This book provides an extensive overview of the application of neutron characterization techniques in cultural heritage to a broad audience and will be of interest to both scientists and non-scientists in the field. Archaeologists, paleontologists, restaurateurs and conservators, historians and collectors will be fascinated by the wealth of information that can be obtained using neutron techniques, while material scientists and engineers will find details of the experimental techniques and materials properties that can be determined. Neutrons, due to their weak interactions with materials, provide a penetrating, but non-invasive probe of bulk properties. They allow the characterization of the composition and mechanical properties of materials, helping to answer questions related to the dating, the manufacturing process or the state of degradation of artefacts. They allow detailed interrogation of the internal structures of objects that may be otherwise hidden from view. The first section of the book is dedicated to stories describing spectacular discoveries brought about by the use of neutron techniques in a range of applications. The second section covers the experimental techniques in appropriate detail: basic principles, limitations and fields of application.

Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials for Diagnostic, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage explores how advanced nanoscale techniques can help preserve artworks. The book covers lab-scale available techniques as well as advanced methods from neutron sources and X-ray spectroscopy. Other sections highlight a variety of nanomaterials with potential uses in treatments for restoration and conservation, with conservation, consolidation and long-term protection protocols analyzed in each case. The final chapter presents case studies, demonstrates how nanoscale techniques are used to conserve art, and shows what happens when misinterpretation of data sources leads to misdiagnosis. The book is intended for scientists from academic and professional conservators, restorers who are involved in the conservation of artistic and historical artifacts, and those who want to learn how nanotechnology can increase the efficiency of conservation and protection techniques. Cogently explains how nanotechnology is used in the preservation, protection and restoration of artworks Explores the best nanomaterials for a variety of situations Shows how nanomaterials can be used in restoration, for cleaning and in conservation treatments Includes guidelines to prevent the misinterpretation of diagnostic data to help avoid misdiagnosis

The first of its kind, this series is devoted to the use of physical principles in the study and scientific conservation of objects with cultural heritage significance. It begins with a review of the modern museum, which discusses new techniques employed in the conservation of museum artifacts such as X-ray tomography and other techniques used to study Egyptian mummies, bones and mineralization of bones in the archaeological context, and the degradation of parchment. All of these topics and techniques are essential for the preservation of our history. This includes finding ways to preserve parchment documents and letters, which much of our written heritage is documented on, so that it can be used and understood for generations to come. This book is a must have for any museum as well as any university that teaches or employs the techniques discussed. - Written in a style that is readily understandable by conservation scientists, archaeologists, museum curators, and students - Provides an introduction to the advanced fields of synchrotron radiation science, neutron science, and computed tomography - Outstanding review of the use of modern technology to study museum and archaeological artifacts - Offers solutions through advanced scientific techniques to a wide range of problems facing museum staff

Spectroscopy, Diffraction and Tomography in Art and Heritage Science gives an overview of the main spectroscopy and diffraction techniques currently available for cultural heritage research. It starts with an introductory, general discussion of spectroscopy and diffraction and the kinds of information they can give. Further sections deal with, respectively, typical laboratory methods, mobile equipment, and large-scale instruments and infrastructural methods. The work concludes with comments on combining and comparing multiple techniques, sources of error, and limitations of the analytical methods. - Explains spectroscopy and diffraction techniques in detail, yet remains accessible to those without a chemistry or physics background - Provides explanations of commonly used terms, such as destructive, non-destructive, non-invasive, in-situ, and ex-situ, and their sometimes-misleading origins - Includes real-world examples that demonstrate how each technique is used in the field - Highlights the complementary use of different analytical techniques in fully interpreting the data

The characterization of cultural heritage objects becomes increasingly important for conservation, restoration, dating, and authentication purposes. The use of scientific methods in archaeometry and conservation science has led to a significant broadening of the field. Scientific analysis of these objects is a challenging task due to their complex composition, artistic and historical values requiring the use of minimally invasive and nondestructive analytical procedures. This textbook summarizes scientific methods that are currently used to characterize objects of cultural heritage and archaeological artifacts. This book provides a brief description of the structure of matter at the molecular, atomic, and nuclear levels. Furthermore, it discusses the chemical and physical nature of materials from the molecular to the atomic and nuclear level as determined by the principles of quantum mechanics. Important aspects of natural and anthropogenic radioactivity that play a critical role for some of the analytical techniques are also emphasized. The textbook also provides principals and applications of spectroscopic methods for characterization of cultural heritage objects. It describes the technologies with specific examples for utilization of spectroscopic techniques in the characterization of paintings, books, coins, ceramics, and other objects. Analytic approaches that employ isotopes and determination of isotope ratios will be reviewed. General principles of imaging techniques and specific examples for utilization of these methods will also be summarized. In the later part of the book, a number of scientific techniques for the age determination of cultural heritage material and archaeological artifacts will be presented and discussed with specific examples.

This volume explores the cultural meaning of ochre among the societies of the Late Epipalaeolithic/Mesolithic and the Early Neolithic from the Levant to the Carpathian Basin.

Applied Metallomics A groundbreaking survey of a field that unites the sciences The metallome of a cellular compartment, such as an enzyme, is the variety and arrangement of its metal ions. Metallomics is the multidisciplinary study of the metallome and its many important interactions with biological molecules and systems. It exists at the intersection of biochemistry and materials science, offering crucial insights into biological processes in which iron, for instance, plays a pivotal role. Applied Metallomics is an up-to-the-minute overview of research developments in metallomics, offering both analysis and applications in a vast array of scientific and industrial areas. Moving freely between material science, environmental science, health science, and more, it offers a comprehensive survey of this interdisciplinary research area. As the field of metallomics continues to develop and its applications expand, this book will only be a need of the hour Applied Metallomics readers will also find: Detailed treatment of nanometallomics, environmetallomics, agrometallomics, and many more Coverage of machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques with applications in metallomics An author team with vast international research experiences Applied Metallomics is ideal for researchers in many areas touched by metallomics, that include chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioinorganic chemistry, and more.

The book contains the Proceedings of the 37th International Symposium on Archaeometry, 12th May 2008, Siena, Italy. The aim of the Symposium is to promote the development and use of scientific techniques in order to extract archaeological and historical information from cultural heritage and the paleoenvironment. It involves all Natural Sciences and all types of objects and materials related with human activity. Papers deal with the development and/or application of scientific techniques for extracting information related to human activities of the past, including the biological nature of man himself and the environment in which he lived. Topics include: Field Archaeology and Intergrated Site Studies; Archaeo-chronometry including recent developments in Radiocarbon Dating; Human - Environment Interactions including Geoarchaeology, Palaeoclimate studies, Landscape Archaeology, Environmental reconstructions, etc.; Bioarchaeology; Food preparation and consumption in Antiquity; the Technology and Provenance of Stone, Plaster, Pigments;Ceramics, Glazes, Glass and Vitreous Materials, Metals and Metallurgical Ceramics; and Micro/nano diagnostic techniques.

The scientific analysis of cultural heritage materials poses specific and often difficult analytical challenges. This book attempts to rationalize the links between the most commonly asked questions in archaeology, art history, and conservation with the potential answers resulting from the vast array of scientific techniques presently available.

Archaeological and archaeometric data in the study of the athlete of Croatia / M. Michelucci -- Ion beam techniques for analysis of cultural heritage objects : collaboration between the Ruder Bos̮ković Institute and the Croatian Conservation Institute / S. Fazinić [und weitere] -- Study by mobile non-destructive testing of the bronze statue of the "Satiro" of Marsala / G. Guida [und weitere] -- Archaeometric Measurements with PIXE in Slovenia / Z̮. S̮mit -- In situ chemical composition analysis of cultural heritage objects using portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry / D. Wegrzynek [und weitere] -- Integrated geophysical techniques for the high-resolution study of archaeological sites / M. Pipan and E. Forte -- Thermoluminescence dating and cultural heritage / M. Martini and E. Sibilia -- New x-ray digital radiography and computed tomography for cultural heritage / F. Casali [und weitere] -- Cosmic rays for archaeology / G. Giannini -- Some examples of examination, characterisation, analysis & conservation techniques dedicated to archaeological artefacts / J.L. Boutaine -- Presentation of DEMGOL : online etymological dictionary of Greek mythology / E. Pellizer -- Building up an archaeological restoration & conservation department in Friuli-Venezia Giulia / F. Lo Schiavo -- Relative sea level changes by using archaeological markers : the INTERREG Italia-Slovenia Project "Alto Adriatico" / S. Furlani, F. Antonioli and R. Auriemma -- Digitization and multispectral analysis of artistic objects : exemplary cases and web documentation / G. Maino and S. Massari -- Actuopalaeontology : a polyfunctional tool for archaeology / G. Bressan [und weitere] -- Robotics tools for underwater archaeology / G. Conte [und weitere] -- Accelerators and radiation for art and archaeology / C. Tuniz -- The [symbol]C contribution to the protohistory of Friuli (North-Eastern Italy) / P. Càssola Guida -- Serpentinite shaft-holed axes in the Caput Adriae : preliminary results and perspectives based on x-ray computerized microtomography / F. Bernardini [und weitere] -- Mummies - a special report results of CAT scan analyses of Egyptian mummies in the Civico Museo di Storia ed Arte of Trieste / M.V. Torlo -- ANGLE software for semiconductor detector gamma-efficiency calculations and possibilities for its applications to cultural heritage objects characterization / S. Jovanovic and A. Dlabac -- Hominid fossils as universal and national cultural heritage : an essay on past and present attitudes towards the ownership of hominid fossils and the question of repatriation / P.V. Tobias