Please cite this article in press as: G. Caneva, et al., Changes in biodeterioration patterns of mural paintings: Multi-temporal map- ping for a preventive conservation strategy in the Crypt of the Original Sin (Matera, Italy), Journal of Cultural Heritage (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2019.05.011 ARTICLE IN PRESS G Model CULHER-3606; No. of Pages 10 Journal of Cultural Heritage xxx (2019) xxx–xxx Available online at ScienceDirect www.sciencedirect.com Original article Changes in biodeterioration patterns of mural paintings: Multi-temporal mapping for a preventive conservation strategy in the Crypt of the Original Sin (Matera, Italy) Giulia Caneva a , Flavia Bartoli a,∗ , Martina Fontani a , Doretta Mazzeschi b , Paolo Visca a a Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, Rome, Italy b CBC, Conservazione e Restauro, Roma, Italy a r t i c l e i n f o Article history: Received 19 October 2018 Accepted 19 May 2019 Available online xxx Keywords: Biodeterioration Biomonitoring Cave church Conservation Ecology Frescoes a b s t r a c t Multi-temporal investigation of biodeterioration patterns (BPs) in cultural heritage sites is crucial for the development of effective management plans. Here, microscopy and biomolecular methods were employed to analyze the BPs, which took place in the Crypt of the Original Sin (Italy) over a wide tempo- ral scale, i.e., from 2001 to 2017. Before restoration interventions, performed in 2002–2003, a variety of BPs was observed, including green patinas (Chlorophyceae), brown-black patinas (Cyanobacteria), rosy discolorations (Actinobacteria) and some colonization by lichens, mosses and ferns. Restoration included biocide treatments as well as structural interventions causing environmental modifications of the site. To interpret the ecological relationships between environmental factors and temporal changes, we com- bined the analysis of ecological information on the various BPs with the results of a multivariate statistical analysis. Using BPs as bioindicators, humidity maps of the plasters were generated and water infiltration paths reconstructed. Several years after biocide application, a significant reduction of BPs was observed, together with limited colonization by dematiaceous and meristematic fungi. Our observations demon- strate the usefulness of combining structural and environmental interventions for an effective restoration strategy; these interventions reduced the moisture levels of the walls, consequently reducing biologi- cal colonization. Moreover, our findings suggest that monitoring BPs during time can be of guidance in the long-term maintenance of cultural heritage, and provide an evidence-based model for preventive interventions and biocide treatments. © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. 1. Research aims The overall aim of this paper is to gain insights into long-term biodeterioration processes by an ecological analysis of multi- temporal BPs changes, which were considered as indicators of site conditions. The Crypt of the Original Sin resulted to be a suitable site for a diachronic analysis of biodeterioration, providing useful hints for a long-term conservation strategy. Specifically, our study was aimed at: (i) determining the biological colonization phenomena occurred as a consequence of conservative interventions altering the environmental conditions; (ii) contributing to the definition of an effective conservation strategy, thus providing an evidence- based model for preventive interventions. ∗ Corresponding author at: Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy. Tel.: +39 0657336374; fax: +39 0657336321. E-mail address: flavia.bartoli@uniroma3.it (F. Bartoli). 2. Introduction The mural paintings in cave churches frequently experience biodeterioration phenomena [1–6]. High humidity values (> 65%), together with light and nutrient inputs, appear the most impor- tant factors influencing biological growth [3,7–12]. The light, whether natural and/or artificial, promotes the proliferation of photosynthetic microorganisms, such as microalgae and cyanobac- teria, which are able to grow with very low light levels and survive for long periods of darkness [12–16]. However, the role of heterotrophic microorganisms, especially for biological sequelae [2,17,18], as well as the colonization by vascular plants, which can fracture the rock with their roots favouring rainwater infiltrations, cannot be neglected [19–21]. Biodeterioration phenomena of mural paintings, which are also called Biodeterioration Patterns (BPs) [22,23], are characterized by a specific phenomenology of alterations and can have spatial variations among the different areas of the walls [24]. Previous studies have mainly been focused on the identification of biological https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2019.05.011 1296-2074/© 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.