História e tecnologia das argamassas na azulejaria histórica do cemitério nossa senhora da soledade (Belém-Pa)

Abstract

The old Nossa Senhora da Soledade Cemetery is considered the first official public cemetery in the city of Belém do Pará, having been inaugurated in 1850 in a context marked by epidemic crises in the region. Due to the urgency of its construction, the necropolis received improvements from 1853 onwards, which lasted for decades, especially during the golden age of rubber. This period made it possible to import high-quality materials for the production of mortuary architecture inspired by 19th-century European cemeteries. In addition, the cemetery continued to undergo transformations and renovations in the early 20th century during the government of the Intendentes from Belém. Thus, the monumental architecture rich in funerary symbolism can be characterized from two distinct periods: 1) the 19th century (from the inauguration to the belle-époque, characterized mainly by the importation of European materials); 2) the 20th century (with the beginning of Brazilian production using numerous materials used in the necropolis). Thus, the historic tiles of Soledade also follow this logic, and it is possible to observe how the components of its construction system (tile/mortar/support) present distinct characteristics depending on the production period. The different layers of mortar applied to the tiles constitute important components of the system, in addition to serving as a witness to the history of the Soledade Cemetery due to their technological and documentary aspects. Despite this, such mortars are in various stages of deterioration due to continuous alteration processes over decades. Recurrent degradation poses risks not only to the safeguarding of the mortar specimens, but also to the loss of character of the construction system of the historic tiles. Considering all this, this work aimed to investigate the mortars applied to the historic tiles of the Nossa Senhora da Soledade Cemetery, addressing everything from historical and theoretical aspects to the physical, chemical and mineralogical characterization of the different types of mortar and their construction systems. To this end, the components of the mortar/tile system and the characterization of the mortars themselves were considered. Thus, the methodological approach was carried out in two stages: 1) study of the construction systems of the tiled typologies by means of surveying/mapping the existing specimens in the cemetery, followed by documentation, description and historical investigation; 2) laboratory investigation in order to characterize the selected mortars physically, chemically and mineralogically, as well as to analyze their physical and mechanical properties. The results generated a book chapter and two different articles: 1) a theoretical-technological book chapter on the different contexts of application of the mortars used in the mortuary architecture of Soledade; 2) a technological article investigating the mortars used for laying tiles; 3) a technological article investigating the mortars used for laying and preparing the base for tiles. The different characteristics of mortars were discussed in the aforementioned centuries, making it possible to infer and simulate the transformation of these materials and their technologies over time. The main conclusions of this dissertation were that the types of mortars investigated can be classified according to: a) type of binder used (aerial lime, pozzolan or Portland cement); b) function (laying, filling, base preparation, coating, etc.); c) application technique (single or multilayer). In addition, it was found that characteristics and properties are directly influenced by factors such as: a) individual performance of the mortar; b) performance as a component of the mortar/tile/substrate system; c) microclimate; d) alteration processes; e) anthropic actions. The rarity and complexity of the specimens and technologies found corroborate the recognition of the mortars used in Soledade as relevant cultural assets that must be preserved through maintenance, conservation and restoration actions based on in-depth studies in Heritage Science and restoration theories.