Abstract:
This research is to study three environmental factors namely, temperature, relative humidity and air quality, affecting the deterioration of the mural paintings inside the crypt of Wat Ratchaburana, Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya Province. The findings are as follows: Wat Ratchaburana was built by Chao Sam Phraya in 1424. The crypt of Wat Ratchaburana was still in good condition. The cella or central small hall inside the prang containing the crypt, there is a-two-level crypt inside. The space inside the crypt is in microclimate. The mural paintings inside the crypt are generally seen as cracking, color change and fading, salt weathering and dust. Moreover, snake stains, millipedes and bats are found inside the central hall. The environmental monitoring conducted inside the crypt showed that there was no control of temperature, relative humidity and particles and dust in the air. Temperature and relative humidity have changed following by weather conditions which caused the deterioration of mural painting. The sulfate salts, nitrate salts and potassium nitrate salts are found on the mural painting. Therefore, the preventive conservation should focus on close the crypt, temperature, and relative humidity control, improve ventilation system and bat repellent and control. The doors and windows should be opened to increase ventilation and air exchange rates, if there is no climate control system in the present day