LIGHT EXPOSURE AND MOISTURE HAMPER SUSTAINABLE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE IN RAPIDLY CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS.

The moisture is one of the main responsible for the deterioration of historical buildings including old churches. To enable their protection and restoration, deterioration to the indoor and outdoor environment of historic constructed heritage as those post-Byzantine period must be addressed. Along with natural factors, human activity and lack of proper maintenance are the main causes of this damage. In different regions of Albania, the indoor environment of the historical monuments of post-Byzantine period, buildings made of locally generated materials were examined. This paper deals with the objective diagnosis of the presence of humidity and light exposure in old churches. After an overview of the main causes of the phenomenon, and related approaches of intervention, an objective measurement to reveal the state and further on address the needs for conservation. Revealed highest values of detected moisture (72.3, 71.7 and 70.5%) and relative humidity (68.9, 67 and 66.5%) within churches of St. Mary -- Bishqethëm, St. Nicola -- Grabovë and St. Nicola -- Voskopojë reflects their current state, degradation rate and risk further deteoriation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]