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Amateur metal detectorists may disturb or remove artifacts. [5] Travel over the ground surface, whether by foot, animal, bicycle, or motorized vehicle, can cause artifacts to be broken, crushed, or moved. [6] [7] Campfires can contaminate sites and cause smoke damage to rock art, and the heat of a fire can cause rock to spall.
Drastic temperature changes can cause irreversible damage to artifacts such as: warping, crumbling, or fragmenting. Higher temperatures, specifically, could result in humidity levels significantly rising which could cause further deterioration, infestations of insects, molds, rot, and bacteria.
Weathering is the source of most of the deterioration of archaeological sites. Wind, rain, freeze-thaw, and evaporation are extremely common and can cause erosion. Natural disasters, such as floods, fires, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, can cause the complete destruction of a site. [5]
Water causes damage and results from natural occurrences, technological hazards, or mechanical failures. Many cases of water damage can be traced to accidents or neglect. "A great many of the materials that museum objects are made of are highly susceptible to contact with water and can be severely damaged by even brief contact, while others may be exposed to water for longer periods without harm.
Plaster repairs may become unstable. In-painting may fade or discolor. Intentional over-painting from past conservation efforts is another form of damage. Scenes were sometimes altered in order to appeal to current tastes. A common example is a fig leaf being painted over a nude figure. Overly aggressive cleaning with acid can also cause damage.
[25] [26] Another source of damage is due to the site being open to visitors with many cases of people climbing the walls, walking over archaeological deposits, and the over-use of certain paths. [25] These are in conjunction with damage from natural causes over time due to vegetation growth, the foundations settling, and erosion from the ...
Light can cause cumulative damage to wooden artifacts, leading to discoloration of the surface. Long exposure to light can result in darkening of light woods and bleaching of dark woods. [ 18 ] Infra red radiation and heat from light can also damage any finishes to the object, causing cracking of paint or varnish, brittleness, or softening of ...
Example of physical damage to metal objects. Medieval, metal vessel fragments displaying possible soot stains (black color) and corroded patina Rust and dirt on metal as a result of corrosion and pollution. An essential cause of deterioration is corrosion of metal objects or object deterioration by interaction with the environment.