Mapping the risk of damage from tree roots for the conservation of archaeological sites: the case of the Domus Aurea, Rome

Caneva, Giulia; Ceschin, Simona; Marco, Giovanni de

doi:10.1179/135050306793137403

Cited by 31 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Moreover, tree crowns may obscure the view of the whole site and alter its context and landscape (Crow and Moffat, 2005). Plants growing too close to buried monuments, e.g., catacombs or temples may cause detachment of frescos or damage to walls (Caneva et al, 1991(Caneva et al, , 2006Caneva, 1999).…”

Section: Damages To Urban Artifacts and Monumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Survey of Multiple Interactions Between Plants and the Urban Environment

Fineschi¹,

Loreto²

2020

Front. For. Glob. Change

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It is well-acknowledged that plants in urban areas provide multiple ecosystem services. They contribute improving ambient quality and mitigating negative impacts of human presence, beautifying the anthropic environment, and promoting place identity and cultural heritage. However, the existence of plants in general, and trees in particular, cannot be considered independent on urban activities and infrastructures. Release of plant volatile compounds is profoundly affected in urban environments, in turn modifying plant relationships with other living organisms, both plants and animals, and affecting air chemistry and quality. Plants also interfere with stone artifacts, cultural and historical heritage. Plant-human coexistence requires precise and adequate managing measures, which have often been ignored in cities' government and planning. Plants and humans (and human infrastructures) are frequently considered as independent from each other and plant requirements are often disregarded, thus causing difficult or erroneous management and/or environmental damage. We review some of the most important ecosystem services provided by plants in urban environment, and also focus on possible negative effects of plants that may become relevant if urban vegetation is improperly managed and unintegrated in proper city planning, both of historical centers and of new towns or suburbs. Keywords: ecosystem services, global change, green area typologies in cities, green urban planning and management, positive (negative) plant-human interactions, urban trees

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Section: Damages To Urban Artifacts and Monumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Survey of Multiple Interactions Between Plants and the Urban Environment

Fineschi¹,

Loreto²

2020

Front. For. Glob. Change

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“…Removing the tree plants located on the edges, which represent the major causes of the collapses affecting the vertical walls of the most entrenched paths, would prevent the action of disintegration and fracturing of the tuffs. Several studies have been carried out on the building damages caused by trees (e.g., [29]); in particular, many of these deal with the damage suffered by monuments in hypogeal archaeological sites from the roots of trees [30,31] and strategies for the control of invasive plants [32,33].…”

Section: The Actions Planned For the Preservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Vie Cave Geomorphological Site in Southern Tuscany (Italy): Problems of Decay and Conservation

et al. 2015

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Abstract:The Vie Cave are a suggestive network of roads deeply entrenched in the rock, dating back to the Etruscan civilization; these ancient roads connect various settlements and necropolises existing mainly in the area of Sovana, Sorano and Pitigliano towns (Southern Tuscany, Italy). The Vie Cave are located in a peculiar geomorphological site, characterized by the presence of extensive pyroclastic deposits, which have been incised by a parallel network of deep gorges. In this paper, the geomorphological, geological and lithological setting of the Vie Cave area, where several Etruscan archaeological sites are found, are described. The precarious stability of the Vie Cave walls and the several archaeological structures carved into them, the high grade of decay shown by the constituent materials, together with the dense vegetation that has developed over the rocky scarps, are taken into account with the aim to provide a complete assessment of the conditions in which the site lies. Finally, we propose some targeted actions related to the preservation of this territory, showing so distinctive morphology, in order to protect the area from further decay to which it would be subjected if it remained abandoned. OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2015, 7 7531

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“…The roots of plants that flourish penetrate deep into the gaps between or the fractures on the stones used in the construction of historical buildings and induce chemical and physical weathering [13]. Furthermore, by mechanically pushing the stones, the roots cause an extension of fractures and the deep penetration of water; furthermore, the fractures extend as the water penetrates and freezes during the winter [13,14]. As the resistance of the building to external factors decreases, the deterioration of historical buildings becomes inevitable as a result of the combination of all biological, chemical, physical and climatological impacts [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, plant roots flourish in terms of both their surface and length. The roots of plants that flourish penetrate deep into the gaps between or the fractures on the stones used in the construction of historical buildings and induce chemical and physical weathering [13]. Furthermore, by mechanically pushing the stones, the roots cause an extension of fractures and the deep penetration of water; furthermore, the fractures extend as the water penetrates and freezes during the winter [13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%