The Rock Art Stability Index

Dorn, Ronald I.; Whitley, David S.; Cerveny, Niccole Villa; Gordon, Steven R.; Allen, Casey D.; Gutbrod, Elyssa

doi:10.1179/hma.2008.1.1.37

Cited by 24 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Managing rock art sites requires an initial non-invasive and cost-effective scientific study of the integrity of the rock (Dorn et al, 2008;Allen and Groom, 2013;Giesen et al, 2014). Combining this information with information on the particular characteristics of the site (climate, topography, type of rock, etc.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The initial study should take into account deterioration due to different weathering and anthropogenic processes. A valuable initiative in this regard is the rock art stability index (RASI) (Dorn et al, 2008;Cerveny et al, 2016;Whitley, 2016), based on an extensive database of alteration forms affecting rock art carved in different rocks in different climates around the world. This information is not only a useful starting point for risk assessment related to natural or anthropogenic processes, it can also easily be used by personnel with minimal training.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Deterioration processes affecting prehistoric rock art engravings in granite in NW Spain

Pozo-António

Rivas

Carrera

et al. 2018

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Prehistoric rock art sites are endangered despite conservation efforts. The lack of scientific documentation regarding weathering agents affecting rock art and the absence of specific diagnostic protocols hinder the development of conservation strategies. The aim of this research was to investigate active deterioration processes in a granite petroglyph site located in Mougás (Galicia, NW Spain) by characterizing the granite, conducting a geotechnical study of the outcrop and describing and analysing the main weathering processes. Two main deterioration factors were identified. First, water favours block disjunction at the massif scale and causes pitting and surface erosion at the millimetre scale that affects the readability of the engravings. Second, high temperatures associated with wildfires cause mineral transformations that increase the susceptibility of the rock to weathering. Identifying deterioration factors is a first step in developing appropriate preventive conservation measures, which should aim to reduce rock contact time with water (technically affordable in the short term) and to reduce the probability of wildfire occurrence (technically more complex and possibly with longer‐term results). Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deterioration processes affecting prehistoric rock art engravings in granite in NW Spain

Pozo-António

Rivas

Carrera

et al. 2018

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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“…As a consequence, rock art (paintings and engravings) may suffer strong weathering and taphonomic processes -including physical, chemical and biological weatheringand in some cases can be completely erased. For these reasons, the understanding of the processes leading to rock art preservation and/or destruction and its paleoenvironmental context are as important as its cultural, archaeological, and artistic implications (Whitley, 2005;Dorn, 2006;Dorn et al, 2008;Bednarik, 2012;Giesen et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age, palaeoenvironment, and preservation of prehistoric petroglyphs on a boulder in the oasis of Salut (northern Sultanate of Oman)

Zerboni

Esposti

et al. 2021

Quaternary International

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“…Cultural heritage management involves the blending of science, history, art, architecture, and policy with historically important and environmentally sensitive heritage sites, especially those in arid environments, remaining susceptible to human interaction and induced deterioration in addition to natural stresses [1][2][3]. Rock art represents one such tangible piece of cultural stone heritage, and understanding both rock art and its (potential) decay remains important for its management, conservation, and/or protection [4][5][6][7][8][9]. Non-invasive techniques in rock art assessment, such as the Rock Art Stability Index [RASI, see 7], provide a baseline study from which these important pieces of cultural heritage may be identified and analyzed for trends in polygenetic deterioration processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protecting Stone Heritage in the Painted Desert: Employing the Rock Art Stability Index in the Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

et al. 2019

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Located in northeastern Arizona (USA), Petrified Forest National Park (PEFO) presents a unique story of both geologic and human history. Though perhaps most well-known for its abundant petrified wood and being part of the Painted Desert, visitors are often surprised when they discover PEFO hosts many ancient petroglyph sites. Over the years, many attempts have been made to record the petroglyph sites, but nothing has been done to assess their geomorphic stability. To address this shortcoming, we employed the Rock Art Stability Index (RASI) to assess geologic stability and (potential) deterioration of rock art sites in PEFO. Used for more than a decade as a triage for researchers assessing which rock art panels/sites are in the most danger of eroding, RASI uses a rank-based system to assess over three-dozen rock decay parameters, resulting in an overall condition analysis of a rock art panel. The findings can then be grouped together by site location to gain a clearer understanding of overall decay processes responsible for (potential) erosion. This study highlights RASI, its use as a low-cost, non-invasive, rapid field assessment technique, and assesses the geomorphic stability of five major petroglyph sites in the Petrified Forest National Park.

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The Rock Art Stability Index

Cited by 24 publications

References 62 publications

Deterioration processes affecting prehistoric rock art engravings in granite in NW Spain

Deterioration processes affecting prehistoric rock art engravings in granite in NW Spain

Age, palaeoenvironment, and preservation of prehistoric petroglyphs on a boulder in the oasis of Salut (northern Sultanate of Oman)

Protecting Stone Heritage in the Painted Desert: Employing the Rock Art Stability Index in the Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

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