Impact of the sipunculan Aspidosiphon muelleri Diesing, 1851 on calcareous underwater Cultural Heritage

• Sipunculans described as bioeroders of submerged archaeological mosaics (Baiae, Naples, Italy).
• First report of Aspidosiphon muelleri Diesing on underwater Cultural Heritage.
• The damage due to sipunculans has been characterized and described.
• The discovery of this endolithic organism highlighting the needing of periodically monitoring.

This research involves the study of the bioerosion on mosaic fragments recovered from the Underwater Archaeological Park of Baiae (Naples, Italy) caused by the boring sipunculans (Protostomia) and represents the first report of damage by Aspidosiphon muelleri Diesing 1851 on submerged Cultural Heritage. The present study defines the role of this organism in the deterioration of archaeological artefacts. The characteristic traces produced by the action of these organisms on stone materials are described. A set of criteria was established to distinguish the traces of these organisms from those produced by Polychaetes and Clionaid sponges.