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NOTES ON SAFEGUARDING AND CONSERVING CULTURAL MATERIAL IN THE FIELD                10.

Before any discussion of procedure, the principal risks to which monuments and materials may be exposed must be considered.

          IV. [[underline]] RISKS TO MONUMENTS AND CULTURAL MATERIALS, AND THEIR CAUSES [[/underline]]
     
     These fall into three main groups:-
     1.  Various agents of damage and destruction
     2.  Theft and looting
     3.  Defilement and contemptuous treatment.

1. [[underline]] Agents of damage and destruction [[/underline]]

Those most likely to be encountered are: 
(i) [[underline]] Heat. [[/underline]] This may destroy objects without their bursting into flame.  But some objects may be unharmed by a degree of heat which, if the air is admitted, will cause them to burst into flame and be destroyed.

(ii) [[underline]] Thermal shock. [[/underline]] A sudden and great change of temperature, such as occurs when cold water falls on hot glass or metal, or freezing and thawing alternate quickly.

(iii) [[underline]] Dryness. [[/underline]] An atmospheric condition in which relative humidity is below 30% [[footnote:]](1).  Common in desert areas and buildings heated by pipes, radiators, or similar means.

(iv) [[underline]] Water.  [[/underline]] Complete immersion or wetting of the surface.
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[[footnotes:]] (1) Please see next page.