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Archaeological ceramics are of heritage significance, but their biodeterioration has been poorly explored. This study examines the damage resulting from the biodeterioration of such material at an arid site in La Rioja, a Province of northern Argentina. The microbial colonization of two styles of ceramics, Aguada and Rustic, was assessed by different microscopies and spectroscopy techniques and laboratory assays. Bacteria, fungi and cyanolichens have been typified. It is noteworthy the isolation of one strain of Pseudomonas sp. due to their adhesive potential and ability to form biofilms in all materials studied. The confirmation of biodeterioration processes involving mechanical damage and potential chemical changes was observed. Bacteria and fungi developed in cracks causing a breakdown of the material while cyanolichens grew on surfaces and edges of ceramics, producing a severe deterioration. Fil: Guiamet, Patricia Sandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina Fil: Soto, Daiana Marilé. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Arqueología; Argentina Fil: Schultz, Matthias. Universitat Hamburg; Alemania

Stone materials exposed to weathering are subject to biological colonization and consequently to biofilm formation, causing biodeterioration. The color changes on the stone substrates caused by biogenic pigments, mechanical stress on the mineral structure due to extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and the accumulation of atmospheric pollutants by the biofilm are some of the deteriogenic effects, which modify esthetic and functional aspects of the work. The aim of this study was to determine biodeterioration and biofilm formation on marble tombstones from La Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The effect of the biocide benzalkonium chloride on biofilm formation was studied, and a chart produced of the treated tombstones. Pre- and post-intervention microbiological studies, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray dispersion analysis showed a significant decrease of the biofilm flora after treatment. However, algae of the genus Trentepohlia were difficult to eradicate. These studies are a valuable contribution to determine restoration criteria against biofilm formation, to characterize chromatic variations of biological origin on the stone and to formulate conservation and restoration policies. Fil: Guiamet, Patricia Sandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina Fil: Crespo, Miguel. Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Cultura. Subsecretaría de Patrimonio; Argentina Fil: Lavin, Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina Fil: Ponce, Beatriz. Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geologico Minero Argentino; Argentina Fil: Gaylarde, Christine. University of Portsmouth; Reino Unido Fil: Gómez de Saravia, Sandra Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina