Abstracts - International Initiative for Georgian Cultural Studies

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RESTORATION/CONSERVATION
protecting the works.
The study of the biological degradation found at the monuments is certainly one of the more interesting
facets of the problems faced. However, at a more general level we would like to discuss:
- the collaboration between conservators, art historians and public institutions dealing with both
conservation training and heritage protection, particularly in terms of diagnostics and technical
documentation
- the broadening of understanding of issues concerning conservation through direct links between Italy
and Georgia, two countries with a large and extensive heritage of wall paintings
- the joint efforts to involve a wide range of different specialists and institutions in the planning and study
of problems in conservation
Erik Wurger
Freelance Schola., Germany
New Methods of the Consolidation of the Basement of Historic Structures
The care for the cultural heritage and treasures is a feature of cultural nations. This includes preservation
and maintenance of such historical buildings as: churches, monasteries, minarets as well as technical
structures: bridges, aqueducts and etc.
Alongside the commercial and touristic function these kinds of buildings serve as examples of countries’
national identity. Besides their maintenance and preservation these buildings often need reconstruction.
Throughout centuries the structures are affected by meteorological damage, earthquakes and inappropriately
attached constructions. Quite often the damage to the basement occurs.
The dropping down of the soil water level might cause the decay of basement’s wooden supports, resulting
the cracking. The soil is causative of inappropriate conditions that cause the non-homogenous sagging
of the structure. The Pisa Tower can serve a good example for that.
The reconstruction of the basement is usually very difficult and expensive. It is already 25 years that
this new method has been introduced. Despite the fact that this method of basement reconstruction is still
expensive, it is relatively simple. This method also gives the possibility to reinforce the basement under the
level of soil waters.
The method is based on the dilution of soil under the supporting walls and its transformation into a soilconcrete
by the cement injection.
While reaching the proper deepness of soil through the vertical drilling, the drill capping sprays the
water with high pressure. It dissolves the nearby soil and dilutes it. The slow rotation of the drill the diluted
soil forms a cylinder. Simultaneously to this process the second sprayer pours cement and presses it into
the soil.
The diluted soil mixed with cement form the soil-concrete columns, which serves as concrete supports
for the building.
The paper presents the described method referred as Jet Grouting in engineering literature using the
examples of reconstruction of several churches in Austria and Croatia.
Mark Gittins
C.B.C. Conservazione Beni Cultural. Italy
Methodological and Practical Approaches to the Conservation of Three Georgian Wall Paintings
This paper aims to discuss the treatments which have been implemented in a series of conservation
projects to conserve the wall paintings in three churches in the Republic of Georgia – the Church of St