Bacterial Deterioration of Marble Monuments: A Case Study of the Conservation Project of Acropolis Monuments

Abstract

The deterioration of the Acropolis monuments’ surface can be attributed to a combination of mechanical, physical, chemical and biological factors. The aim of this work was to investigate the potential use of biocides suitable for marble surface in order to confront the biodeterioration phenomenon due to heterotrophic bacteria. Surface bacterial populations were studied in respect to the application of three biocide agents. A significant decrease of the bacterial counts was occurred after the biocides’ application and remained less compared with the counts occurred on the untreated surfaces for more than 14 months. A gradual diminution of bacterial diversity was also observed leading to the survival of specific Gram positive strains.

Keywords:

• Ancient Marble
• Acropolis
• deterioration
• bacteria diversity

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Acropolis Restoration Service and especially the Head of the technical office and surface conservation laboratory, Mrs. E. Papakonstantinou and the conservators Mrs. S. Papida and Mr. D. Garbis, for the suggestions of the sampling sites, the treatment of the biocide, the collection of speciments and for the valuable comments.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism.