Engineering geology for a sustainable conservation of rupestrian heritage sites
Submission deadline: 30 October 2026
Rupestrian sites represent a unique mix of human ingenuity and geological constraints. Defined by negative construction, these structures rely entirely on the inherent stability of the excavated rock mass. This Special Issue explores the critical intersection of engineering geology, rock mechanics, and cultural heritage conservation. We examine how ancient excavation techniques adapted to local lithology and address the complex challenges of preserving fragile rock art against weathering. By bridging historical context with modern engineering geological and geomechanical analysis, applying a multidisciplinary approach, this collection aims to advance sustainable strategies for monitoring and safeguarding these irreplaceable rock-cut monuments against long-term environmental and anthropogenic stresses.
Guest editors:
Prof. Claudio Margottini
UNESCO Chair, Prevention and Sustainable Management of Geo-Hydrological Hazards, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Prof. Jose Ignacio Gallego Revilla
Royal Commission for AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Prof. Adnan Abbas Adas
King Abdullaziz University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Prof. Giovanni Crosta
University of Milano Bicocca, Milano, Italy
Manuscript submission information:
Authors are invited to submit their manuscripts at any time before the submission deadline 30 October 2026. Please select “VSI: Engineering geology and rupestrian heritage sites” as your article type. For any inquiries about the appropriateness of contribution topics, please contact Prof. Claudio Margottini (claudio.margottini@unifi.it)
Keywords:
Engineering geology, rock mechanics, rupestrian sites, rock art, sustainable conservation, cultural heritage.
