Non-Destructive Analysis to Investigate the Stone Alterations at a UNESCO World Heritage Site

A critical finding from this study is that liquid water, rather than salt crystallization, poses the most significant threat to the preservation of scoriaceous basalt at Lalibela's rock-hewn churches—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To address this, researchers conducted non-destructive and minimally invasive analyses during two field campaigns in 2019 and 2020, assessing surface alterations and differential weathering patterns. The study, supported by the French Development Agency and Ethiopian authorities, aimed to inform conservation strategies for the site. By comparing protected and unprotected areas, it demonstrated that prolonged exposure to moisture accelerates deterioration, necessitating comprehensive protective measures to safeguard these heritage structures in humid environments.

Giovannacci, D., Mertz, J.-D., Gemeda, B. T., Garric, A., & Mensan, R. (2022). Non-Destructive Analysis to Investigate the Stone Alterations at a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Journal of Human, Earth, and Future, 3(2), 147–158. https://doi.org/10.28991/hef-2022-03-02-01