Threats to the preservation of the viceroyal church facades of Juli, Peru

Saldaña Cabanillas A.; Lupaca Huarac M. · Journal of the Institute of Conservation (2024) · DOI: 10.1080/19455224.2023.2297442

Resumen

The viceroyal ecclesiastical architecture of the Puno region in Peru is the legacy of the evangelisation in the western part of Lake Titicaca. In recent years, the preservation of this heritage has been threatened by various risks including planar deformation and cracking. The objective of the study presented here is to determine the level of threat in terms of risk and to understand the pathologic agents that affect the conservation of these important facades. The methodology used focussed on non-destructive techniques, including visual inspection, digital image processing and thermography, to identify the processes affecting the facades. Multidisciplinary analysis using geographic information systems facilitated the mapping of naturally-induced risks, while multidimensional evaluation using qualitative techniques, such as consultation with experts and surveys, helped determine the level of anthropic risk. The results generally demonstrate a low to medium level of risk to the facades but suggest a higher incidence of pathologies of a physical origin. Results of the study help establish what are the critical threats to the conservation of built heritage in the Andes region and represent a contribution to conservation management by demonstrating the use of non-destructive techniques for damage assessment.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Unión