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To cite this article: Andrew Thorn & Valerie Magar (2016) An assessment of the condition of nine
engraved sites in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Studies in Conservation, 61:sup1,
118-126, DOI: 10.1080/00393630.2016.1188259
Nine engravings in the hinterland around Hong Kong Island have been studied independently by the authors,
as part of an overall assessment of current management practices, the state of the engravings, conservation
impacts and future survival. Four independent studies were commissioned in 2009 by the Hong Kong
Heritage Museum in conjunction with the Antiquities and Monuments Office who have legislative
responsibility for all archaeological sites within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The sites
have received varying levels of protection in the form of roofs, fences, and screens, and in more recent
times, a range of conservation treatments aimed at prolonging their life and improving legibility. This paper
reviews the state of the engravings from the point of view of protection and presentation and considers the
effectiveness of the infrastructure in mitigating what are often conflicting needs. Modern conservation
treatments must be considered in several dimensions: their effectiveness and durability in an aggressive
climate, given that the engravings have survived for 3000 years, and the feasibility and cost of maintaining
such treatments over the next 3000 years and longer. This paper describes field observations rather than
measured data, due to the nature of the commission, highlighting the value of intelligent observation as an
investigative tool. The main focus of the paper is on the impact of protective shelters and applied
treatments as observed during two of the independent surveys, concluding that protection must address
all environmental and visitor impacts to be fully protective.
Keywords: Rock engravings, Condition assessment, Protective shelter
The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works 2016
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-
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S1-118 DOI 10.1080/00393630.2016.1188259 Studies in Conservation 2016 VOL. 61 SUPPLEMENT 1
Thorn and Magar An assessment of the condition of nine engraved sites in Hong Kong
Figure 1 Distribution of the nine engraving sites around Hong Kong SAR. The 2014 IIC Congress was held at the yellow cross.
Figure 2 Geological map of Hong Kong SAR with the sites plotted. It can be seen that with the exception of the Po Toi Island site
(PT), all others lie in the violet shaded volcanics zone. The Po Toi site in Fig. 2 is actually located on a tuff band adjacent to
substantial basalt and other intrusive seams.
the benefits of collective knowledge. This paper pre- The engravings are found on granite, basalt, or
sents the views of two of the researchers, brought rhyolitic tuffs from the Mesozoic period (Fig. 2). All
together after the project was completed and with three rock types result from cooling magma and thus
the sanction of the client. All four reports were made have similar chemistry. Granite cools more slowly,
public after the project and the majority opinion on generally as a result of being formed under land
the assessment of the sites, that infrastructure can be masses, whereas basalt is the same magma that has
improved in some cases and that treatments, while cooled more rapidly, generally as a result of forming
appropriate, can be fine-tuned is contained within under the sea. Tuffs are formed from lava exposed in
the paper. the atmosphere. All rock types are subjected to direct
weathering, with the most significant difference
Summary of geology and climate relevant to site between the three types being porosity. The granite
stability and basalt sites are denser more rounded forms, less
Hong Kong lies 22 north of the equator in a sub- prone to absorption of water and aerosols, while the
tropical climate. With mild dry winters from rhyolitic tuffs are more angular, porous, fissurated
December to February when temperatures remain and subject to surface modification through dissol-
largely below 22C, the remaining months offer ution and precipitation processes that create a differen-
varying levels of high temperatures, with June, tially denser outer surface. All three rock types are
July, and August having average highs just above generally stable geologically when compared with
32C and with the highest recorded temperature marble, limestone, and sandstone. More precise geo-
not much higher, at 36.3C. The average monthly logical data on each site was not available at the
diurnal range is no greater than 7C, however this time of the surveys but featured as a recommendation
may be higher for specific days. in reports.
It is worth stating that average climatic data offer While the climate and geology were relatively
little insight into hygrothermal stress mechanisms uniform across the nine sites, with the presence of
causing rock erosion, however, the study did not tuff being the only substantial variable, the accumu-
permit detailed data collection within this review lated infrastructure applied to protect the sites pro-
project. Recommendations for such would be made if vided far greater variability both in its intended
a hygrothermal problem were identified, but this was function and its ability to protect or threaten the
not particularly the case. No freezing conditions have engraved surfaces.
been recorded.
The study sites receive 18002400 mm of rain
annually with the five hottest months, May to Main threats to the engraved surfaces
September, bringing 80% of the annual rainfall. The main threatening mechanisms prevailing at the
Hong Kong can experience up to 20 typhoons sites are climatic, as already described, visitor impact
annually with a long-term annual average of 6.5 per and its management, and according to one of the
annum. These typhoons are indicative of a highly tur- four invited rapporteurs, recent interventions and
bulent atmosphere in the region, bringing destructive management practices. It is this latter criticism of
winds and high seas to the sites, most of which are in treatments and current management practices,
very close proximity to the sea. Since the survey one expressed at various times prior to the study by a
of the sites for which modifications were proposed local independent archaeologist, which led the govern-
had all of its infrastructure completely removed in a ment to commission the status review summarized by
particularly powerful typhoon. ( pers comm; Karen this paper.
Wai-Yin Fong, Hong Kong 2014). Proximity to very
turbulent seas excludes rainfall as a destructive mech-
Natural climatic and geological interactions
anism as the coastal sites are just as frequently inun-
While the interactions between the rocks and their
dated by high seas as belting rains.
climate have been discussed in general terms the fol-
Even in calm seas aerosols become more significant
lowing specific mechanisms have been identified. It is
and rain serves more to rinse exposed surfaces and
important to stress that these observations are pre-
thus prevent build-up of damaging salts. In the more
cisely that and do not derive from thoroughly
protected sites a balance between aerosols and rainfall
researched data.
shapes the argument for whether roof structures
Frost action is not a factor in sub-tropical climate
provide a positive protection where aerosols are zones at sea level.
freely deposited but rain flushing is excluded. Most Aerosol deposition has a high incidence, offset to a
engraved panels are well above soil level, although large extent by regular rain washing. Salts have only
those that are touching show little evidence of been suspected as a mechanism in the fully enclosed
erosion from ground moisture or salts. site of Cheung Chau.
Diurnal temperature ranges are quite low due to the scenarios have been observed and are considered for
moderate climate. There is a low likelihood of their benefits to the engraved surfaces.
thermal stress. Protection provided to the sites is in the configur-
Hygrothermal stress has a high potential due to the ations indicated in Table 1, together with a list of
tropical regime during the hottest and wettest recent treatments.
season, May to September. Hygrothermal stresses
are a product of rapid change between wetting and
Roof structures
drying. The magnitude of wetting is not as important
as the subsequent rapid drying through intense solar A roof, if well designed and maintained, will intercept
radiation or wetting following intense heating all rainfall. This might be considered a positive modi-
(Thorn, 2008). fication in relation to calcitic stones and their rapid
Wind and sea abrasion may well contribute to loss of dissolution in acidic rain environments. The environ-
surface detail, although there is no measurable evi- mental impact of roofs is more complex than simply
dence of this. Many of the sites have had protective catching rain and that being a benefit.
screens placed directly in front of the vertically Aerosols are transported in all directions and while
inclined engraved surfaces in recent years. These high levels of maritime aerosols eventually fall out of
protect the surface from abrasion but there is no the atmosphere they remain at high levels close to
evident difference between the protected surface and the coast (Hutton, 1976). Not only are the coastal
immediately adjacent surfaces.
sites subjected to high loadings of saline aerosols but
one or two receive direct sea water wash in rough
Protective infrastructure seas. The sites with roof-only are well out of reach of
As visitors have begun to seek out the engravings, it wave-borne salts but all are within a distance where
has become necessary to provide safe access to what sea salts will be highly concentrated in the air. A
can be unpredictably dangerous sea-swept locations. roof does not prevent deposition, however it does
This has required the development of pathways, remove the all-important rain flushing ensuring that
boardwalks and fences. In addition to visitor facilities, exposed surfaces never accumulate high levels of crys-
the engravings themselves have been offered varying tallizing salt for long periods.
forms of protection from the elements since 1978. China is the largest producer of anthropogenic aero-
Protective structures serve a two-fold purpose of pro- sols damaging to outdoor cultural heritage (Air
tecting the engravings from the elements and the Science Group, 2012), having seven of the 10 most
impact of inappropriate visitor behavior. polluted cities in the world, several of which lie
In general roofs have been provided at some sites along distribution paths carrying pollutants to Hong
since the early twentieth century and more recently Kong, which has the worlds fourth most polluted
these have been augmented with protective barriers, urban air. Roof structures will do little to reduce
diversion drainage, and in some cases, protective aerosol impact while preventing flushing.
screens providing physical protection and passive Roof structures have a positive benefit in limiting
climate modification (Fig. 3). The more exposed sites hygrothermal stress by both reducing water supply
have been afforded better access through the earlier and the intensity of solar radiation. Given that hygro-
construction of substantial concrete walkways-cum- thermal stress has been identified as a significant dete-
sea walls that offer a view of the site, though at some riorant in sandstone (Thorn, 2008) it is sensible to hold
cost to the overall natural harmony that prevailed at similar expectations for volcanic tuff unless specific
the time of their creation. studies indicate otherwise.
The recent assessment of this infrastructure provides
a central discussion for the current state of the engrav- Protective screens
ings, both from visual and visitor perspectives and for Protective screens provide the inverse protection to
environmental impact mitigation (Thorn, 2009; that of roofs. They intercept aerosols, reduce wind,
Magar, 2010). Proximity to the sea provides high salt and minimize direct impact from raging seas. They
deposition, mitigated largely by constant rain flushing. also permit rain flushing but do not reduce solar radi-
The introduction of various levels of protection can ation. It is often contended that screens placed close to
disrupt this relationship to a significant extent. A rock surfaces will trap humidity and thus increase con-
roof allows aerosol deposition but removes washing densation and biological growth. These factors may
rain. Protective screens intercept aerosols while still prevail where the screen encapsulates the rock in a
allowing flushing but offer no solar mitigation. Fully pocket of air that cannot readily exchange with the
enclosed protection such as that at Cheung Chau ambient atmosphere. Data loggers inserted into
appears to have been effective at suppressing biota close-fitted screens on partially outdoor mural paint-
without creating evident impact from higher humidity ings at the Commandants House, Port Arthur,
and reduced air-flow. The following modification Australia showed that with an open-edged screen
placed at approximately 2 cm from the painting there that a screen will retard evaporation and thus
may be a slight modulation, but no significant increase provide a more conducive bio-environment. The
or decrease in moisture within the screen or on the control of biota has been dealt with by HKHM staff
surface of the exposed plaster and paint layer through both application of biocides and associated
(Thorn, 2005a). The Hong Kong screens will not hydrophobic treatments.
necessarily conform to these observations, however it Screens are largely installed to protect the surfaces
is believed that the screens intercept more moisture from visitor impact and for this they have been more
than they trap. In a humid climate it is quite feasible or less successful. The best form of visitor protection
is public education, as it is in museums, however at
an unsupervised location short-term protection is
Table 1 Summary of site interventions and management best achieved through a physical barrier. The fact
implementations that barriers reduce direct aerosol deposition whilst
Impacting management maintaining rain flushing has been considered a satis-
Site implementation Interventive treatment factory modification. Given the visual impact and
ambience on the site it is difficult to state that
Big Wave Solid roof with open 2008 surfactant clean
Bay sides in 1991, screens provide better protection than a fully exposed
previously caged, surface.
glass removed in
1995
Cheung Fully enclosed glass Cage enclosure
Chau structure, built in A cage has been built around all sides of the Kau Sai
1986
Chau site on an island to the east. This site is at the
Teit Tong Screen to front only, 2006 surfactant clean,
Tsui installed in 1983 bio- suppression, base of a cliff just above the water line and surrounded
siloxane hydrophobic on the landward sides by a golf course above with no
treatment
direct access. The motifs are very faint and the cage
Kau Sai Open cage on all sides, Removal of plants
Chau built in 1978, replaced provides no protection other than from visitors.
with stainless steel in Access to this site is not easy due to the steep cliff
1986 and its only identifier from the sea is the cage. Given
Lung Ha Glass screen to front 2006 brush cleaning, that the cage is only there for visitors and visitors are
Wan only, built in 1984 ethyl silicate
consolidation, most likely only there due to the cage, it has been pro-
siloxane hydrophobic posed that the cage serves no useful function and could
treatment
be removed. The site provides a baseline for impact in
Po Toi Glass screen to front 2004, 2007, 2009
only in 1984, chain surfactant clean
a fully unprotected situation but with visitors
fence temporary 2007 biota excluded.
repair in 2009. Water suppressant
diversion, not cited 2007 siloxane
hydrophobic Full screen enclosure
treatment
The Cheung Chau site is located on a busily populated
Shek Pik Solid roof with open 2005 surfactant clean
grille sides replacing
island from which it takes its name. The site sits below
polycarbonate a relatively modern hotel with landscaped gardens that
screens in 1992 sit immediately above the site. Any excess watering of
Tung Polycarbonate screen 2006 surfactant clean the gardens appears to drain into the site as evidenced
Lung built in 1983
by a dark stained rock surface in one area.
Wong Fully exposed but 2006 surfactant clean
Chuk shaded by trees. and moss removal, The complete glass enclosure appears not to affect
Hang Slope protection in biocidal treatment, the engraved surfaces too much and on the whole
1987 siloxane hydrophobic
they are clean and free of biota. This is partly due to
treatment
recent biocidal treatments but reducing water supply
at the surface suppresses biological growth, provided short-term study cannot accurately gauge this. The
the enclosure does not raise humidity. This is achieved HKHM have also been actively reducing biota
at the site by ventilation ports which configure the through chemical means and hence evidence for pollu-
enclosure as a combination of a front screen and tant impact is not observable.
clear roof above.
The Cheung Chau site is the most visually compro- Visitor behavior
mised due not only to the extensive screen but also The sites vary in accessibility from those located along
because it is situated immediately below a tall busy thoroughfares (Cheung Chau, Big Wave Bay) to
modern hotel building and within a busy tourist and several being in quite remote locations on outer islands
residential precinct. The main impact perceived at (Po Toi) or isolated from regular thoroughfares (Kau
the site appears to come from percolation of irrigation Sai Chau). All of the sites have been offered some
water from the hotel garden that manifests in the site form of visitor protection through protective screens
as a saline seepage area. The screen provides no pro- or grilles. In the exceptional case of Wong Chuk
tection from this intrusion. Hang the site is separated from access by a small
stream. This is a minor deterrent but very little
Unaltered surface damage in the form of graffiti or scratching has been
The Wong Chuk Hang site is the only one of the nine noted. The worst impact has been through the
that has not had its surface exposure modified in some removal of infrastructure from time to time.
way. The site has been cleaned of biota, together with The most enduring impact from visitors has been
some soil stabilization works above. There is no indi- through enhancing the engraved channels themselves
cation that this site is more eroded or otherwise (Fig. 4). This has been a tradition, even for rock
altered. Wong Chuk Hang is the most protected of engraving conservation, in many parts of the world
all nine sites, being farthest from the sea and sur- (Andersson, 1986) but is generally considered in the
rounded by tall shade trees. Viewing is achieved by a archaeological community to be a potentially dama-
platform placed across the stream and this provides a ging distortion of the original appearance.
natural barrier and ideal viewing place.
Recent interventions
Anthropogenic pollutants With care of the engravings being mandated to the
Pollution impact has not been observed on the AMO, the sites have seen a more interventive
engraved surfaces for several reasons. First volcanic approach in recent years, brought about to a large
rocks are not high in acid-soluble minerals. extent through partnering with HKHM, which has
Published data for nine ignimbrites in New Zealand, brought a more technological assessment and inter-
reviewed as part of an assessment of rock engravings ventive strategy to the sites. Given that much of the
in that part of the Pacific (Thorn, 2011 a, b), showed local criticism has been leveled at these interventions
that CaO is below 3% and as low as 0.2% of rock com- it was essential to assess and comment on each
position in the nine samples. While calcium carbonate approach. The assessment has been objective and
will be vulnerable to acid dissolution it is no more impartial and where alternative approaches or modifi-
abundant in tuff than in granite and many sandstones. cations have been identified these were first discussed
The second reason that no impact is observable is on site so that no surprises would be encountered
simply that the industrialization of China has been upon the submission of reports.
quite recent. Hong Kong is the worlds fourth most Various methods have been implemented since
polluted city and lies in range of pollutant fall-out 2004, either in a controlled evaluation or by follow-
from several of Chinas major industrial regions. The up broad-scale treatments, where trials have indicated
Guangdong-Guangxi-Guizhou-Sichuan basin south benefits. The works have proceeded with appropriate
of the Yangtze is the largest most concentrated genera- caution and should continue, with one or two refine-
tor of acid rain pollution in the world. ments, into the future.
To control regional pollution Hong Kong has Surface appearance issues have been treated with a
signed co-operative agreements with neighboring combination of dry brushing and surfactant-aided
Guangdong Province. Hong Kong is also the worlds cleaning, together with biocide reduction of biota
third busiest seaport, a heavily polluting activity on a and associated stains.
local level. Given that this is a modern industrial esca- Four of the nine sites have received a water-repellent
lation of pollutant levels it is most likely that any dis- treatment using hydrogen functional siloxane (Wacker
solution, salt formation or microbial reduction will not Chemie), with one of these also being consolidated
yet have had a measurable impact on the rocks. with ethyl silicate (Wacker Chemie). In general these
Any short-term impact is most likely to be in the latter treatments have been applied to the rhyolitic
form of biological retreat from the surfaces. A tuffs and follow the same technology determined as
Figure 4 The engraved surface has been painted to make the motifs more visible at two sites. The Joss House Bay engraving on
the left is inscribed with a date equating to 1274 CE. The much older surface at Tung Lung has the residue of a now gray paint
material that may have been a black paint applied in the last 50 years or so.
the most effective means of stabilizing similar rock sur- the decision making process has a sound logical basis.
faces elsewhere. Most notably the Moai of Rapa Nui Hydrophobic treatments had been applied to four sites
have been considered best protected by this combi- over a number of years with one attempted in the first
nation of treatments (Bahamondez Prieto, 1994; year of HKHM conservation procedures in 2006, and
De Witte et al., 1994). The critical issue here is to three more following closely after. It is difficult to
ensure that no moisture comes from within the rock, argue, from observations alone, that water repellency
since it has the potential to cause spalling if its exit has improved the durability of the rock, but the litera-
through the treated surface is impeded by hydrophobic ture indicates a benefit, provided that the moisture
treatment (Thorn, 2011a). This concern had been regime is fully analyzed. In studies by one author of
raised by local observers of the sites, and it was a par- a far more porous lava-flow ignimbrite (Thorn,
ticular requirement of the commission to assess the 2011b) water repellency was assessed to be a danger-
performance of these treatments. ous proposition, so much so that even the application
The critical issue to evaluate here is not whether the of ethyl silicate was considered a risk to stability due to
treatments are working effectively in isolation but that its initial hydrophobic phases that can last up to eight
Figure 5 Big Wave Bay site (left) has had substantial Portland cement walls placed to intercept water off the rock slope above
the engravings. In this case both the dam wall and the engraved panel are protected from rain wash by the roof.
Figure 6 The Tung Lung Island site is heavily congested with a concrete viewing platform and more recently a protective screen.
The elevation sketch on the left indicates the extent of concrete and its proximity to the engraved panel. A proposed modification
on the right removes all of the concrete and lowers the viewing platform.