Search results
Oct 26, 2020 · Mica, with its many thin sheets, is especially fragile physically. Limestone will erode or dissolve in acidic environments, as do other calcareous materials; this soft and porous rock may also suffer from erosion from wind, water, and crystallization of salts.
- Margaret Beck
- margaret-beck@uiowa.edu
Oct 19, 2023 · Sunlight, rain, soil, animals, bacteria, and other natural processes can cause artifacts to erode, rust, rot, break, and warp. Sometimes, however, natural processes can help preserve materials. For example, sediments from floods or volcanic eruptions can encase materials and preserve them.
Jul 29, 2021 · Artifacts made of wood, papyrus, and bone, for example, are perishable and prone to rapid decomposition (rot and decay), making them difficult to recover. Decomposition occurs when organisms such as molds and bacteria inhabit and often consume organic material.
Jun 26, 2016 · From antique weapons to paintings, from coins to watches, from religious objects to archaeological finds, tens of thousands of specimens forming part of the world’s archaeological and cultural heritage are stolen or looted. Trafficking in items dating back to previous generations began thousands of years ago.
A. Erosion removes layers, potentially rearranging or exposing artifacts. B. Erosion enhances color and texture of artifacts without exposure. C. Erosion creates new artifacts by depositing materials. D. Erosion preserves organic materials by enclosing them in sediment.
Besides artifacts, archaeological sites provide ecofacts: organic and environmental remains such as animal bones, plant remains, and soils that occur at archaeological sites but were not made, modified, or used by humans. Ecofacts can reveal much about human behavior.
People also ask
What causes artifacts to erode?
Why are artifacts difficult to recover?
Which deterioration causes the most damage to organic artifacts?
Can natural processes help preserve artifacts?
Sep 14, 2020 · Biodeterioration of stone monuments and buildings can lead to a loss of world cultural heritage. This Review discusses the role of microbes in the deterioration processes, the biochemical ...
