The Second International Congress on Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage was held in Seville, Spain, June 24-27, 2014, under the umbrella of the TechnoHeritage network. TechnoHeritage is an initiative funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity dedicated to the creation of a network which integrates CSIC

The scientific and technological advances that influence the protection of cultural heritage are developing at an ever-increasing pace. Systems to explore, research and analyse their materiality, to control the different scopes, or to represent and model them have reached an unprecedented dimension in recent decades. The Network of Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage aims to promote collaboration between the agents of these systems, in order to facilitate the sharing of experiences and to foster technology transfer, with the common goal of contributing to the conservation of Cultural Heritage. In the context of the TechnoHeritage Network, the fourth edition of the International Congress on Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage was held March 26-30, 2019, in Seville, Spain. This Congress was an international meeting of researchers and specialists from multiple areas, whose line of work is the knowledge and conservation of Cultural Heritage. Among all the topics discussed, the role and impact of digital technologies for the knowledge, maintenance, management and dissemination of cultural heritage should be highlighted. Digital media modify the way of understanding this heritage, of perceiving it and transmitting it, and offer a new horizon of strategies to make decision-making more sustainable over time.

Conservation Science is a rather innovative application of instrumental analysis with steadily increasing importance. Although the first attempts for preserving material from the cultural heritage on a scientific basis are found in the 19th century pioneer chemistry years, only the use of sophisticated physicochemical techniques results in effective identification and deterioration studies of monuments and objects, and in reliable intervention procedures. This volume allows to gain solid knowledge and improved skills on the ways separation schemes and diagnostic methodologies are applied in the safeguarding and authentication of tangible works of art; as well as on the modes of implementing novel safeguarding practices built on well-established principles – such as the use of laser in the decontamination of objects. All techniques are covered at a state-of-the-art level; while selected applications permit addressing major groups of materials and artefacts. Conservation Science is nowadays taught at master’s level in all developed countries, and museum laboratories increasingly adopt scientific approaches in their restoration initiatives. The book is intended as a valuable tool for students and professionals active in these frames. In addition, it provides an indispensable manual for participants in the specialized intensive courses, which are systematically offered by the authors under the auspices of the relevant European network.

The legacy of physical artifacts as well as intangible attributes of a society that have been inherited from past generations is referred to as cultural heritage. Conservation science for cultural heritage refers to the study of conservation of art, technical art history and other cultural works using scientific inquiry. The research areas of this field include the technology and structure of artistic and historical works. It also studies the materials and techniques by which cultural, artistic and historic objects are made. It contributes to the fields of art conservation and architectural conservation by providing scientific methods and principles for the maintenance of cultural objects in museums and other collections. It identifies the materials that make up a piece of art including their chemical makeup. It is also concerned with the identification of changes that cause decline and develop methods to minimize the decline of cultural heritage. This book contains some path-breaking studies in the field of conservation science for cultural heritage. It consists of contributions made by international experts. This book will provide comprehensive knowledge to the readers.

The third International congress of Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, TechnoHeritage 2017, was held in Cadiz, from 21 to 24 May 2017, under the umbrella of the TechnoHeritage network. TechnoHeritage is an initiative funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity dedicated to the creation of a network which integrates CSIC and University groups, private companies and end users such as foundations, museums or institutions. The network’s purpose is to foster the creation of transdisciplinary (and not only multidisciplinary) initiatives focused on the study of all assets, movable or immovable, that make up Cultural Heritage. A high-quality scientific programme was prepared, which includes new emerging topics on Cultural Heritage (1) Nanomaterials and other Products for Conservation, (2) New Technologies for Analysis, Protection and Conservation, (3) 20th Century Cultural Heritage, (4) Significance of Cultural Heritage. Policies for Conservation, (5) Deterioration of Cultural Heritage, (6) Biodeterioration: Fundamentals, Present and Future Perspectives and (7) Underwater Cultural Heritage. A special session "Biodeterioration: Fundamentals, present and future perspectives, a session in honour of Prof. Cesáreo Sáiz Jiménez" took place. Our intention was to recognise the work of Prof. Sáiz Jiménez, who recently retired, and its impact on the Cultural Heritage conservation community, which he has helped to promote through numerous activities including, in 2011, the creation of the TechnoHeritage network. This volume publishes a total of eighty-three contributions which reflect the state of the art investigations on different aspects of cultural heritage conservation.

From 2nd to 5th October 2012 an International Congress on Science and Technology for the conservation of Cultural Heritage was held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, organized by the Universidade of Santiago de Compostela on behalf of TechnoHeritage Network. The congress was attended by some 160 participants from 10 countries, which presented a total of 145 contributions among plenary lectures, oral, and poster communications. The congress was dedicated to eight topics, namely (1) Environmental assessment and monitoring (pollution, climate change, natural events, etc.) of Cultural Heritage; (2) Agents and mechanisms of deterioration of Cultural Heritage (physical, chemical, biological), including deterioration of modern materials used in Contemporary Art and information storage; (3) Development of new instruments, non invasive technologies and innovative solutions for analysis, protection and conservation of Cultural Heritage; (4) New products and materials for conservation and maintenance of Cultural Heritage; (5) Preservation of industrial and rural heritage from the 19th and 20th centuries; (6) Security technologies, Remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems for protection and management of Cultural Heritage; (7) Significance and social value of Cultural Heritage; and (8) Policies for conservation of Cultural Heritage. This volume publishes a total of ninety-three contributions which reflect some of the most recent responses to the challenge of cultural assets conservation.

From 2nd to 5th October 2012 an International Congress on Science and Technology for the conservation of Cultural Heritage was held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, organized by the Universidade of Santiago de Compostela on behalf of TechnoHeritage Network. The congress was attended by some 160 participants from 10 countries, which presented a tot

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 proceedings volume publishes a range of contributions which reflect the state of the art investigations on different aspects of cultural heritage conservation.