Persepolis to be shorn of its deleterious lichens

Iranian, Italian, and Spanish scientists have started a project to remove deleterious lichens growing on the surface of ancient Iranian landmark Persepolis.

The lichens growing on the monuments had been a source of concern for lovers of the historic monuments and archaeologists alike, the Fars Provincial Cultural Heritage Organization said on Monday.

“Lichens are masses of symbiotic union of algae and fungi which grow mainly on rocky surfaces; they gradually feed on the rocks, ripping apart them in the natural contours of formation, thus rendering the monuments decomposing in the long run,” Siamak Basiri.

The expert added that the nature of rocks made up at Persepolis is prone to the damaging effects of the inevitable growth of lichens. The sedimentary rocks are easily decomposed physically by weathering, and they are prone to many natural effects.

“However, the Cultural Heritage Organization had taken measures to alleviate the wearing process by the lichen. Drought like conditions have already exacerbated the process of weathering rocks gradually undergoing metamorphosis,” Basiri said.

In a related story, Masoud Rezaei Monfared, head of the Marvdasht Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department and Pasargad Parseh Research Foundation told reporters that the Organization would invite Spanish and Italian scientists to establish Persepolis Lichen Studies Center to examine different species of lichen and possible methods to remove the organisms from Persepolis surface, along with monitoring possible impacts of industrial pollution on monument.

AI/AI