Many factors are contributing to the decay and deterioration of paintings and engraved images found in unique rock art in Western Australia.
As part of the Western Australian Museum’s second year of the Harry Butler Lecture Series: In the Wild West, Executive Director of Fremantle Museums and Maritime Heritage Dr Ian MacLeod will explain how conservators are working on preserving that rock art.
Western Australia has a vast collection of rock art that depicts elements of indigenous cultural activity for more than 40,000 years. In his lecture Conservation of rock art in WA, Dr MacLeod will illustrate the impact of microbiological decay, micro-nutrients and the movement of moisture through the rock substrates and how these factors have a major impact on the survival of the images.
WA Museum staff have been working on sites ranging from the west Kimberley through the Pilbara and out to beyond the Wheatbelt.
“We have been examining the mechanisms of decay and working out how to determine which factors are controlling the deterioration of painted and engraved images,” Dr MacLeod said.
Comparison of painted rock surfaces from different regions has found that the formation of the host rock plays a major role in controlling the rates of deterioration of the painted images.
“Naturally occurring reactions between organic materials such as plant metabolites, bird droppings and salt spray all have an impact on the chemistry of the surfaces,” Dr MacLeod said.
“Some of these reactions can enhance preservation while others can promote decay of the images.”
Dr MacLeod said that it was important to also understand the spiritual values found at the sites and reflected in the images, and to make this an integral part of the overall conservation management plan.
Dr Ian MacLeod is an executive director at the WA Museum and has recently been made responsible for operations at the Fremantle Maritime Museum and the Shipwreck Galleries and the HMAS Ovens submarine. Ian came to conservation from an electrochemistry background and it was the minerals that formed on the copper sheathing of ship hulls that drew Ian to a research officer position at the WA Museum in 1978. For nearly 33 years, the focus of Ian’s work has been the shipwreck and rock art programs and collections. Since 1986 he has been involved in the conservation of Aboriginal rock paintings. He currently manages the museum collections of more than 4.5 million objects.
The Harry Butler lecture series: In the Wild West is proudly presented by the WA Museum in partnership with Chevron Australia. The series showcases the work of Museum scientists, curators and associates in the areas of natural and social sciences.
LECTURE: Conservation of rock art in WA
WHEN: 12.30pm Friday 24 June, 2011
WHERE: Western Australian Museum – Perth, Perth Cultural Centre, James Street
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/inthewildwest
COST: By gold coin donation.
Renee Dodds, Western Australian Museum: T. 9212 3860 Mob. 0414 381 761
