MONITORING, CONTROLLING AND PREVENTION OF THE FUNGAL DETERIORATION OF TEXTILE ARTIFACTS IN THE MUSEUM OF JORDANIAN HERITAGE

Abstract

This study aims at monitoring, controlling and prevention the fungal deterioration of the mu‐ seum textiles in the museum of Jordanian heritage as a case study. In this study valuable fungal deteriorated textile samples collected from different areas in the storage rooms and the display halls in the selected museum, were used for isolating fungi. Both of the plate method with the manual key and the direct observation method by SEM were used for identification of the fungi. The results show that the most dominant fungi isolated from tested samples belong to Aspergillus, Penicillium, Chaetomium and Alternaria species. The results show that all kinds of textile fibers in both storage room and display halls in the selected museum suffer from fungal attack. This study confirms that the textile collections are displayed and storied in very poor environmental conditions. This study established a strategy for controlling and prevention of the fungal deterioration problem on textile objects in the Museum of Jordanian Heritage and includes disinfection of the biodeteriorated textile objects, and then controlling the environmental conditions surrounding the objects in display showcases and storage cabinets. For disinfection of fungal deteriorated textiles with active fungal infesta‐ tion the study suggested some fungicides that are safe for both textile objects and conservators.