What if the Ishtar Gate starts to crack? Iza Romanowska Scientists from the Institute of Renovable Energy at Eurac embarked on a project to protect cultural heritage using innovative monitoring equipment that you can hardly even notice. Built over 2500 years ago in the very centre of Babylon she has seen a lot – endless festive parades, foreign invasions and daily life now long gone. But nowadays she faces a peril greater than everbefore – relentles s vibration caused by thousands of little feet and passin g-by boats, sudden changes in humidity and temperature as well as hands of curious people wanting to touch the centuries. IshtarGate cannot t ake it for much lo nger. Researchers from seven dif ferent countries strive to ensure that such sad faith will not happen to the most fas ci na ti ng hi sto ric al mo nume nts in Europe and the Nea r Ea st. Their new ly de vel oped monitoring system (SMooHS) will observe the environment of such places as the Museum Island in Berlin, Palazzo Malvezzi in Bologna or Jarah, Alt Gerasa in Jordan. Introducing a wireless system has been a priority since hardly anyone like the cables coiling round the ancient stones, but togetherwith enhancing the aesthetic value of the monitoring system, scientist want to make it also more efficient. Previous systems provide the user with an output of loads of data which had little meaning; we’re working on a system that will process the most basic measurements into a meaningful pattern – says dr Alexandra Troim from the European Academy Bolzano. Wardens will not have to calculate the average temperature or humidity level but instead will be warned by the system whenever the conditions rapidly change and become harmful to the old structures. Ishtar gate is one of the cases in hand. Moved from Iraq at the beginning of the last century it found its home in the Museum Island in Berlin safely protected from the ups and downs of its country unstable history. In recent years, however, small cracks started to appear in the very fabric of the monument causing an understandable concern. Old walls are susceptible for sudden changes in temperature and humidity level – the materials naturally stretch and shrink according to conditions, but if the change i s too large the stretch never comes back to its default state and a crack can appear. But the Pergamon Museum monitors such changes and generally takes good care of the monument and so the sudden deterioration of the Ishtar Gate must have been caused by something else. Vibrations caused by the masses visiting the Museum every year and large cargo boats passing by can be such factors. Thanks to the new monitoring systems it will be possible determine exactly what causes the harm. Preventing damage is always cheaper then repairing it, but what is more important with every conservation process we lose part of the original historic material – says dr Troi. After all, damaging the Ishtar Gate thousands of kilometres from the battlefield of its place of origins would be quite embarrassing.
