Evaluation of Deterioration in Cultural Stone Heritage Using Non-Destructive Testing Techniques: The Case of Emir Ali Tomb (Ahlat, Bitlis, Türkiye)

Stone cultural heritage structures built from pyroclastic rocks are susceptible to deterioration due to their sensitivity to atmospheric processes. Detecting such deterioration and periodically examining it using non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques is one of the most critical measures for ensuring its transmission to future generations. In recent years, assessing the properties of building stones through NDT methods has been widely applied in planning the preservation of stone cultural heritages. In this study, deterioration observed on the interior walls of the Emir Ali Tomb, a structure distinguished from other tombs in the region by its exceptional architecture, was investigated through laboratory tests and NDT techniques, including deep moisture measurement, P-wave velocity, and infrared thermography. It was determined that the monument was constructed from four different types of pyroclastic rock, classified according to their textural and geomechanical characteristics. Using data obtained from in situ tests, NDT distribution maps were generated. The deep moisture, P-wave velocity, and infrared thermography maps revealed that the primary cause of deterioration in the monument was related to capillary water rise.