Removing stone engravings...

tailstrike

Thinking, always thinking!
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Messages
171
Reaction score
8
Location
Brisbane, Australia
Is it possible to remove engravings on a wall, that is to say that if someone came along and 'chiseled' off engravings is it possible to make the stone appear aged as if nothing had ever been there using some sort of chemical technique or the like?
 

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 10, 2005
Messages
6,432
Reaction score
1,343
Location
Silicon Valley
What level of technology is available, and how deep are the engravings?
 

Tsu Dho Nimh

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 2, 2006
Messages
1,534
Reaction score
248
Location
West Enchilada, NM
Is it possible to remove engravings on a wall, that is to say that if someone came along and 'chiseled' off engravings is it possible to make the stone appear aged as if nothing had ever been there using some sort of chemical technique or the like?

Yes, although the stone has to be chiseled off to remove a whole layer of wall and it's not immediate. You spray the wall with various salts of elements like manganese and iron to accelerate the aging process. Follow up by smearing it with local lichens pulverized into a yogurt nutrient base and in a couple of years it might look naturally old.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...9DCi-oDl7zOPDJaLQ&sig2=8jaRpUjuZJ3X2D-NIKXW0A
 

hammerklavier

It was a dark and stormy night
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 7, 2008
Messages
711
Reaction score
85
Location
NC
It might look reasonably authentic, but a forensic analysis would certainly show otherwise.
 

tailstrike

Thinking, always thinking!
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Messages
171
Reaction score
8
Location
Brisbane, Australia
thanks all...it wouldn't be for forensic testing just if someone came up and looked at the wall again that it would look the same just no engravings...cheers