Patrimonio Histórico ISSN 1579-8410 Editor: C. Saiz-Jimenez Assistant Editor: M.A. Rogerio COALITION CSIC Thematic Network on Cultural Heritage. Electronic Newsletter Newsletter No. 10 July 2005 Special issue: Conservation of Rock Art. Part I Index ♦ Five years of COALITION, M.A. Rogerio Candelera 2 ♦ The lessons of Lascaux, C. Saiz-Jimenez 3 ♦ Unknown microbial communities on Rock Art paintings. 4 Consequences for conservation and future perspectives, J.M. Gonzalez and C. Saiz-Jimenez ♦ Iberian Palaeolithic Rock Art, J. Fortea Pérez 8 ♦ Conservation of Australian Rock Art, A. Watchman 14 Edited by Red Temática del CSIC de Patrimonio Histórico y Cultural Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, CSIC, Apartado de Correos 1052, 41080 Sevilla (Spain) Correspondence to: [email protected] COALITION No. 10, July 2005 FIVE YEARS OF COALITION covering topics as databases of microorganisms related to deterioration of M.A. Rogerio Candelera Cultural Heritage, molecular techniques applied to conservation/restoration of Cultural Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología Heritage, or biological problems associated to de Sevilla, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain cultural assets. An important step for the continuity of this In September 2000 the first issue of this newsletter was the sponsorship of CSIC Newsletter was launched. Today the issue No. Thematic Network on Cultural Heritage after 10 is being distributed to subscribers all over COALITION project concluded. This network the world and we are proud of seeing was launched in October 2001 to coordinate consolidated this project of dissemination of the efforts of several CSIC research groups research and best practices on Cultural working on Cultural Heritage. Five research Heritage. activity areas, with the common interest on Cultural Heritage, are included in the network: This newsletter was edited in the framework Archaeological and Architectonical Heritage; of “COALITION”, a Concerted Action of the Biology; Physics; Geology and Materials European Commission (EC) that started on st Science (Saiz-Jimenez 2004). From that April 1 , 2000. The objectives of this project change of sponsorship, the newsletter is the were (Saiz-Jimenez 2000): medium for disseminating CSIC Thematic Network activities and intends to be an 1. To identify, introduce and enhance the use international forum for scientists, of molecular biology and biotechnology conservators, restorers and students, fostering techniques of interest for the interdisciplinary communication. conservation/restoration of Cultural Heritage; We intend that this international newsletter 2. To obtain information on the type of could keep on being a place for rendezvous microorganisms colonizing different and between all knowledge concerning Cultural representative materials, by generating an Heritage and people involved in it. inventory of the microorganisms associated with the damages of Cultural Heritage, and In order to make easier the accession to the contents of these first ten issues, we have 3. To disseminate the advantages of using prepared an index of the papers already molecular techniques for diagnostic purposes published that will be distributed jointly with to end users. issue 10 of the Newsletter (Figure 1). In order to reach these objectives several initiatives were carried out, such as setting up a web site, organizing two international workshops (March 2001 and July 2002); organizing of an advanced course for young researchers and professionals in November 2002, publishing the proceedings of an International Congress on Molecular Biology and Cultural Heritage and launching this newsletter, as a mode of communication within the project. The EC funded project lasted three years Figure 1. Cover of Index although COALITION has continued. At that moment the number of subscribers reached References 700 including people in North and South Saiz-Jimenez, C. (2000). Presentation of COALITION. COALITION 1: 2-4. America, Asia, Australia, Northern Africa and Saiz-Jimenez, C. (2004). A new step for COALITION. COALITION most European countries. During its first three 7: 2-3. Back to index years of activity, a total of 31 papers were published in six (two of them double) issues, 2 COALITION No. 10, July 2005 THE LESSONS OF LASCAUX sampled shortly after the discovery (Schabereiter-Gurtner et al. 2004). However, C. Saiz-Jimenez most of the identified strains in caves represented unknown and uncultured species. Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain We must accept that some of the most famous paleolithic paintings are threatened by Recently, in some multidisciplinary journals unknown microorganisms, but under these (Holden, 2002, 2003; Allemand, 2003; premises, how a microbiologist can propose Allemand and Bahn, 2005; Castellani, 2005) countermeasures?. If the microbes and their and a few internet web pages appeared metabolic activity are unknown how a reports and letters on the biological threats on treatment can be proposed? And if proposed, Lascaux paintings. This increasing interest in can be predicted the effects on other microbial biodeterioration effects of microorganisms on communities and the evolution of further rock art paintings derived from the fungal biological successions?. invasion of Lascaux Cave. Allemand and Bahn (2005) stated that the Lascaux Cave suffered works and best way to protect rock art is to leave it modifications since 1940, the year of alone, and, at the current level of knowledge, discovery. In fact, an air-conditioning system we must admit it would be the safest was installed between 1957 and 1958, measure. replaced in 1972 and thereafter in 2000. It was thought that workmen putting in the new Assuming that rock art, all over the world, is system brought the contamination on their subjected to many different threats, and to boots (Allemand, 2003). Fusarium solani commemorate the fifth anniversary of the quickly covered the floor of the cave and publication of this electronic newsletter, an fungicides and antibiotics were used against invitation for contributing was addressed to a it. However, Lascaux has a long history of number of well-known specialists in rock art. biological contamination and previously was COALITION Nos. 10 and 11, therefore, will contaminated by algae (Lefèvre et al. 1964) include contributions on conservation of rock and the cave treated with formaldehyde and art in Africa, America, Australia and Europe. antibiotics. The eradication of microorganisms The editor acknowledges the collaboration of in Lascaux Cave is a clear example of how all colleagues and their availability for man’s attempts to control or manage nature preparing this special issue that is expected provoke further unpredicted changes in will be of interest for all professionals involved cave´s biodiversity. in cultural heritage studies. Microorganisms, particularly bacteria, inhabit References Allemand, L. (2003). Qui sauvera Lascaux?. La Recherche 363: all allowable habitats of the biosphere, 26-33. including subterranean ones. Subsurface Allemand, L., Bahn, P.G. (2005). Best way to protect rock art is to leave it alone. Nature 433: 800. habitats are dark, generally low in organic Castellani, F. (2005). The film crew. Nature 433: 100-101. nutrients, relatively constant in temperature, Holden C. (2002). Cave paintings in jeopardy. Science 297: 47. Holden C. (2003). Wanted: solution for cave mold. Science 300: but, in turn, contain numerous microbial 245. communities. Microorganisms occupy all cave Lefèvre, M., Laporte, G., Bauer, J. (1964). Sur les niches (rocks, speleothems, moonmilk, microorganismes envahissant les peintures rupestres de la grotte préhistorique de Lascaux. C.R. Acad. Sc. Paris 258: waters, etc.) and the conspicuous colonization 5116-5118. of paintings, walls, ceiling, and cave soils Schabereiter-Gurtner, C., Saiz-Jimenez, C., Piñar, G., Lubitz, W., Rölleke. S. (2002a). Altamira cave Paleolithic paintings harbor constitute a biological pool where a wide partly unknown bacterial communities. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. variety of microorganisms is waiting for an 211: 7-11. Schabereiter-Gurtner, C., Saiz-Jimenez, C., Piñar, G., Lubitz, W., unbalance in the delicate ecological and Rölleke, S. (2002b) Phylogenetic 16S rRNA analysis reveals microclimatic cave conditions for proliferation. the presence of complex and partly unknown bacterial communities in Tito Bustillo cave, Spain, and on its Paleolithic paintings. Environ. Microbiol. 4: 392-400. Microorganisms have been found in all Schabereiter-Gurtner, C., Saiz-Jimenez, C., Piñar, G., Lubitz, W., Spanish rock art paintings so far studied Rolleke, S. (2004). Phylogenetic diversity of bacteria associated with Paleolithic paintings and surrounding rock (Schabereiter-Gurtner et al. 2002 a, b) and walls in two Spanish caves (Llonin and La Garma). FEMS they are apparently a “natural” colonisation, Microbiol. Ecol. 47, 235-247. Back to index as shown in La Garma Cave, visited and 3 COALITION No. 10, July 2005 UNKNOWN MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES ON The methodology currently available for ROCK ART PAINTINGS. CONSEQUENCES detecting microorganisms in natural samples FOR CONSERVATION AND FUTURE can be classified in two major groups, culture- PERSPECTIVES. dependent and culture-independent methods (Ward et al. 1990). Culture dependent methods require the growth of J.M. Gonzalez and C. Saiz- microorganisms on culture media. Thus, those Jimenez microorganisms unable to develop in the medium and incubation conditions