Monument Future. Siegfried Siegesmund

      Figure 1: Map of Iran with the location of the site and rock-cut tomb of Xerxes in Naqsh-e Rustam and its bas-relief decorations.

      Close examination was done on the rock reliefs which showed various patterns of decay for the monument. These features were classified using ICOMOS-ISCS glossary on stone decay patterns and UNI 11187:2006 (ICOMOS-ISCS, 2008 & UNI, 2006) based on the mapping methodology developed by Fitzner et al., (1995). The orthophotograph output of laser scanning documentation was used to generate the base map on which the decay features were transported.

      In the next step, the decay patterns and their distribution on the surface of rock reliefs were compared with historical resources to assess the changes occurred by the passage of time. The site was one of the main destinations of travelers and scholars since the 17th century. Based on this reality, a search was done for archival material including the site condition in the past. After identification and collection of the historical resources, we focused on any indication of deterioration problems. Not only the graphic sources, such as old photos and drawings, were compared with the decay map, but also, we consider older written materials such as travelers’ accounts with reference to the reliefs. Some of them were analyzed during the 20th century, however, these data were never studied from 73the conservation point of view. For example, the Engelbert Kampfer’s report about the site (1712) was neglected mostly because of the difficulty in translating its specific style of Latin, which was finally partially translated into German in the mid 20th century. However, those parts about Naqsh-e Rustam were put aside. After the completion of these phases, the decay processes were tentatively assessed, on the basis of the collected information, comparing them to the present state of the site, attempting to locate them on the map.

      This approach was followed by sampling from representative points on the reliefs. Considering 3 different elevations and the variety of the decay features identified during the mapping process, in total 14 samples were taken from the rock monument.

      Two samples were taken from the rock for its characterization. They were taken from the places where detachments had occurred, from the walls due to cracks. Two more samples were taken from the undamaged part of the rock from places more distant from the monument. Other samples were taken from the weathered surface layers (Table 1). Moreover, traces of polychrome decoration on the stone were revealed in the course of emergency conservation operations, which were covered for centuries under layers of soil depositions and crusts. The samples were studied by means of optical and SEM microscopic observations of thin sections and cross-sections, as well as SEM-EDX and XRD analyses. Observations on thin sections and cross-sections of samples were accomplished using a stereomicroscope Leitz Wild M420 at different magnifications and a Scanning electron microscope JEOL 5910 LV, source tungsten filament, coupled with X-ray spectrometer (EDS) in a dispersion of IXRF-2000 energy in order to observe the sequence of the superimposed crusts and samples with traces of polychromy. Analyses were conducted in low vacuum conditions. The compositional nature and distribution of elements on sample was investigated by EDS spectra and maps from 0 to 20 keV. X-ray diffraction was carried out on powdered samples by PANalytical X’Pert PRO X-ray diffractometer, with geometry goniometer θ–θ. The diffractograms were recorded between 3° and 75° 2 θ with a scanning speed of 0.21 θ/sec, using a Cu Kα radiation, a PW generator 3040/60 in the conditions of 40 kV and 40 mA, and a solid-state multi-detector X’Celerator PW3015/20, with Ni filter. Results were interpreted by the use of the X’Pert HighScore software.

      In order to give a more comprehensive view to the problem of decay patterns in Naqshe-Rustam, we preferred to focus on one of the main weathering phenomena which predominate the decay patterns in this site and contributes to the progress of other decay problems. We finally discussed one of the specific findings about the remaining traces of surface polychrome decorations, which seem to be very rare and need specific care and conservation measures in the future.

       Preliminary Results and Discussions

       a) Mapping

      Seven types of decay patterns were mainly identified in the close examination of the reliefs (Figure 2).

       b) Historical documents

      A considerably high number of historical records were identified about the preservation condition of the reliefs. This is due to the fact that the site was very popular among western scholars between 17th and 20th centuries.

      Among the identified material, some decay phenomena were described in detail. A critical approach in reading the precedent visitors’ works was especially noted among most of the authors, which make it possible to follow the events through history. According to the first notes written about the site by Pietro Della Valle, the Italian traveler in 17th century (Masetti, 2018) “the very little fragility of the sculptures shows that they are so strong that can last as long as the mountains themselves” (Della Valle, 1843, p. 261). This condition as the beginning point of the survey may be compared with the evidence of decay, which are traced in the early 20th century photos and even the drawings from 18th and 19th centuries. However, it is more 74precise to compare the graphic resources with the present mapped condition. Figure 3 shows examples of specific phenomena, which were discovered.