engleski

Radiation technology for cultural heritage protection under crisis

The only gamma irradiation facility continuously treating cultural heritage (CH) objects for decontamination and/or preservation in Croatia and many surrounding countries is located at Ruđer Bošković Institute (RBI), Radiation Chemistry and Dosimetry Laboratory (RCDL). RCDL has over 40 years of experience in the application of radiation processing for preservation of CH objects. More than 10000 objects have been treated during these years, mostly wooden objects like sculptures, altars, furniture, tools, musical instruments, but also books, clothing, leather items etc. Presently about 20 m3 CH objects are treated annually at the facility. Most often single CH objects would be treated, but intervention involving radiation technology has proven to be a superior method compared to other techniques used for decontamination and/or preservation of cultural heritage in times of crisis. It was particularly suitable and effective for the prevention of large-scale biological degradation of works of art endangered during the Croatian War of Independence from 1991-19951 when a large number of objects needed to be processed in a short period. There is no other technology that can treat such large amounts of objects in a matter of hours. Around 5000 objects, mostly wooden polychrome sculptures, paintings and parts of altars, were evacuated and irradiated at the RCDL gamma facility. After the successful application of radiation technology during the war, the method has been continuously applied in various crisis situations in Croatia: from floods in museums to intervention after earthquakes. In order to expand the use of this technology the RCDL team is continuously conducting research and broadening the application of radiation processing for preservation of CH.

radiation technology, cultural heritage, material protection

nije evidentirano