Geological risk assessment for rock art protection in karstic caves (Alkerdi Caves, Navarre, Spain)

Abstract

This paper sets out a methodology for calculating the potential zone of damage to which an Item of Cultural Interest (ICI) located in a karst environment is exposed. An itemised study of the geological characteristics of the cave environment is proposed: lithological cartography, endokarst and exokarst geomorphology and the study of fracturing of the limestone massif. Based on these data and using a Geographical Information System (GIS), it was possible to calculate the degree of the geological threats on a susceptibility map, according to the vulnerability of the heritage item to be protected and its exposure to the identified hazardous geological processes. By combining these parameters, the existing geological risk was calculated and mapped and the necessary protection area for conservation of the cultural heritage was defined. This methodology was applied in the Alkerdi caves located in the municipal area of Urdazubi/Urdax (Navarre, northern Spain).

Taya Caves, a Buddhist marvel hidden in underground Japan: stone properties, deterioration, and environmental setting

“…); environmental (water interaction and weathering); biological (biomass growth); and anthropic (human presence, site planning, local urbanization and exploitation of natural resources) [3]. The risk can be quantified and mapped with the support of geographic information systems and numerical modelling [4,5]. Anthropic factors are often the most critical, and indirectly increase the environmental and biological risks.…”

Deterioration Processes on Prehistoric Rock Art Induced by Mining Activity (Arenaza Cave, N Spain)

“…In the case of archaeological valuable sites that need to be protected, such as a Palaeolithic rock art paintings and engravings, the fragility of this natural system requires us to be more responsible and the control any activity that would produce irreversible alteration processes [3,5,[8][9][10][11]. Mining has been identified as an activity capable of inducing enough changes to a natural karstic system that can modify the original conditions of the system, such as collapses, removal or alteration of the soil cover, changes in the water infiltration rate, and in its chemical composition [7,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. At the Spanish and French Round Table on the Protection and Conservation of Palaeolithic Rock Art, which took place in Colombres (Asturias, Spain) in 1991, it was concluded that, in case of rock-art painting in caves, the comprehension of the balance between karstic and environmental parameters is a key factor in the conservation of the rock-art heritage [19,20].…”