Email Updates RSS
Search
Archaeologists face unique issues in architectural and cultural preservation

Behind the Scenes of Mexico’s Physical and Spiritual Layers of Cultural Heritage

By Emily Mistishen on Jul 24, 2018
On July 16th, 2018, an earthquake in Mexico uncovered an ancient temple that had originally been hidden inside of a pyramid. The pyramid, called the Teopanzolco pyramid, is located in Morelos and is believed to be built in the 13th century. This recent discovery is dated back to 1150-1200 AD, predating the pyramid. According to Gizmodo, “The newly discovered temple is quite possibly the oldest evidence of human occupation at the Morelos site—an important finding that represents a very early stage of the Aztec period.”

The pyramid, and the temple hidden inside, is just one out of many examples of architectural and archaeological heritage sites located all around the world. Culture and heritage conservation have proven to be an important source of economic and regional growth, with many countries taking advantage of the tourism aspects of monuments, museums, and sites. Two IGI Global publications, Digital Innovations in Architectural Heritage Conservation: Emerging Research and Opportunities by Dr. Stefano Brusaporci from the University of L’Aquila, and the Handbook of Research on Emerging Technologies for Architectural and Archaeological Heritage by Dr. Alfonso Ippolito from Sapienza University of Rome, address the multifaceted components of cultural heritage and how societies can preserve and protect the integrity of their culture through technology development.

According to Dr. Brusaporci, conserving heritage is not just a technical process, but “a cultural act of historical-critical understanding.” He states in his chapter, “Dr. Who’s Police Box: The Multiple Dimensions of Conservation,” from the publication, Digital Innovations in Architectural Heritage Conservation: Emerging Research and Opportunities, that heritage has “aesthetic, historic, scientific, social and spiritual values” that make the process of conserving culture more than just conservation. The Teopanzolco pyramid and the temple hidden within are linked back to the Aztec period, specifically to the Tlahuica culture. The unearthed temple not only became a newly discovered structure, but a link to Mexican cultural roots.

While the 7.1 magnitude earthquake led to the discovery of the temple, it also damaged the pyramid and two other temples. “Intense humidity has obliterated most of the stucco walls, but the archaeologists managed to salvage some fragments for study,” shared Gizmodo. Earthquakes are just one example of the threats cultural heritage sites face that archaeologists are forced to address. According to Dr. Antonella Ragone, Dr. Alfonso Ippolito, Dr. Domenico Liberatore, and Dr. Luigi Sorrentino from Sapienzo University of Rome, “… there is the need for low-cost, non-destructive technologies to gain an adequate knowledge of these structures, in order to assess the seismic risk of such extensive heritage.” Their chapter, titled “Emerging Technologies for the Seismic Assessment of Historical Churches: The Case of the Bell Tower of the Cathedral of Matera, Southern Italy,” from the publication, Handbook of Research on Emerging Technologies for Architectural and Archaeological Heritage, explores robust seismic assessment for churches and architectural heritage structures using digital photo-modeling and ambient vibration testing. The Teopanzolco pyramid, one of many heritage sites to fall victim to earthquakes and other devastating natural disasters, is currently closed off to tourists as archaeologists are working to restore the site from the earthquake’s effects.

The unique nature of architectural heritage sites is challenging for archaeologists to not only preserve them and their cultural and spiritual characteristics, but also fortify them against natural disasters. Many of them are too old to have adequate protection against outside threats, but simply “modernizing” them can threaten their cultural values. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for addressing the problem, modern research, including Dr. Brusaporci’s and Dr. Ippolito’s publications, help bring archaeologists and policy makers one step closer to possible answers.
For more information around architectural and cultural heritage, click here. To ensure this research is made available to the academic community, all of these publications are featured as a part of IGI Global's InfoSci®-Books database which offers institutions access to 4,500+ books containing over 89,000 chapters of peer-reviewed research in core subjects such as Business & Management, Computer Science & Information Technology, Education, Engineering, and Social Sciences & Humanities. InfoSci-Books offers institutions full-text PDF and HTML format with no DRM and an unlimited number of users. Purchase or recommend a free trial for your institution today.

Additionally, view the recommended readings below and recommend them to your library:

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of IGI Global.
Newsroom Contact
Caroline Campbell
Marketing Manager
ccampbell@igi-global.com
(717) 533-8845, ext. 144
www.igi-global.com/
Browse for more posts in:
Social Sciences and HumanitiesLatin & South America

No comments Comments

Log in or sign up to comment.
Be the first to comment!

More from IGI Global

Apr 18, 2024 Uniting Nations with Multinational Electronic Health Records to Stop Lassa Fever's Pandemic Threat!
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a surge in Lassa fever cases in Nigeria, emphasizing the urgent need for containment measures.
IGI GlobalRead More
Medical, Healthcare, and Life SciencesHealthcare Information SystemsBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
Apr 16, 2024 IGI Global Announces the 2024 Journal Reviewers Award Winners
IGI Global congratulates the winners of this year's Journal Reviewer Award
IGI GlobalRead More
JournalsAwards & RecognitionOpen Access
Apr 15, 2024 What Defines Authorship and Who Should Be Included in a Manuscript’s Byline?
For decades, academic publishing has been plagued with discrepancies surrounding authorship of scholarly research...
IGI GlobalRead More
Books & E-BooksAcquisitions
Apr 15, 2024 Doody’s Selects IGI Global Books for Special Topics List
Two IGI Global publications have been recognized by Doody's for their excellence and niche topic focus.
IGI GlobalRead More
Medical, Healthcare, and Life SciencesMedia and CommunicationsBooks & E-BooksAwards & Recognition
Apr 11, 2024 Technology is Making Disparities Worse
Digital Inclusion Week underscored the urgent need for a national digital equity plan in the US due to disparities in internet access and digital skills.
IGI GlobalRead More
Apr 8, 2024 Nearly 90% of IGI Global’s Frontlist Books Now Indexed in Scopus
The majority of IGI Global's books Frontlist is now indexed by Scopus. Learn what this prestigious recognition means for the publisher and the experts behind these books.
IGI GlobalRead More
Books & E-BooksAwards & RecognitionReviews & Indexing
Apr 4, 2024 Navigating Neglected Maintenance and Safety Risks of Flight Travel
A United Airlines Flight 837 bound for Tokyo from San Francisco could not take off due to a mechanical issue.
IGI GlobalRead More
Business and ManagementComputer Science and Information TechnologyScience & EngineeringHospitality, Travel & Tourism ManagementAerospace EngineeringBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
Apr 3, 2024 Introducing the New IGI Book Topic Brochures
IGI Global is excited to introduce a new initiative to provide detailed insights into various fascinating subjects. Our brochures offer a comprehensive overview of timely publications covering the latest research topics...
IGI GlobalRead More
EducationBusiness and ManagementComputer Science and Information TechnologySocial Sciences and HumanitiesBooks & E-Books
Apr 3, 2024 Interview with a Global Guru in Education
Hear from Dr. Velliaris, who was voted as a Top 30 Global Guru in Education.
EducationBooks & E-BooksInterviewAuthor News
Mar 29, 2024 Cocoa Prices Skyrocket
Cocoa prices surging to $10,000 per metric ton challenge chocolate manufacturers and consumers, risking supply chain stability and higher retail prices...
IGI GlobalRead More
Business and ManagementEnvironmental, Agricultural, and Physical SciencesSustainable DevelopmentBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
First Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  ... Next Last