Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis

Archaeologists and conservators increasingly rely on non-invasive analytical techniques—Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, hyperspectral imaging, and synchrotron radiation—to identify the chemical composition of pigments, binders, glass, and other materials embedded in artifacts without disturbing the objects themselves. Understanding what ancient craftspeople used, and how those materials have degraded over centuries, helps both interpret historical trade networks and guide conservation decisions. A central challenge remains bridging the gap between laboratory precision and field deployment, since many high-resolution methods require conditions that museum or excavation sites cannot easily provide. Researchers are also pushing toward integrating multiple analytical modalities—combining spectroscopic, proteomic, and imaging data—to reconstruct manufacturing processes and provenance with greater confidence than any single technique allows.

Works

135,940

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521,937

Keywords

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