In historic buildings, built before reinforced concrete began to be generally adopted for structures, masonry walls accumulated protection functions with structural functions. Mortars are a part of old masonry walls, being the material to agglomerate stones and bricks, the component of renders and plasters, the base for decorative finishing… They must confer enough strength to structural masonry as well as be deformable to accommodate tensions due to construction displacements. They should protect against rainwater and aggressive agents entrance but they shouldn’t restrain the evaporation of inside moisture. The diversity of textures and colours and the multiplicity of surface decorations permitted by its plasticity and human creativity turn mortars into a very significant identity mark. The various constituents of ancient mortars – lime, aggregates, pozzolans, additions, pigments, natural fibres – were collected in the region of the construction or transported from some distance. Historical mortars are evidence of science, technique, art and history of construction. For all this, and also because they are an important component of monuments and historical buildings in general, necessary for functionality, durability and aesthetics, the conservation of old mortars is a relevant issue of the research dedicated to the Conservation of Cultural Heritage. These various aspects were discussed in HMC 08 – 1st Historical Mortars Conference. Some of the secrets contained in Historical Mortars were revealed and can be assessed through 114 papers accepted for HMC 08 and included in the CD of Proceedings. |