Non-Invasive Characterization of Stone Artifacts from the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan, Mexico

2015 ◽  
Vol 1656 ◽  
pp. 293-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayra Dafne Manrique-Ortega ◽  
Pieterjan Claes ◽  
Valentina Aguilar-Melo ◽  
Malinalli Wong-Rueda ◽  
José Luis Ruvalcaba-Sil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Resources ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Chemical Information ◽  
High Status ◽  
Trade Routes ◽  
Stone Artifacts ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
The City ◽  
Non Destructive

ABSTRACTThe Museum of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan in Mexico City holds a collection of several thousands of polished stone artifacts that were excavated and identified as temple offerings. These can stratigraphically be related to the sequential construction stages (II-VII) of the ceremonial area of the Aztec capital from the foundation of the city in 1325 to 1521, when the Spaniards conquered the city. A non-destructive investigation of the elemental and chemical composition of these archaeological artifacts helps us to understand the provenance of these pieces, their use and the specific mineralogical choice for these artifacts as well as more information regarding trade routes relevant to the development of the Aztec empire. A mineralogical analysis of, in total, 450 stone artifacts was carried out using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). From this, eighty-five pieces were selected according to their excavation location, either in the Great Temple itself or in the surrounding buildings, as well as to represent the different construction stages of the area (this is part of a World Heritage Site). The resulting mineralogical and chemical information was related to possible mineral resources that were controlled and used as the empire expanded. Artifacts made from high-status semi-precious minerals, like jadeite and turquoise, are found to be concentrated in the central buildings and in the Great Temple itself, but also in the later construction periods of the area.

scholarly journals Monitoring and Evaluation of Sandstone Decay Adopting Non-Destructive Techniques: On-Site Application on Building Stones

Heritage ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 1287-1301
Author(s):  
Teresa Salvatici ◽  
Sara Calandra ◽  
Irene Centauro ◽  
Elena Pecchioni ◽  
Emanuele Intrieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Building Stone ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Stone Materials ◽  
The Many ◽  
The City ◽  
Non Destructive ◽  
Non Destructive Techniques

This paper focuses on the characterization approach to evaluate the decay state of Pietra Serena of historic buildings in Florence (Italy). Pietra Serena is a Florentine sandstone largely used in the city especially during the Renaissance; it is a symbol of cultural heritage of Florence and constitutes a large part of the city center, which was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Unfortunately, many environmental factors negatively affect the stone, increasing damage and the danger of falling material. Any detachment of stone fragments, in addition to constitute a loss in cultural heritage, can be dangerous for citizens and the many tourists that visit the city. The use of non-destructive techniques (NDTs) as ultrasonic and Schmidt hammer tests can quantitatively define some mechanical properties and help to monitor the decay degree of building stone. In this study, the NDTs were combined with mineralogical, petrographical, chemical and physical analyses to investigate the stone materials, in order to correlate their features with the characteristics of the different artefacts in Pietra Serena. Correlations between the NDTs results and the compositional characteristics of the on-site stone were carried out; such discussion allows to identify zones of weakness and dangerous unstable elements.

scholarly journals Beyond Newgrange: Brú na Bóinne in the later Neolithic

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Stephen Davis ◽  
Knut Rassmann
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
Geophysical Survey ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Late Neolithic ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
New Evidence

The Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site, Ireland is best known for its megalithic monuments, in particular the great developed passage tombs of Knowth, Dowth, and Newgrange, and its abundance of megalithic art. However, our understanding of the wider Brú na Bóinne landscape has changed beyond all recognition in the last decade owing to the application of modern, non-invasive survey technologies – in particular LiDAR and large-scale geophysical survey – and most recently as a result of the hot, dry summer of 2018 which revealed a series of remarkable cropmarks between Newgrange and the River Boyne. Despite a lack of excavation it can be argued, based on their morphological characteristics, that many of the structures revealed belong within the corpus of late Neolithic ritual/ceremonial structures, including earthen henges, square-in-circle monuments, palisaded enclosures, and pit/post-alignments. These display both extraordinary diversity, yet also commonality of design and architecture, both as a group and with the passage tombs that preceded them. This paper provides an up-to-date survey of the late Neolithic and presumed late Neolithic landscape of Brú na Bóinne. It provides new evidence and new insights from ongoing survey campaigns, suggesting parallels within the British Neolithic but also insular development within some monument classes.

scholarly journals Heritage Building Stones from Évora, Portugal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
The Other ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Ancient Rock ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The One ◽  
The City

<p>The city of Évora, a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO in 1986, also owes this recognition to the stones that built its monuments and preserve them until today.</p><p>This work brings together the contributions that we have gathered over the past three decades and allow us to have a very complete idea, not only about the materials used in the hundreds of monuments and historic buildings but also about their provenance. If some materials are so emblematic that they allow an immediate identification with the naked eye, others needed more sophisticated and precise techniques so that there was no doubt about their origin.</p><p>The igneous rocks and gneisses of granite composition are part of the “Massif of Évora” on which the city is built. Thus, and quite naturally they are by far the most represented group in monuments from all historical periods. Its function is essentially structural, but there are also functional, ornamental and decorative objects. For example, the oldest megalithic structures found in the vicinity of the city are made up of large granite blocks that often had to be transported to their locations.</p><p>On the other hand, many gargoyles and statues that decorate the churches are also made up of these granite rocks. On these, the natural erosion of centuries of exposure to the environment has led to a state of alteration, sometimes very accentuated, which would justify its replacement by replicas sculpted in similar rocks. Provenance studies have made it possible to identify old quarries in the vicinity of the city where, on the one hand, the ancient rock extraction techniques can be observed and on the other hand, they allow the obtaining of the raw material necessary for these restoration and conservation works. In any case, they are places that need to be inventoried and protected, with the municipality already aware of their existence.</p><p>As well as the monuments of the Roman Period, also the structures of the Medieval Period, such as the city walls, the Cathedral (started to be built in 1186 AD) and all the great churches, were also built with these granitoids.</p><p>In addition to these rocks, many others of multiple varieties and origins are present. The marbles, especially the Estremoz Marbles (Global Heritage Stone Resource), are ubiquitous in the city, but there are also emblematic marbles from other places, some easily identifiable (ie Viana do Alentejo, Escoural, Trigaches, Serpa and Vila Verde de Ficalho, for presenting mineralogy, textures, colors and patterns which, together with more recent analytical techniques, have confirmed its provenance.</p><p>Sedimentary rocks, with emphasis on Portuguese Mesozoic limestones, ie Lioz - GHSR and Brecha da Arrábida - GHSR candidate, among others more rare and with very specific use in ornamental details, are also present and contribute to enrich a heritage in stone that makes this city so special and very popular with tourists of all nationalities.</p><p>Acknowledgments: the authors thank to FCT for funding the ICT (UID/GEO/04683/2019), as well as COMPETE POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007690.</p>

scholarly journals Motivational analysis of tourists who visit a city with inscriptions World Heritage Site, Granada, Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 10(1) (10(1)) ◽  
pp. 349-375
Author(s):  
José Valverde-Rodaa ◽  
Gema Gomez-Casero ◽  
Tomás López-Guzmán ◽  
Miguel Jesús Medina-Viruel
Keyword(s):  
World Heritage ◽  
Cultural Tourism ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Interesting Aspect ◽  
Tourist Destination ◽  
Demographic Profile ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Tourist Behaviour ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The City

In recent times, it has been noticed that cultural tourism attracts millions of people. One interesting aspect is the analysis of WHS (World Heritage Site) destinations or cultural destinations that have an inscription WHS. This research has the goal of analysing the different groups of tourists who visit a cultural destination with an inscription WHS, specifically the city of Granada (Spain). For this, segmentation was performed, studying the socio-demographic profile of the tourists and their assessment of the attributes of this destination. For the tourist segmentation, two models have been followed. Four different groups of tourists were found: alternative, cultural, emotional and heritage. In this last one, the relationship between curiosity about the culture of the tourist destination and the heritage visited has a determining role. This study makes an important contribution to the literature regarding the links between the tourist and the historic and monumental heritage they visit and their tourist behaviour.

Cultural identity in WHS tourist destinations: the case of Cordoba (Spain)

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Lopez-Guzman ◽  
Jesús Claudio Pérez Gálvez ◽  
Guzmán Antonio Muñoz-Fernández ◽  
Miguel Jesús Medina-Viruel
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Identity ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Tourist Destination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Multivariate Technique ◽  
Tourist Destinations ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
The City

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to conduct an analysis of the relationships existing among three basic constructs in the visitor’s decision-making process (motivation and satisfaction) in a tourist destination that is a World Heritage Site, such as the city of Cordoba (Spain). Bearing in mind the perception of heritage by the foreign visitors, the following four types were determined: alternative tourists, cultural tourists, emotional tourists and heritage tourists. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses the multivariate technique of grouping cases (K-means clusters) to analyse the similarity existing among the surveyed persons. From the groups or segments obtained, statistics and measurements of association were applied that provide the information necessary to study the possible trends of association existing between variables from a table of bidimensional contingencies. In the same way, non-parametric statistical procedures were used (Kruskal–Wallis H test and the Mann–Whitney U test). Findings The results show the existence of four diverse motivational dimensions among the foreign tourists to visit it: hedonic, cultural, convenience and circumstantial. Of the four dimensions, the hedonic and the cultural are the most relevant. The results show the existence of a common cultural identity: the Arabic cultural identity. Originality/value This paper contributes to complete the academic literature existing on the links of the tourist with the historical and monumental heritage that he visits, and with the tourist’s behaviour.

scholarly journals Relevance of Gastronomy in the Tourism of a World Heritage Site: The Case of Sucre (Bolivia)

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Medina-Viruel ◽  
Casero ◽  
Jiménez ◽  
González Santa Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Tourist Attractions ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
The City

Recently, gastronomy has become one of the most important tourist attractions for cities as well as for rural areas. In this respect, tourists look for authenticity in the gastronomy heritage of these destinations, making it, thusly, a motivation for visiting the place. This research presents a segmentation of the tourists who visit Sucre (Bolivia), on the basis of a higher or lower interest in the gastronomy of the city. The results extracted from the research highlight the existence of three tourist segments with different attitudes regarding gastronomic experiences. Additionally, it notes the importance that a specific type of tourist places on discovering and better understanding the gastronomy of a city as part of its cultural heritage.

The story of the merchant as a component of the tourism brand of the historic town (on the example of Yaroslavl)

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-66
Author(s):  
Нина Обнорская ◽  
Nina Obnorskaya
Keyword(s):  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Opinion Poll ◽  
Business Skills ◽  
Religious Architecture ◽  
Tourism Product ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Unesco World Heritage Site ◽  
Tourist Center ◽  
Urban Complex ◽  
The City

Yaroslavl is an important tourist center. It possess completely formed brand on the domestic tourism market. According opinion poll findings the majority of tourism product consumers in Yaroslavl associate it with the historical city. For the guests of Yaroslavl the brand of the historical city is disclosed through status of its center as the UNESCO World Heritage site, an outstanding complex of religious architecture of the XVII century, a preserved architectural and urban complex of the XIX-early XX centuries. However, the construction of new buildings or radical rebuilding of historic houses continues even in the UNESCO area. It destroys the uniqueness and complexity of the housing development in the city center, which are the main distinctive features of Yaroslavl as a historical city. The loss of historicity of environment is irretrievable. It leads to the loss of the competitive advantages of Yaroslavl. The city owes the merchants values making it attractive for tourists. The merchants determined the social economic and spiritual life of the city for several centuries. Business skills of Yaroslavl merchants, their everyday life, tastes and relationship with the Church had formed a unique historical image of the city. Yaroslavl needs a strategy of the brand development that will take into account the existing image of the city and include the development of the most advantageous positions both in the present and in the past. Merchants with their history should become an important component of the brand of Yaroslavl.

scholarly journals DIGITAL RECORDING AND NON-DESTRUCTIVE TECHNIQUES FOR THE UNDERSTANDING OF STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE FOR REHABILITATING HISTORIC STRUCTURES AT THE KATHMANDU VALLEY AFTER GORKHA EARTHQUAKE 2015

2017 ◽  
Vol IV-2/W2 ◽  
pp. 243-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Shrestha ◽  
M. Reina Ortiz ◽  
M. Gutland ◽  
R. Napolitano ◽  
I. M. Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Kathmandu Valley ◽  
Construction Technology ◽  
Gorkha Earthquake ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
Aerial Photogrammetry ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Historic Structures ◽  
Non Destructive

On 25 April 2015, the Gorkha earthquake of magnitude 7.8, severely damaged the cultural heritage sites of Nepal. In particular, the seven monument zones of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site suffered extensive damage. Out of 195 surveyed monuments, 38 have completely collapsed and 157 partially damaged (DoA, 2015). In particular, the world historic city of Bhaktapur was heavily affected by the earthquake. There is, in general, a lack of knowledge regarding the traditional construction technology used in many of the most important temple monuments in Bhaktapur. To address this limitation and to assist in reconstruction and rehabilitation of the area, this study documents the existing condition of different historic structures in the Kathmandu Valley. In particular, the Nyatapola Temple is studied in detail. To record and document the condition of this temple, a combination of laser scanning and terrestrial and aerial photogrammetry are used. By also including evaluation of the temple and its supporting plinth structure using non-destructive evaluation techniques like geo-radar and micro-tremor dynamic analysis, this study will form the basis of a structural analysis study to assess the anticipated future seismic performance of the Nyatapola Temple.

scholarly journals THE REUSE OF INDUSTRIAL TANNERIES. ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE IN GUIMARÂES, PORTUGAL

2020 ◽  
Vol XLIV-M-1-2020 ◽  
pp. 847-853
Author(s):  
K. González Vargas
Keyword(s):  
19Th Century ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
The Past ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Unesco World Heritage Site ◽  
Environmental Space ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Traditional Construction ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
The City

Abstract. The city of Guimarâes (Portugal) was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 and European Capital of Culture in 2012. From the 14th to the 19th century it was characterized by its Portuguese architecture using traditional construction techniques and materials, and known for its leather, metallurgical and cutlery industry. This study examines two former tannery factories dating from the 19th century, and occupying a sizeable portion of the historic centre of the city. They are located close to the Couros river, their main source of water, but also where the tannery waste produced by the tanks where the skins were tanned, is deposited. This text focuses on three main concepts - rehabilitation, reuse and sustainability - through the analysis of two historical moments. The first of these, the past, is viewed through a timeline of events recorded in plans, photographs, documents, and historical facts. A formal spatial comparison of these records and the present buildings shows how the present use of these spaces and their respective functionalities can be observed in parallel with the past. This before and after comparison shows a progression from industrial activities to a cultural valorization of an architectural, urban and environmental space, as well as the development of the industry in a new context evoking the collective memory of the place.

scholarly journals SPOŁECZNY KOMITET ODNOWY ZABYTKÓW KRAKOWA: GENEZA, DOŚWIADCZENIA, PROGRAM

2017 ◽  
pp. 7-14
Author(s):  
Bogusław Krasnowolski
Keyword(s):  
Early Time ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Political Transformation ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Strategic Goals ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The City ◽  
Cover Up

The Committee (acronym: SKOZK) was established in 1978, following listing Krakow as a world heritage site. It fulfilled expectations from the past, when heritage assets were damaged by industrial pollution and state ideology curtailed financing of works on sacred and private grounds.An undoubted strength of the early time was the recognition of Krakow heritage protection as a matter of state importance, while the domination of political circumstances remained a weakness.The political transformation of 1989/90 changed the environment: SKOZK was now dominated by heritage preservation milieus, and members were appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland, and his Chancellery provided a major part of financial means. As grants generally cover up to 50% of the cost, the fund has a stimulating role as beneficiaries need to find sources for matching funds. Since 1990, the Committee’s activity has concentrated on the most valuable complexes: Wawel, the historical centre of the city, former town of Kazimierz with Jewish quarter, and the most treasurable enclaves situated on the outskirts of the city.Achievements of SKOZK include development of a model for cooperation between private (NGO) and public (central and territorial authorities) sectors, definition of strategic goals, and a priority of the ensuing tasks.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document