteration mechanisms observed in the Circular Mausoleum. Based on the deterioration diagnosis, effective corrective actions were proposed. This study shows that any conservative intervention in the interior of the tomb should be preceded by accurate in situ measurements and laboratory analyses to ascribe the source of the deterioration damages and thus designing effective treatments. •The Circular Mausoleum, Carmona Necropolis, Spain, was carved on a calcarenite bed•This tomb, representative of Roman burial practices, suffered serious deterioration•A detailed survey permitted the identification of the tomb's damaging processes•Anthropogenic changes enhanced the deterioration mechanisms•Based on the deterioration diagnosis, effective corrective actions were proposed