Linked to the lime and conservation training for masons and craftspeople in Gondor, Ethiopia, Mark was also asked to speak at an associated conference for professionals. The first day concentrated on understanding building defects including damage to the fabric of ruins and standing building by water, salts, vegetation growth, insect and termite attack and timber rot and the inappropriate damaging restoration works.

For one such example we looked the Zobel’s Mausoleum dedicated to emperor’s Yohannes I’s famous Horse. This has been restored in the 1930-40’s by the Italians but is now in a very poor state of repair and requires signific

ant conservation works.

The Conference was opened and closed by Traditional Ethiopian dancers who were a hard act to follow.

Zobel’s Mausoleum