The National Museum in New Delhi has decided to initiate a scientific study for conserving the vast collection of idols and artefacts unearthed at Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple in Thiruvananthapuram.
Administrator of the National Museum C.V. Ananda Bose told The Hindu on the phone on Tuesday that representatives of the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property, Lucknow; the Archaeological Survey of India; the National Museum Institute; and the Conservation Committee of the International Council of Museums would be part of the team.
Mr. Bose said the experts would come up with a road map for preserving the objects found in the vaults. There were several scientific principles involved in the documentation, storage and retrieval of artefacts and idols. The objects found in the vaults had to be preserved in an ideal climate. “There are prescribed norms for re-creating the climate. There are also dos and don'ts in conservation science. When we disturb an antique, its micro-climate gets affected. It will also accelerate the ageing process of the object.”
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Efforts should be made to avoid replacement of the objects in the future. There were different stages of handling the antiques. “Irrespective of the custodian, these principles have to be adhered to while conserving the artefacts. The science of conservation has developed considerably, and it has to be applied in the case of the artefacts and idols found at Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple also.”
Mr. Bose, also the Vice-Chancellor of the National Museum Institute, said it was up to the government and the Supreme Court to decide whether the expert team should visit the vaults.