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Recent events such as the pandemic, armed conflicts, and natural disasters have clearly demonstrated the significant role of cultural heritage in every country. This role is much greater than previously thought, as it contributes to society’s ability to cope with unexpected situations and recover afterward. In 2011, UNESCO approved the Universal Declaration on Archives, which states that archives play a crucial role in the development of society by protecting and contributing to individual and community memory. European archives offer the most reliable and original sources for (re)discovering, highlighting, promoting, and presenting the history and culture of Europe.

The Institute of Molecular Biology is one of the contributors to the innovative international project SAGA (Sustainable Archives and Greener Approaches), which is based on the shared need to protect national archives from natural and human-made disasters, as well as climate change. This project focuses on developing various strategies to prevent archive damage while also studying existing biological threats that endanger not only the archives but also the employees working with them and their users/visitors. The project is built on multidisciplinary collaboration among nine partners across Europe (Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Malta, Italy, Ireland, Poland, and Slovakia).

The team from the Institute of Molecular Biology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (IMB SAS), led by Dr. Pangallo, DrSc., has been studying the biodeterioration of cultural heritage objects and the microflora present in their surrounding environments (air, surfaces, and building materials) for many years. They are the only group of their kind in Slovakia, and their expertise in this field is evidenced by extensive publications and collaborations with museums, archives, and cultural organizations. The team’s previous activities will help analyze the microflora of archival samples using non-invasive sampling methods and environmental samples.

The research will be conducted using a combination of classical microbiological methods (cultivation-based microbial analysis) and modern molecular approaches such as high-throughput sequencing (culture-independent strategy). The analysis of microflora from paper-based artifacts (antique papers, manuscripts, parchments, maps) and archival environments (air, walls, and other surfaces) will allow for precise identification of microflora responsible for deterioration, as well as the detection of potential human pathogens.

The analysis of the degradation properties of the isolated microflora will help identify microorganisms most responsible for the deterioration of archival documents and carriers. To this end, the IMB SAS team will collect samples from five archival buildings across Europe: the Spanish National Archives in Madrid, the Hungarian National Archives in Budapest, the National Archives of Malta, the Portuguese National Archives in Lisbon, and the Historical Archives of the European Union in Florence. Risks associated with digital and non-paper carriers will also be considered, especially highly vulnerable media requiring specialized physical storage (films, disks, photographic negatives, etc.). Samples and data will be collected and analyzed over 12 months, from April 2025 to March 2026, and the results will contribute to the development of appropriate remedial and preventive procedures/methods, as well as the creation of pilot implementation plans.

Text: Lucia Kraková, Domenico Pangallo

Photo: canva.com