The session 'Open-air Rock-Art Conservation and Management: a further state of affairs' at IFRAO 2015 in Spain will be a perfect opportunity to present, discuss and get to know different perspectives regarding a complex and delicate matter, states Antonio Pedro Batarda Fernandes.
In the wake of the recent publication of the book 'Open-Air Rock-Art Conservation and Management - State of the Art and Future Perspectives' , the aim of this session is to further discuss matters regarding open-air rock-art conservation and management.
While quite a lot has been achieved in understanding, dealing with and managing weathering and erosion phenomena affecting ancient imagery located in caves, the same cannot be said regarding rock art situated in the open-air. Despite the number of known sites has risen dramatically in the last decades, there are few examples in which the weathering and erosion dynamics of open-air rock art are under investigation and proposals to mitigate their evolution are being put forward and/or applied. Most of the (rare) work being done in different regions has ad-hoc characteristics and international communication on such matters is scarce or non-existent.
The aim of this session is thus to discuss the matter in a holistic fashion that can bring together the existent scattered approaches on the matter. Therefore, papers that focus on the identification of weathering/erosion patterns at work in open-air rock art sites, relevant documentation work, investigation of potential or already implemented conservation interventions as well as more general management issues will be welcome.
The session will comprise the conservation of open-air rock-art imagery from all periods or cultural traditions as well as execution styles. Likewise, papers will be welcome regarding sites existent in any region of the World.
Finally, since open-air rock-art conservation is closely related with other disciplines (Geology or Biology, for example), papers will be welcome from practitioners from other relevant fields of study. It is expected that the session will discuss relevant guidelines for conservators, managers and researchers on aesthetic and ethic as well as technical or practical issues regarding the conservation of open-air rock-art sites.
Please forward you proposals before 31st December 2014 to the Coordinators of the Session:
Antonio Pedro Batarda Fernandes (Fundacao Coa Parque, Portugal).
batarda@outlook.com
Timothy Darvill (Bournemouth University, UK).
tdarvill@bournemouth.ac.uk
Hugo Gomes (Centro de Geociencias, Grupo Quaternario e Pre-Historia, uID73-FCT, Portugal).
hugohugomes@gmail.com
To link to the IFRAO site:
http://led.unex.es/IFRAOCaceres2015/index.php?lang=en&op=1
Link to the 'Open-Air Rock-Art Conservation and Management - State of the Art and Future Perspectives' publication:
http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415843775/
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