The sanctuaries of Demeter and Asklepios are part of the Dion archaeological site that sits among the eastern foothills of
Mount Olympus and covers roughly 100 hectares. The excavations finds from this area are dated since the Hellenistic,
Roman and Early Christian times. The main building materials are limestones and conglomerates. Sandstones, marbles,
and ceramic plinths were also used. The materials consist mainly of calcite and/or dolomite, whereas the deteriorated
surfaces contain also secondary and recrystallized calcite and dolomite, gypsum, various inorganic compounds,
fluoroapatite, microorganisms and other organic compounds. Cracks and holes were observed in various parts of the
stones.
The most proper approach to select effective methods for the structural and surface consolidation, the cleaning, the
protection and the overall conservation of these structures is the knowledge of the processes contributing to their
deterioration.
The influence of the water presence to the behavior of the materials was examined by in situ IR thermometer
measurements. Temperature values increased from the lower to the upper parts of the building stones and they
significantly depend on the orientation of the walls. The results indicate the existence of water in the bulk of the
materials due to capillary penetration. To confirm these observations measurements of the following physical
characteristics of the building materials have been studied: open porosity, pore size distribution, water absorption and
desorption, capillary absorption and desorption. The existence of water in the bulk of the materials due to capillary
penetration, the cycles of wet-dry conditions, correlated with the intensive surface and underground water presence in the
whole surrounding area, lead to partial dissolution-recrystallization of the carbonate material and loss of the structural
cohesion and the surface stability.
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