In this blog post I’d like to mention a few things on archaeological preservation in India. Now in the USA part of the resign that things are put behind glass and not touched is due to the damage it can do. Oils from fingers will slowly erode, rust, smear different surfaces and flashes from cameras will cause shadowing in different types of material. The best example of shadowing is when the bomb dropped on japan, the flash of light created permanently burned the shadows of the people caught in the blast onto walls and things around them. It is akin to putting something in the sun for years and never having it move. One side will bleach more than the other. Anyhow, the museums that we visited did not have the proper preservation tetchneeks for many of their exhibits. Many where open to air and humidity and many could be touched. The effects of this kind of erosion tacks years to effect the artifact visible, but chemically and physically the pieces are weekend because of it.
Wall at the Taj mahal, you had to ware booties and the steps where covered by stairs. This is a good way to help prevent damaging, however the amount of people allowed in the space without gloves has already had a visual toll on the stretchers. Many of the railings, doorways, and undone seals have been growned smooth. This tack decades with stone, but with the volume of people flocking to it this is excel orated. It is akin to very old wooden stairs in which the steps have a smoother surface where people have placed there feet over and over. Now as far as photographs go, the damage will not be as noticeable in a large area such as the Taj due to light entering it. The burial chamber would be the only concern.
Part of the resign our historical artifacts are kept under such lock and key is more because they were not built to last century’s. Our country is in its infancy compared to India. Temples and ruins that scatter the land may be at risk in a long term scents, but they also act as tourist attractions and drive commerce into the land. I would hope that in the future tourists where given more history and more warning of the damage they can do, however not everyone is into history like I am and might find it boring.