Salt damage at Cleeve Abbey, England. Part II: seasonal variability of salt distribution and implications for sampling strategies

A series of site investigations were undertaken to assess the spatial and temporal variability of the salt distribution within the thirteenth century wall paintings in the Sacristy at Cleeve Abbey, Somerset, UK. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) techniques were applied to the sampling data, and conclusively demonstrated that the salt content of the wall paintings varied significantly, not only with location, but also with depth, and over time. This has important implications for site assessment methodology, since analytical results can be strongly affected by factors such as the type of object under investigation, the sampling strategy, and the season during which the investigation is carried out.