Selective Spectral LED Lighting System Applied in Paleolithic Cave Art

Abstract

This article aims to find an optimal solution for illuminating cave art, based on the improvement of color reproduction and minimizing the damage caused by visible radiation on the painting. To improve visual perception, a light source with optimal spectral distribution has been calculated. This spectral distribution minimizes the damage, maximizes the colorimetric distance between the color of the rock paintings and the closer stone, and takes into account how it was lit by the author. A mathematical function has been used to optimize the spectral distribution of the light source. With this aim, a tunable red–green–blue (RGB) light emitting diode (LED) luminaire has been used. It has been found that the new calculated lighting of the cave does not alter the environmental conditions by performing a test of algae growth and thermographic measurements.

KEYWORDS:

• colorimetry in caves
• color in cave art
• lighting cave art
• lighting cultural heritage
• photochemical damage
• tuneable LED lighting

Additional information

Funding

This work was developed as consequence of the agreement between the Cultural Heritage Institute of Spain and the Culture, Tourism and Sport Department of Cantabria Government and was supported by research project HAR 2012-31929 of the Science and Innovation Ministry of Spain.