Biodeterioration of Monuments: A Research in Teos Antique City, Türkiye

Abstract

The aim of our study was to reveal the fungal degradation in the historical monuments in the ancient city of Teos. In the antique city of Teos, which is estimated to exist since the protogeometric period, field studies have been carried out on monuments exposed to fungal deterioration. As a result of the field studies carried out in Teos, it was observed that especially cauliflower-like black microcolonial fungi, caused alteration in historical artifacts. These fungi have been found to cause brown to black coloration, crater-shaped pits, blistering and fracture, and belong to the genera Capnobotryella, Cladosporium, Coniosporium, Lophiostoma, Massarina, Monodyctis, Mycocalicium, Phoma, Phaeococcomyces, Rhinocladiella and Sarcinomyces. The deterioration of historical artifacts is a threat in the ancient city of Teos, as in the whole world. It is necessary to increase both biological diversity and biological control studies in this field.