Authenticity And The One-hundred Year Repair

Abstract

Historic earthen monuments, despite their recognized longevity, can paradoxically be considered fugitive. Unprotected or failing in maintenance even the most massive earthen structures disappear indolently into the ground. It is no surprise that the more craftily constructed and cared-for buildings will far outlast their lesser or neglected brethren. This paper will examine in detail the recent restoration of two Spanish Colonial mission churches in New Mexico, USA, one with massive design flaws dating to the construction era (ca. 1613), and having been subjected to entirely inappropriate \“maintenance” after its construction; the other (ca. 1723) subject to benign neglect for nearly one hundred years. In both cases, the goal was to help correct the mistakes of the past and provide a 100- year structural repair while complying with the most applicable standards of conservation, based on the directives of the owners. Issues of authenticity as reflected in conservation doctrine will be discussed.