REVealing hIddEn Wall paintings

REVIEW – REVealing hIddEn Wall paintings – is a MSCA Individual Standard European Fellowship with the scope to adopt non-destructive multispectral imaging techniques for the detection of covered wall paintings, hidden structures and unseen damages in Cultural Heritage.

Therefore, the researcher, Max Rahrig, will combine active and passive thermography in the spectral ranges of long- and mid-wave infrared (LWIR and MWIR) with ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared (UV-VIS-NIR) imaging, 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry.

The Photogrammetry and Laser Scanning Research Group (GIFLE) of the Universitat Politècnica de Valencia (UPV) in Spain will host REVIEW under supervision of Professor José Luis Lerma.Several examinations and tests on case studies will help to develop innovative guidelines for a reproducible and adoptable workflow with high-end multispectral imaging techniques rarely unified in current documentation and assessment practices.

The surveys are located at several heritage sites in Valencia, including the Cathedral of Valencia, Basílica de la Virgen and/or Church of San Esteban, followed by the transfer of the approach to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple in Sri Lanka.

In Dambulla the investigations serve to reveal large areas of concealed wall paintings and to detect areas threatened by climate damages (high water intake through the rock).

The results will be a basis for a follow-up project to protect and conserve the World Heritage Site.The innovative research approach of REVIEW will be ready to be transferred to a large number of historical objects to help conservation users with easy-to-use, comprehensive and outstanding technological solutions for their examination, conservation and dissemination of hidden wall paintings.