The effect of lichens to basaltic rock artefacts weathering/altering in Karatepe Aslantaş Open Air Museum

The aim of this study is to determine the lichen species developed on basaltic artifacts in Karate Aslantaş Open Air Museum along with weathering effects of lichens. When Turkey's richness in archeology is taken into account the importance of this alteration becomes more crucial. However, studies on weathering effect of lichens on archeological artifacts are not studied sufficiently. This study outlines the lichen species and their effects on weathering in Karatepe Aslantaş Open Air Museum. The mineralogical and micromorphological analyses revealed a secondary whewellite formation on basaltic rocks. This revealed that initial weathering processes started on basalts of Karatepe.