Rock art conservation in Australia

In a monograph designed for those concerned with, but not necessarily working in, the field of rock art conservation. The author discusses basic weathering processes which affect rock art, describes the principal traits of Australian rock art sites, and reviews both published literature in the field (of which 144 are cited in the References), and unpublished reports from Australia and abroad. The monograph is divided into five chapters with subsections as follows: Chapter 1: Rock Art and Conservation outside Australia; an introduction; conservation of cave art in Europe and rock art in shelters and open sites in North Africa and Canada. Chapter 2: Rock Art in Australia; aboriginal involvement; technique of paintings and engravings; antiquity and rate of deterioration of rock art; techniques and equipment for recording site conditions; analysis of samples; experimental work. Chapter 3: Rock Art Deterioration; role of moisture; the rock surface; silcrete and other mineral deposits; desert varnish; physical weathering, temperature changes, salt decay, hydration, seismic activity, subsidence; biological decay, bacteria, fungi, algae, lichens, mud building organisms (including termites, mudwasps, swallows and martins), organic decay); weathering of rock engravings and paintings Chapter 4: Rock Art Conservation; principles of conservation and restoration; control of moisture; consolidation of rocks and pigments; impregnation of rock surfaces with silicon esters, silicones, silanes; removal of mudnests; cleaning of graffiti (charcoal, commercial paints; wax crayons and spirit ink, scratches and carvings); restoration with artificial desert varnish. -- AATA