Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis

Analytical techniques borrowed from physics and chemistry have become central to understanding how ancient and historical objects were made, traded, and preserved over time. By applying methods such as Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, hyperspectral imaging, and synchrotron radiation to pigments, glass, ceramics, and organic residues, researchers can identify raw materials, reconstruct manufacturing processes, and trace long-distance exchange networks without destroying the objects themselves. A pressing challenge is developing approaches sensitive enough to detect trace compounds in degraded or contaminated samples, while remaining non-invasive enough for irreplaceable artifacts. Active work is also pushing toward integrating multiple analytical methods and computational tools so that findings from individual objects can be compared systematically across collections and archaeological sites.

Works

135,203

Total citations

518,136

Keywords

Raman SpectroscopyX-Ray FluorescenceHyperspectral ImagingArchaeological ScienceSurface-Enhanced Raman SpectroscopyPigment Analysis