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How to do a Cave painting treatment

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    • #134508
      Susan Araoz
      Participant

      Hi!
      I´m Susan, artist and conservator. I work as a conservator of archaeological objets in Cusco – Perú.
      It was found cave paintings in the work area of a mine, the desire is to recover the cave paintings, otherwise will be lost. The aim is to cut the stone, separating at least the pictorial parts, each painted area does not exceed 0.90 m.
      The questions are: has anyone had this kind of experience? If so, with what type of tool is better to cut the stone without damaging the cutting area?. Is it better to use láser or a portable machine with diamond disc?
      Thanks for the support!

    • #134509
      Susan Araoz
      Participant

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    • #134511
      Susan Araoz
      Participant

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    • #134513
      Susan Araoz
      Participant

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    • #134515
      Susan-1
      Member

      I forwarded your message to several people involved in rock art and Latin American conservation. Here are their responses.
      Susan

      Ben Brown (INAH-Juarez, Mexico):
      “Jane has given rock art conservation courses all over the world as is a specialist permanently “on call” to the NPS for emergency advice. Likewise, Marglyph has worked throughout the Southwest as well as places like Sweden and Finland. She is local chair for the May meeting of the American Rock Art Research Association in Las Cruces.
      That said, and recognizing that I don’t know the local situation, I’d initially argue for an “in situ” solution rather than a removal to preserve. There are too many risks.”
      Ben

      Jane Kolber:
      “My first question would be “Why must it be removed?” as removal will most likely destroy it.
      Then I suggest contacting:
      Daniel Castillo Benitez – an archaeologist in Peru who works with rock-art.
      Johannes Loubser – a rock-art conservator.
      Another possibility would be for the person in Santa Fe [New Mexico] to search out the methods used to remove the Kiva murals. Or the Egyptian tomb paintings.
      But still “Why must they be removed?”
      Jane”

      M K BERRIER
      “I totally agree with Jane.
      Removal is very very tricky and would probably damage the rock art.
      Chances are it has already been hanging on for ages.
      Don’t do it yourself! Find an expert.
      But I agree – “Why must they be removed”
      m”

    • #134520
      Susan Araoz
      Participant

      Ben, I agree about the risk. But when the enterprice said there is no way to leave the rock art in it´s own place, because of some constructions, definitely it will be lost.

    • #134521
      Susan Araoz
      Participant

      Jane, as I see the situation, the plan of removing the Rock Art is almost the option to preserve it from the total loss. Yes, I know the importance of thousand and thousand years, of that rock art. I will give those contacts to the enterprise, thank you for giving me this information.

    • #134522
      Susan Araoz
      Participant

      MK, I will probably not do the work of cutting the stone, so maybe another person or worker will do or maybe not. But then I had two options in my head, the first: “preserve means to protect” the cultural property from the damage, cut and remove from its origin is a serious damage. The second one, if this cultural property will be lost anyway, due to new constructions or flooding events, even the magnitude of its size and weight of the rock art can not be saved at all with the matrix rock included, shall we let this important rock art be loosen, even if we don´t mean to damage it?

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