Biodeterioration at 15th century indian cultural heritage site: identification, micro-environment and their scientific protection

Scientific preservation of cultural heritage is one of the major challenges for the new generation. Several biodeteriorating agents are affecting our cultural heritage, which is made with almost all types of materials produced by nature and used by men to realize several types of heritage buildings, from very simple mono-components to complex structures integrating inorganic and organic matters. Stone from cultural heritage buildings is usually affected by microflora and microclimate, mainly the loss of dimensional and structural stability. Environmental degradation was developed by fluctuation cycles of humidity and temperature. The present study focused on identifying the microenvironment-induced biodeteriogens that were growing on the fifteenth-century stone structure of Lat ki masjid and their scientific protection. In this study, S. aureus, Actinomycetes, A. niger, A. fumigatus, cyanobacteria, and lichens (foliated with fruticose) were identified as biodeteriogens and assesed the microenvironment parameters. Temperature, R.H., oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, particulate matter (2.5), and precipitation were measured in the ambiance of the Lat ki masjid, Dhar, Madya Pradesh, India. RH and temperature were reported maximum in the months of December and May, respectively, in a year.