Abstract:

Excavation of classical cities in Western Asia yields large quantities of marble, much of which must survive unprotected in an open-air environment for the foreseeable future. Accumulating bacteria, lichen and higher plants disfigure surfaces and threaten integrity. Illustrated by work at two sites in turkey, the Harvard/cornell sardis Excavations and the New York University (NYU) Aphrodisias Excavations, control of biocolonization on marble surfaces through cleaning techniques such as low-pressure water washing in conjunction with biocides is presented. reburial techniques that provide both protection and accessibility as a preservation option are also described.