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AUTHORS

Carrozzo M.T., Cataldo R.,
De Nunzio G., Leucci G.,
Marzo L., Nuzzo L., Villani A.V.

Osservatorio di Chimica, Fisica
e Geologia Ambientali

Dipartimento di Scienza dei Materiali

Università di Lecce

Via per Arnesano, 73100 LECCE, Italy

Tel. +39-0832320549
Fax +39-0832320548

We propose a model of integration between features of geophysical, physical, and chemical variables, obtained using multiple and different techniques, never been applied in the field of safeguard of works of art, in order to assess the reasons of previous or potential damages of the artistic monuments, due to physical and chemical conditions. The results of the different surveys are displayed here, showing a method useful to explore relationships between different variables, during the local and the network analysis of the database.

The "Basilica of Santa Croce"- LECCE is a baroque church internationally well known; the starting point for this research has been the evidence that some altars (Saint Filippo Neri, Saint Oronzo, Annunciazione) are more damaged that the others (Fig.1, Fig.2 and Fig.3, point N O and A on the map Fig.4).

They present many efflorescence of sodium chloride and a strong deterioration of limestone; our investigations have been performed to discover three possible causes that singularly or concurrently give these damages. The types of measurements are:

Geophysical survey, using a ground-penetrating radar (GPR), to obtain information on buried structures or to locate and identify subsurface anomalies;

Monitoring of the environmental microclimate; these surveys have been performed both in continuous and "ad hoc" in critical periods (such as change of seasons). This is necessary to evaluate termo-hygrometric cycles to furnish indications both for the limitation of the physical stresses and for the processes of deposition and adsorbiment of pollutants;

Analysis of the concentration of pollutants in atmosphere with the X-rays fluorescence in dispersion of energy (EDXRF). This is a consolidated technique for the determination of relatively heavy elements (with atomic number greater than 20), recently used for the determination of light elements such as sodium chloride and calcium sulphate. The mixture of these two elements is one of the principal responsible of the degradation of works of art. This is particularly true for a very porous Miocene's limestone said "Pietra Leccese", used to built the Basilica of Santa Croce.

Furthermore advanced tools for analysis, query, selection and display have been used to seek patterns on a large number of data that may be visible without using them.