ADAPTION OF INDUSTRIAL NDT PROTOCOLS BASED ON ACTIVE INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY TO THE ART CONSERVATION WORLD: THE CASE OF THE WALL PAINTING AT HERODIUM

Abstract. Salt weathering is one of the most detrimental agents in the deterioration of historic wall paintings. Unfortunately, it is most noticeable once it reaches the surface, and the damage has already been done. Its elusive nature and its integration into the historic structures make it difficult to accurately detect soluble salts at the sub surfaces of wall painting non-destructively. Detailed detection in a delicate artifact such as wall paintings requires custom methodology. The study's case study is the wall painting in Herodium. The wall paintings were severely damaged by salt weathering. Although great efforts were invested in restoring and protecting the paintings their state is still unstable. This study offers a new perspective on the matter utilizing the adaption of industrial protocols based on active Infrared thermography (IRT) with data processing via thermographic signal reconstruction (TSR). The study's primary goal was to optimize the inspection methodology and assist the conservation process with knowledge of soluble salt hazards hidden at the subsurface.