Investigating stone materials from some European cultural heritage sites for predicting future decay

The preservation of Europe’s stone-built heritage is crucial for safeguarding our cultural legacy. This study investigates twelve distinct stones used in historical monuments across Italy, Spain, Greece, and Norway, including marbles (Carrara and Macael), limestones (Botticino, Red Verona, Costozza, Istrian, Sfouggaria, Santa Pudia), a carbonate-dominated sandstone (Lartios), volcanic rocks (Euganean trachyte and Tønsberg latite), and an intrusive igneous rock (Tønsbergite). Through comprehensive analysis of mineralogical composition, porosity, water interactions, and accelerated ageing tests, this research establishes a framework for assessing these materials susceptibility to decay mechanisms. The results demonstrate significant variability in durability and decay response among the stone types, primarily determined by pore abundance and distribution. This study enhances the understanding of stone materials behaviour under stressed conditions, offering valuable insights for mitigating future decay processes and protecting European cultural heritage. The stones examined were chosen for their significant presence at the four pilot sites of the European Hyperion project: Venice (Italy), Granada (Spain), Rhodes (Greece), and Tønsberg (Norway). Graphic abstract