Determination of the technical suitability of shelters for archaeological sites using fuzzy logic

Abstract

The fuzzy logic method has been applied to the area of Preventive Conservation of Cultural Heritage. Particularly, this system focuses for the first time on the evaluation of the technical suitability of shelters for the preservation of archaeological remains, taken into account the specific characteristics of each site. It has been corroborated that shelters, traditionally considered preventive conservation strategies, may introduce new decay factors into the site or that their level of protection may be insufficient. However, there is a lack of technical studies that could help site managers with the decision of sheltering. Fuzzy logic is a mathematical methodology capable of considering the uncertainty processes associated with a set of variables. This work has developed a fuzzy logic model which allows a systematic classification of shelters and their efficacy based on the design characteristics of the shelter itself and the environmental conditions inside and outside the cover. This novel method has been used to assess three different types of shelters, located in Malta, the United Kingdom and Spain, in order to determine which is the best option for the preservation of the remains. In this sense, it has been possible to conclude that semi-closed covers, with lateral claddings, present an optimal protection. These results are also closely associated with the aggressiveness of the climate where the archaeological sites are and the materiality of the heritage site. The proposed fuzzy system, which is able to model information with uncertainties degrees, should be regarded as a new support for the decision-making process in relation to shelters at archaeological sites in Europe. © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS