Historical wooden churches from Banat Region, Romania. Damages: Modern consolidation solutions

Historical wooden churches are spread in several countries in the Balkans and are considered priceless World Heritage values, because of the traditional manufacturing techniques, religious paintings and in plane and elevation forms specific to each geographic region. Over the years, some have disappeared, others have been moved and some have remained present in the same location. Depending on external factors that acted on them, they have recorded various failures and degradations. Among the most important factors we can mention: fire, floods, landslides, earthquakes, biological attacks. In the western part of Romania as in neighboring countries such as Serbia and Hungary, there are many historical wooden churches. Generally they were built between 1650 and 1850 with some exceptions. Since almost 50 years in the communist regime the consolidation of historical monuments was almost forbidden and they were intentionally left to deteriorate, in the present time they are extremely degradated their historical and cultural value is given by religious paintings made directly on the wooden walls. The article tries to focus on these monuments of great cultural heritage importance unknown in this region and present the main damages of these churches and some reversible consolidation and strengthening solutions according to the Chart of Venice.