Vegetation Cover and Tumuli’s Shape as Affecting Factors of Microclimate and Biodeterioration Risk for the Conservation of Etruscan Tombs (Tarquinia, Italy)

Giulia Caneva, Simone Langone, Flavia Bartoli, Adele Cecchini and Carlo Meneghini
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Giulia Caneva: Department of Sciences, University Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
Simone Langone: Department of Sciences, University Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
Flavia Bartoli: Department of Sciences, University Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
Adele Cecchini: Cultural Association “Amici delle Tombe dipinte di Tarquinia”, Via della Salute 8-12, 01016 Tarquinia, Italy
Carlo Meneghini: Department of Sciences, University Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: The conservation of underground tombs is affected by several physical-chemical and biological factors, which could be reduced by insulating systems able to maintain the microclimatic stability also decreasing the biodeterioration risk. In Mediterranean areas, wild ephemeral plants, which reduce their cover during the hot season, seem unsuitable for reducing summer overheating. In this study, we wish to assess the influence of vegetation cover and of overlaying soil, after the establishment of an evergreen turf of a cultivar of Cynodon dactylon , on two tombs in the Etruscan Necropolis of Monterozzi, covered by linear-shaped tumuli. Therefore, we evaluated for 10 months the thermo-hygrometric values of these tombs, together with two tombs as controls. We also evaluated the different tumuli’s morphologies and the related received solar radiation. Results confirmed that late summer and early autumn as critical microclimatic periods for the risk factors of hypogeal paintings when peaks of superficial temperature occur. A positive influence of vegetation cover on maintaining constant humidity and internal temperatures was detected, but the mounds orientation, as well as soil depth, seems to have a relevant role. Considering the naturalistic features of the area and the related cultural ecosystem services, a careful selection of wild plants is suggested.

Keywords: archaeological parks; biodeterioration prevention; cultural ecosystem services; hypogea microclimate; hypogea conservation; Monterozzi Necropolis; plant cover effects; UNESCO site; wall paintings conservation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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