Role of the microboring marine organisms in the deterioration of archaeological submerged lapideous artifacts (Baia, Naples, Italy)

Marine bioerosion of lapideous archaeological artifacts found in the Grotta Azzurra (Capri, Naples, Italy): Role of microbiota and boring Porifera

“…Statue of Poseidon) were partially covered by the sand and consequently they have been subjected to a localized colonization; while small fragments exposed the whole surface to the biological colonization because of their rotation caused by the waves. Similar conditions were also observed on artifacts collected in the Underwater Archaeological Park of Baiae (Davidde et al, 2010;Ricci et al, 2013a).…”

Euendolithic activity of the cyanobacterium Chroococcus lithophilus Erc. In biodeterioration of the Pyramid of Caius Cestius, Rome, Italy

“…Golubi c and Le Campion-Alsumard, 1973;Golubi c et al, 1975;Schneider, 1976) including studies of submerged ancient monuments (Ricci et al, 2008(Ricci et al, , 2013Davidde et al, 2010;Ricci and Davidde, 2012). In contrast, very few works on microbial bioerosion refer to freshwater systems Seeler and Golubi c, 1991;Tribollet et al, 2008).…”

“…The procedure was the following (Ricci et al, 2013): 1 e dehydration by transferring specimens through a series of acetone solutions in distilled water, along a gradient of increasing concentration (20, 40, 60 80, 100%); 2 e infiltration by polystyrene resin "Styrene Styrol 2S" (LEICA Microsystems, Srl), in a 50:50 solution of resin and acetone with catalyst, followed by treatment with a vacuum pump; 3 e polymerization at room temperature for 2e3 h; 4 e transfer of specimens in pure resin with catalyst; 5 e polymerization at 60 C for 24 h; 6 e cutting of the blocks in oriented thick sections (parallel and perpendicular to the surface); 7 e application of drops of HCl 3% to the cut surface until approximately 2 mm of the carbonate substrate is dissolved; 8 e washing in distilled water to eliminate acid residues; 9 e drying in oven at 40 C for 24 h.…”

Aspects of Biodeterioration of Lapideous Submerged Artefacts: 3d Methodologies Application

“…2 B, C); in this way data on the extent of the attack and depth of penetration are obtained. These analyses also give information on the diameters of the perforations but do not allow the identification of the microorganism producing the traces; this is achieved by the embedding-casting resin technique: perforations are filled with a resin forming casts of the tunnels that are freed from the lapideous material by acid dissolution (Golubic et al, 1970;Ricci et al, 2013). The casts (called ichnotaxa) are perfect replicas of the microorganisms because the tunnels burrowed reproduce the morphology of the borer (Fig.…”

“…Studies conducted until today have examined artefacts still in situ (mosaic floors made of opus sectile and wall structures) and artefacts recovered from the seabed (fragments of statues and marble slabs). The results have shown the dangerous biological activity explicated by different groups of endolithic biodeteriogens able to perforate the stone (Ricci et al, 2007;Ricci et al, 2008aRicci et al, , 2008bDavidde et al, 2010;Ricci and Davidde, 2012;Ricci et al, 2013;Ricci et al, 2014). The aim of this paper is to illustrate problems related to bioerosion phenomena of submerged archaeological artefacts and to present some potential application of 3D visualization techniques in this field of study.…”