Heritage in the crossfire

Mol, Lisa; Brassey, Charlotte; Clarke, Lucy; Gilbert, Oscar; Campbell, Oliver; Blenkinsop, Thomas

Abstract

The Heritage in the Crossfire project investigates the impact of ballistics on sedimentary stone, and their consequences for further deterioration. This is particularly important in light of the ever increasing power of arms and their ubiquitous use in ongoing conflicts. Several countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have experienced a very sharp rise in heritage destruction in recent years, and they are the focus for our research. In this paper we provide an overview of the project, covering the fieldwork, laboratory work and education efforts carried out since 2017.
Fieldwork was carried out in Jordan on recent impacts outside of the protected zone, using rock surface hardness to characterise the nature of the stone and impact. We find that impact damage is both a function of the probable ammunition used, and the intrinsic properties of the rock (lithology, case hardening, wider weathering history) This work is complemented with a series of laboratory tests that uses controlled conditions to investigate the impact of modern small arms on sandstone and limestone.
These results have been incorporated in a suite of educational activities. Training involves the newly formed 77th Brigade (Monuments Men) of the British Army, Libyan and Tunisian heritage professionals under the Training in Action umbrella. This project illustrates the role that stone weathering geomorphologists can have in urgent remediation, particularly those related to heritage destruction in the MENA region, and the importance of translating these findings into training materials and partnerships.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: 14th international Congress on the Deterioration and Conservation of Stone (STONE 2020)
• Start Date: Sep 7, 2020
• End Date: Sep 12, 2020
• Acceptance Date: Jul 27, 2020
• Publication Date: Jul 27, 2020
• Deposit Date: Apr 21, 2022
• Volume: 2020
• Pages: 835-840
• Book Title: Monument Future - Decay and Conservation of Stone. Proceedings of the 14th International Congress on the Deterioration and Conservation of Stone
• ISBN: 9783963111723
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9378457
• Additional Information: Conference was cancelled due to Covid-19, proceedings have been published in hard-copy