| ■Tokyo National Research
Institute for Cultural Properties |
■Center for Conservation
Science |
| ■Department of Art Research,
Archives and Information Systems |
■Japan Center for
International Cooperation in Conservation |
| ■Department of Intangible
Cultural Heritage |
|
Implementation of pack method using inorganic restorative materials
Before and after conservation and restoration
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties has been conducting research titled “International Research on Technology for the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage” since the fiscal year 2021. Last year, a research survey was conducted on the trowel paintings at the earthen storehouse of the former Kina-Saffron-Shu-Honpo in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture. The research focused on removing contaminants such as dust, as well as identifying appropriate conservation and restoration methods for damaged areas, such as peeling and flaking, with the aim of establishing effective techniques. This research was commissioned by the government of Nagaoka City. Building on this, from 26 September to 16 October of this year, a follow-up study was conducted with the cooperation of European experts. The goal was to develop methods for reinforcing and restoring the colored layers and plaster layers, as well as techniques for retouching the decoration.
In the past, synthetic resin-based materials were used for the repair of damaged areas of these trowel paintings. However, due to the high temperature and humidity in summer and heavy snowfall during the winter, the materials had deteriorated significantly over time. At times, the restoration materials themselves contributed to the deterioration of the trowel paintings. To improve this situation, we considered introducing durable inorganic restoration materials. For the retouching, we adopted a coloring method that not only preserves the dignity of the mural, which will soon be 100 years old, but also harmonizes with the overall appearance of the entire trowel painting storage.
The conservation and restoration methods for the trowel paintings established through this series of research surveys mark the first such case in Japan from the perspective of cultural heritage preservation studies. While it will be necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the results based on future monitoring, it can be said that a significant step forward has been made toward improving the current condition.
said that a significant step forward has been made toward improving the current condition.
Stucco decoration on the ruins
Survey scene at the archaeological site
Since 2021, The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation has been involved in a research survey on stucco decoration and clay statues under the research project “Technology for the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage” program.
As part of these activities, we visited the Roman ruins of Somma Vesuviana in Italy on September 6 and 7, 2024. This site, located on the north side of Mount Vesuvius, has been investigated since 2002 by an excavation team led by the University of Tokyo, which has so far discovered remains of buildings thought to have been founded around AD. As a result of various investigations, there is a strong possibility that these buildings were a villa of Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire, as described in historical records.
During this visit, we focused on the stucco decorations that remain among the ruins, conducted preliminary research on the materials, techniques, and coloring used, and prepared a research plan. In this plan, we also mentioned the possibility of deepening our study on modern methods of conservation and restoration of the decorative gateway, where stucco decorations and wall paintings remain, with a view to preserving and utilizing the remains.
We will continue to deepen our understanding of the structure and characteristics of stucco decoration through comparative research on stucco decoration techniques and materials for archaeological sites of the Greek and Roman periods, and continue our research on their conservation and restoration methods and site management.
Stone piece joining experiment
Site visit survey of stone sculpture conservation and restoration
The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation is working with European experts to improve the current situation regarding the conservation and restoration of stone cultural properties in Japan.
From July 1 to 6, 2024, we visited Florence, Italy, and with the Opificio delle Pietre Dure and Italian national conservators of cultural properties, we conducted experimental research on reinforcing stone surfaces and joining stone pieces using restoration materials that are not available in Japan.
We also visited the conservation and restoration site of the stone sculptures installed in the Boboli Gardens, landscaped by the Medici family in the 16th century, to observe and deepen our knowledge on how to deal with various types of damage, such as cracks, delamination, and filling in missing areas. The methods used to control biodeterioration, which tends to occur due to the outdoor environment, are particularly interesting, and the way of thinking is also linked to conservation management. This was a great learning experience, as the methods are expected to be effective in Japan as well.
We have set a goal to continue our research to improve the current situation regarding the conservation and restoration of domestic stone cultural heritage, by continuing experimental studies and case studies, as well as deepening our links with experts in the field.
The Palatine Chapel of the Norman Palace
Stucco Decoration by Giacomo Serpotta (The Oratorio del Santa Cita)
Since 2021, The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation has been involved in a research survey on stucco decoration and clay statues being conducted as part of the research project “Technology for the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage” program. The original research plan was to begin in a Mediterranean coastal area where stucco as a building material was beginning to be used as a material for decoration and for the production of clay statues. Although the spread of coronavirus infection had forced changes to the research plan, including a switch to a domestic survey, the relaxation of waterfront measures has led to a return to the original plan and activities are now being resumed in Europe.
From July 5 to July 7, 2024, we visited Palermo, Italy, to discuss cooperation with the local Superintendent of Cultural Heritage regarding research on archaeological sites from the period during which the Greek colonial city was built. We also visited the Arab-Norman buildings, including Monreale Cathedral, which has been designated a World Heritage Site thanks to their efforts, and a church with stucco decorations by Giacomo Serpotta, a sculptor who was active mainly in the 16th and 17th centuries, and we briefly investigated the conservation and restoration efforts.
In the future, through research into stucco decoration techniques and materials for archaeological sites in Sicily, we will deepen our understanding of their structure and characteristics, and continue our research into their conservation and restoration methods and site management.
Meeting at the Nevşehir Conservation and Restoration Regional Laboratory
Courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of Nevşehir Province
The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation, in cooperation with local specialized institutions and universities in Turkey, are conducting a joint research project on the conservation and restoration of mural paintings on the interior walls of St. Michael’s Church (Keşlik Monastery) in Cappadocia, Turkey. Last year, a research plan was prepared based on field surveys, and after deliberations held by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey and an expert committee, the project was officially approved for implementation.
Survey for the development of a conservation and restoration research plan at St. Michael’s Church (Keşlik Monastery) :: 東文研アーカイブデータベース (tobunken.go.jp)
In response, we visited the site from June 25 to 29, 2024, to discuss environmental arrangements that will be important for conducting research activities safely in the future. The discussions were conducted with the cooperation of Mr. Hatice Temur YILDIZ, Director of the Nevşehir Conservation and Restoration Regional Laboratory, and Mr. Levent Ak, a member of the Urgup City Council and Director of the Cappadocia Tourism and Regional Infrastructure Services Association. The discussions were very fruitful, as we had the opportunity to exchange views with the Deputy Governor of Nevşehir and the Mayor of Ürgüp. As a result, we were able to establish a cooperative framework with public organizations in the Cappadocia region, as they agreed to cooperate with us on the construction of scaffolding and installation of facilities for water and electricity in the church.
We will continue our research activities to meet the expectations of the local people and to contribute widely to the conservation and restoration of cultural properties in the Republic of Turkey.
Conference program
Scene from the venue, “Convent of Fuligno”
Perugino (real name: Pietro Vannucci) was one of the leading painters of the Italian Renaissance. He left behind numerous works of art, including a mural painting in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican, and was a master of the young Raffaello, who praised him as a “God-Like Painter.” In 2023, the 500th anniversary of Perugino’s death, numerous exhibitions and symposia were held in Italy and abroad.
Joining with this commemoration, the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, in collaboration with Elio Conti Historical Studies Association, the National Research Council of Italy Institute of Heritage Science, the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the metropolitan city of Florence and the provinces of Pistoia and Prato, and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, organized the international conference, “Perugino and Florence,” held over two days, May 14 and 15, 2024, at the “Cenacolo di Fuligno” (‘Convent of Fuligno’) in Florence. The conference brought together experts from the fields of art history, conservation, and other fields, to reassess the value of this great painter through presentations on his work. We also gave a presentation on an interdisciplinary technical study of the two remaining mural paintings in Florence, and discussed future conservation, restoration, and maintenance methods.
In the future, in cooperation with local experts, ways of improving the conservation of Perugino’s painting of the Last Supper, which is now in a museum in the former Convent of Fuligno in Florence, will be carried out through scientific research and other means.
Seven-story stone pagoda at Kandani Shrine
Survey of similar cases for the conservation and restoration of stone cultural properties in Europe
Stone is a material that mankind has utilised for cultural life since ancient times. It has a wide range of uses, including as tools, building materials, and sculptures, many of which are classified as stone cultural heritage and have been handed down through conservation efforts. Although the definition of stone as cultural heritage differs between Japan and the rest of the world, various efforts have been made to conserve and restore stone materials around the world. In particular, Europe, known as having had ‘stone culture’ as opposed to Japan’s ‘wood culture,’ has been leading the world in advanced research and studies, and the results of these studies can be used for the conservation of stone cultural heritage in Japan.
Many stone cultural heritage objects are conserved outdoors, as they are more durable than timber in terms of hardness and stability. Therefore, they are often subject to deterioration and loss due to external factors such as weather, natural disasters, and the surrounding environment, and it is necessary to take measures from a variety of perspectives when considering their conservation. This is why it is important to look at many examples, share the problems with experts in each field, and carry out research to find solutions.
On February 16, 2024, we visited Kandani Shrine in Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture, to conduct a survey for the conservation of the seven-storey stone pagoda standing on the shrine grounds. The stone pagoda, built of lapilli tuff, is in a very poor state, with the base eroded by rainwater, and cracks and losses are visible. The situation was shared with European experts, and on March 1, 2024, we held meeting in Florence with Italian national conservators of cultural properties regarding a survey of similar examples and a research plan.
In the future, we will engage in research that will lead to improvements in the current state of conservation and restoration of stone cultural properties in Japan.
Hall of the Five Hundred in Palazzo Vecchio
Comparative study of marble sculpture and clay statues using 3D
The Japan Centre for International Cooperation in Conservation is involved in a research survey on stucco decoration and clay statues under the research project “Technology for the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage” program.
As part of this project, we visited Florence from February 26 to March 2 and from March 10 to March 12, 2024, to carry out a survey of a statue by the late Renaissance and Mannerist sculptor Giambologna, ‘Florence triumphant over Pisa,’ in collaboration with the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the metropolitan city of Florence.
This work, which is currently on display in the Hall of the Five Hundred in Palazzo Vecchio facing Piazza della Signoria, was originally created as a prototype for a work in marble, and a marble work based on it is on display at the National Museum of the Bargello. In this study, the shapes of the two pieces were compared using 3D scanning as part of the verification of the production technique. In the future, the research will move on to focus on the internal structure, which is important for the production of the clay statues.
There are many clay statues existing in Japan and overseas, but surprisingly, methods for their conservation and restoration have not yet been established. We will continue our activities with the notion that relevant research surveys will lead to the development of conservation and restoration methods.
Investigation of the condition of mural paintings in a church using a checklist
Discussions with local experts
In Istria, located in the northwestern part of Croatia, numerous mural paintings were painted in churches from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Although there are as many as 150 such paintings in Istria, there are serious problems with their maintenance and management. To improve this situation, the Japan Centre for International Cooperation in Conservation is conducting a research project to establish a method for documenting the state of conservation in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, the Historic and Naval Museum of Istria, and the University of Zagreb.
From March 4 to 8, 2024, we visited the site, prepared a checklist for the conservation status of the mural paintings, and conducted an implementation test on two churches located in the center of the Istrian Peninsula, with the aim of ensuring that experts engaged in the conservation and maintenance of the mural paintings would be able to efficiently utilize the information. As a result, we were able to obtain accurate information in a short period of time and confirmed that the information could be used to develop a policy for the future conservation of the murals paintings.
In the future, we will discuss the content of the checklist items to make it more complete and aim to build a digital archive through repeated implementation tests.
Cleaning of adhering materials
Treatment of detached finish layers
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties has been conducting research and surveys investigating stucco decorations since fiscal year 2021 as part of the “International Research on Technology for the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage” program.
From October 25 to November 16, 2023, a research survey on the conservation and restoration of trowel paintings on doors and under eaves of the earthen storehouse of the former Kina-Saffron-Shu-Honpo in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture was conducted. This work was carried out as part of the “Conservation and restoration research of trowel paintings in the earthen storehouse of the former Kina-Saffron-Shu-Honpo” commissioned by Nagaoka City, with the aim of establishing conservation and restoration methods for trowel paintings in Japan from the perspective of cultural property conservation studies.
In recent years, the value of trowel painting in Japan as a cultural asset has been increasing, and the importance of an intervention method called “conservation and restoration” that can be advanced with clear evidence that it is compatible with existing materials is therefore also increasing. In this research study, conservation and restoration experts on stucco decoration were invited from Europe to discuss how to deal with the various types of damage found on trowel paintings. As a result, we were able to establish appropriate conservation and restoration methods for the removal of dust and other adherents and for damaged areas such as peeling and flaking, and achieved a certain level of success.
In the future, the state of the wall paintings after conservation and restoration will be monitored, and methods for reinforcing the plaster, which has deteriorated over time, will be studied further.
Exterior view of St Michael's Church
Cleaning tests for soot stains
Cappadocia, located in Central Anatolia, Republic of Turkey, was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1985 as Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia, as a result of long-term erosion of the tuff plateau. More than 1,000 rock churches and monasteries had been built, and mural paintings were painted on the inner walls of these churches and monasteries.
Last year, a preliminary survey was conducted with Ankara Haji Bayram Veli University to establish a joint research project on the conservation and restoration of cultural properties, and as a result, it was decided to target the mural paintings in St, Michael’s Church (in the Keslik Monastery). In response, we visited the site from June 15 to 22, 2023 and conducted a survey aimed to establish a research plan. Research issues were then identified, such as the removal of soot stains covering the mural paintings surfaces and the conservation treatment of plaster layers that had detached from the bedrock support.
In the future, while sharing research issues with local experts, we will continue our activities to contribute to the conservation and restoration activities of cultural heritage in the Republic of Turkey.
St.Nicholas Church
The Church of St. Mary on skriljinah
Istria is a peninsula that is largely located in northwestern Croatia, with some parts governed by Slovenia and Italy. Istria has a history of frequent changes in rulers: the Roman Empire in ancient times, the Venetian Republic in the Middle Ages, and the Habsburg Empire in modern times.
In this region, the practice of beautifying churches with wall paintings flourished from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, giving birth to numerous remarkable works. Unfortunately, the need to preserve this heritage was recognized only in the late 19th century in the wake of the activities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s Commission for Research and Conservation of Art and Historical Monuments. Later on, in the 20th century, after several wars and conflicts, the political situation finally calmed down after 1995 and the Croatian government established the Croatian Conservation Institute for cultural heritage. This led to a joint investigation by the Institute and the Archaeological Museum of Istria, and the term “Istrian-style wall painting” was coined as a general term for murals unique to this region.
From March 1-7, 2023, with the assistance of Dr. Sunčica Mustač of the Historic and Naval Museum of Istria and Associate Professor Neva Pološki of the University of Zagreb, we visited about 20 major churches in Istria to conduct field research on the wall paintings. In the process, technical cooperation was sought for the creation of a data archive on production techniques and conservation conditions, as well as for the study of conservation and restoration methods for the future. In the Istria region, there are approximately 150 surviving church wall paintings have been confirmed to exist. With the desire to pass on this irreplaceable cultural heritage to future generations, we will work to establish international collaboration while building networks with experts in related fields.
Courtesy visit to Rector Calcagnini
Campus Facilities
Italy is home to numerous cultural heritage sites and has been at the forefront of the conservation and restoration efforts undertaken to maintain these sites. The Department of Pure and Applied Sciences of the University of Urbino Carlo Bo is one the educational institutions in Italy that has made many contributions in the field of conservation science.
Recently, the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties concluded an agreement with this department to enter into research cooperation for the conservation and restoration of cultural heritages. The content of the agreement is comprehensive, targeting cultural properties around the world. The agreement aims to foster cooperation in scientific investigation and in development of techniques and materials for the formulation of conservation and restoration plans. Furthermore, a mutual exchange of researchers through events such as workshops is envisioned.
On February 17, 2023, I visited the University and exchanged opinions with Rector Giorgio Calcagnini regarding the future cooperation.
Also, under the guidance of Prof. Maria Letizia Amadori, Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, I toured the university facilities and had the pleasure of learning about an analytical study on cultural heritage preservation that is currently being undertaken.
In the future, through research cooperation that utilizes the expertise of both institutions, we hope to go beyond simply collecting analytical data, and develop activities that will lead to concrete preservation of cultural heritages.
Damaged cultural properties in the collection
First aid treatment
Since 2017, the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties has been carrying out a cooperative project to improve the conservation management system for cultural properties in the Republic of Turkey. On February 6, 2023, an earthquake centered in southeastern Turkey occurred, causing extensive damage mainly in Turkey and the Syrian Arab Republic, and affecting the state of preservation of cultural heritage. Obviously, for the time being, humanitarian aid should be prioritized. However, in the near future, it is anticipated that international support will also be needed for conservation and restoration of cultural properties.
Meanwhile, Central Italy suffered a series of major earthquakes in 1997, 2009, and 2016, and recovery efforts for damaged cultural heritage are still ongoing. The investigation was conducted from February 13 to 16, 2023, in the regions of Marche and Umbria, with the aim of learning how to respond to possible future contingencies, as well as to consider future support for Turkey and Syria, which have similar cultural heritages. Located in the city of Spoleto, the Sainte Quiord Art Collection was built following the 1997 earthquake as a shelter for cultural properties in the event of a natural disaster and as a place to provide first aid.
The facility still houses approximately 7000 pieces of damaged cultural properties, and emergency measures are being taken by nationally certified conservators.
Through repeated experience, Italy has developed an organizational structure and procedures for rescue operations immediately after a disaster and for subsequent handling of the situation. There are many things to be learned from countries that continue to make advanced efforts in disaster recovery and reconstruction activities related to cultural properties. We would like to continue our research and use the learnings in our future activities.
Survey at the conservation and restoration site of the rock-cut tomb wall paintings
Survey of a case for conservation and restoration at the site (Temple of Hathor)
Luxor is where the old capital Thebes was located during the New Kingdom period within the chronological division of ancient Egyptian history. Within Luxor, in the Valley of the Kings, Egyptian pharaohs such as Thutmose I and Tutankhamun were buried. Luxor also has many surviving mortuary temples, including the Karnak Temple Complex. These archaeological sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List as the “Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis” in 1979. They were evaluated as important archaeological ruins that demonstrate a lost civilization. Egyptology, research regarding Egyptian Civilization, stemmed from Napoleon Bonaparte’s 1798 French Campaign in Egypt. Since then, research has been actively conducted on an international scale. Interesting outcomes and reports have been made available annually, and will continue to be published. Luxor is one of the targets of these studies. Excavation surveys are actively conducted at various sites in Luxor, where archaeological complexes and objects are continuously discovered.
The challenges associated with continuous discoveries are the conservation and utilization after archaeological surveys. In recent years, it has become mandatory that the sites and archaeological objects discovered by excavation surveys must be conserved and maintained as cultural properties for local tourism promotions. However, there are many cases in which inadequate emergency treatments are made under time and budget constraints, often damaging the sites and archaeological objects.
We conducted an on-site survey, targeting the Luxor Museum and West Bank rock-cut tomb sites from December 12th to 24th, 2022, to explore the possibilities of supporting the improvement of these situations. As a result, we were asked for cooperation by local experts to discuss maintenance methods regarding the conservation and management of archaeological objects housed in the museum, and on conservation and restoration methods of the wall paintings of rock-cut tombs in the principle that they would be conserved at the original sites. We will continue the survey to narrow down the research theme of urgent needs and targets to bring it to the international team co-working on this project.
Kina-Saffron-Shu-Honpo Kote-e Kura
Flaking and chipping
Kina-Saffron-Shu-Honpo Kote-e Kura in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture was completed in 1926 by the plasterer KAWAKAMI Ikichi. The artwork was commissioned by YOSHIZAWA Nitarō, the founder of Kina-Saffron-Shu-Honpo (i.e., Kina Saffron Winery). The kote-e* (plaster reliefs) are mainly positioned around eaves and doors of the warehouse structured of lumber and with mud wall. The kote-e reliefs are three-dimensional representations of Daikokuten (Japanese deity of fortune and wealth) and animals and plants, and were created with the impasto technique mainly using plaster. The use of red and blue colors in the reliefs creates a contrast that enhances the three-dimensional visual effect.
Although these kote-e are placed in a harsh environment with exposure to rainfall and wind, they have remained in a relatively good condition considering that they were created almost 100 years ago. This can be attributed to the efforts made by people to protect the artwork and hand down it to generations as well as to the characteristics of the plaster and the ingenious plastering techniques.
Nonetheless, some damage such as flaking and chipping of plaster and color can be seen in every kote-e on careful observation. Hence, responding to the request by Nagaoka City, the owner of the warehouse, Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) visited the site on November 11th, 2022 and conducted sampling investigation of color and plaster as a part of pre-investigation for conservation and restoration, which has been deemed necessary for the near future. Sampling investigation is conducted by extracting small samples from the target materials; this practice is also described as “destructive investigation.” Although the word “destructive” may indicate something “bad,” it is not so. Sampling investigation enables us to obtain reliable information that cannot be obtained by simply checking the surface. Therefore, destructive investigation, in fact, enables safer and superior conservation and restoration.
We will effectively utilize the outcome analysis of this investigation for planning the conservation and restoration project so that the Kote-e Kura, which has been maintained by prior generations, can be passed down to future generations and it remains well-preserved for at least another 100 years.
*Kote-e: colorful Japanese plaster reliefs created using a trowel
Plaster remaining in the stone sarcophagus
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) visited the Oichi No.1 Kofun (tumulus) in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture and investigated the conservation status of the plaster remaining in the stone sarcophagus, in cooperation with the Culture Development Section, Economic Environment Division of Fukuyama City, on October 20th, 2022. Plaster, a type of construction material used for tumulus construction, requires specific knowledge and techniques regarding all processes from manufacturing to application. Therefore, it is a precious archaeological material which shows how technology was transferred when those tumuli were constructed. Hence, regardless of the coloring and/or decorations on it, plaster conservation is considered important and implemented in many cases outside Japan. Though there are more than 40 tumuli where plaster usage is confirmed in Japan, they are not widely known like Takamatsuzuka and Kitora Tumuli. While most of these tumuli were designated as cultural properties, plaster conservation measures are rarely taken up; the plaster is left to erode due to weathering and flaking every day.
The Oichi No.1 Kofun keeps the highest percentage of plaster in Japan. We wonder why it is not designated as a cultural property. Furthermore, it does not just keep the plaster, but we can even identify plaster application traces, which were considered to be made when the plaster was applied during the tumulus construction in the area, where the conservation status is good enough. It can be a precious clue to identify the tools used during the construction. In this investigation we discussed sustainable measures for plaster conservation based on the confirmation of its conservation status and environment, by considering the sense of morality on the cultural property conservation and restoration including material adaptability and aesthetic appearance.
Utilization of the cultural properties is required now more than ever. It is time to revise the methods of passing down the cultural properties to future generations in the given situation. The plaster remaining in tumuli is one of these cultural properties. We will discuss further the appropriate measures for conservation and methods to maintain and manage it for its future utilization by revising the current situation where the plaster has been decaying and lost, while also referring to the similar advanced cases in and outside Japan.
Wall paintings of Keslik Monastery
Wall paintings of the Ephesus ruins
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) conducted a preliminary survey to establish a joint research project related to the restoration of cultural properties in the Republic of Türkiye. This joint research project aimed to make sustainable improvements in the operational methods and techniques of conservation and restoration plans. These issues were raised through the “Human Resource Development Project toward the Improvement of the Conservation and Management System for Mural Paintings in the Republic of Türkiye,” conducted by TOBUNKEN from 2017 to 2019. In Türkiye, emergency treatment has been prioritized for cultural property conservation. However, the country recently started focusing on the development of conservation and restoration experts specializing in various materials.
We visited several regions of Trabzon, Şanlıurfa, and Cappadocia and some cities including Selçuk, and discussed with local experts conservation status and methods for conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. At Keslik Monastery, a Christian monastery located in the southern part of Cappadocia, the wall paintings on the inner walls are covered with thick soot layers from candles used in liturgical services over 1,000 years. The restoration of these wall paintings to their original condition was desired from the perspectives of both their protection and their touristic value. At the Ephesus ancient Roman ruins, members of the Austrian Archaeological Institute, who have been excavating there for a long time, explained to us that it is necessary to revise the current inconsistent conservation and restoration methods and to conduct research for the sake of establishing a basic policy.
Researchers from Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, who cooperated with us on the Human Resource Development Project previously mentioned, accompanied us on this survey. We will identify what challenges shall be tackled based on the survey outcomes and build an implementable joint research framework with each cooperating institute. We target the next fiscal year to start this joint research to lead to the further development of cultural heritage protection and conservation and restoration activities in the Republic of Türkiye.
Displaying a wall painting “Macedonian prince with a philosopher”
The Tokyo National Museum is currently holding the Special Exhibition: POMPEII from January 14th to April 3rd, 2022. The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) cooperated on the condition survey of the artifacts for the exhibition (wall paintings, mosaics and marble statues) at the display setting prior to the opening of this exhibition.
Pompeii is a city built in the Roman period, located about 23 km southeast of Naples, a city in the south of Italy. In 79 AD, a major eruption of Mount Vesuvius, located between Naples and Pompeii, buried the city with volcanic ash and pumice in a twinkle. Time has passed; the city of Pompeii was rediscovered in 1748. Full-scale excavation was started then. Many buildings, wall paintings, and artifacts of that time have been unearthed. About 150 pieces came to Japan from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, which holds a vast collection of artifacts excavated from Pompeii. These attract many museum visitors.
We had a chance to watch the set-up process at the exhibition venues, which we rarely experience during our usual work. In usual cases, experts from the museums owning these artifacts accompany them. However, they could not come to Japan due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thereafter, the entire exhibition set-up was left to the staff members of the Tokyo National Museum, and the experts in fine art transportation and display. The operation is far from easy, since special attention has to be paid, not to damage the pieces while simultaneously considering exhibit conditions best tailored to audiences. There is a wall painting weighing several hundreds of kilograms amongst the pieces listed for the exhibition. It was a very good opportunity for us to realize that the exhibitions we usually visit without giving them special attention can only be accomplished due to the sincere efforts of many people.
Conserved and restored parts are maintained in good condition (middle and upper parts), and plants have grown in the parts that remain unrestored.
Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) has been working on a technical support and skill development project for the conservation and restoration of wall paintings and exterior walls of the temples composed of bricks, targeting the staff in the Bagan branch of the Department of Archaeology and National Museums of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture of Myanmar. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and deterioration of Myanmar’s general situation have hindered our onsite work for some time. In such circumstances, we are conducting online meetings every two months to understand the status of the Me-taw-ya and Lokahteikpan temples, which are the target sites for the conservation and restoration project. We continue to provide advice for their maintenance and management by referring to the site photographs sent to us by the local staff.
The current status of the Me-taw-ya temple was reported at the meeting held on December 19th, 2021, informing that its restored parts have remained in good condition since our onsite activities were halted, which was two years ago. In the Bagan Archaeological Site, other organizations (prior to the involvement of TOBUNKEN) had repeatedly restored the joint plaster and adopted countermeasures against rain leakage. However, in most of the cases, the restoration materials were damaged within a year. Additionally, in 2021, the heavy rainfall caused disastrous damages to the structure.
For this project, we have been closely working with the local experts by listening carefully to their concerns and conducting relevant research to address them. The restoration materials introduced by TOBUNKEN have remained in good condition for 5 years, showing no damage even at the oldest parts. Thus, it is important to carefully monitor the progress after the restoration and to work on the restoration. Despite the frustration at being unable to work onsite because of the current situation, the proven effectiveness of the conservation and restoration to sustain over multiple years is a source of constant motivation for us.
Thus, while we continue to extend our full cooperation to the local staff, we remain hopeful about resuming our onsite work shortly.
