INNOVATIVE ANALYTICAL TOOLS FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE STUDIES.

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INDEX

INDEX        1

INTRODUCCTION        2

PROBLEM        3

OBJECTIVES        4

CHAPTER 1        5

CULTURAL HERITAGE

CHAPTER 2        7

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIONS

CHAPTER 3        9

APPLIED STUDIES

CHAPTER 4        10

ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES

CONCLUSIONS        15

RECOMMENDATIONS        16

BIBLIOGRAPHY        17

INTRODUCCTION

Historical artefacts and works of art deteriorate over time because of exchange of energy and matter interactions with the surrounding environment. These processes are complex from a chemical-physical point of view and can lead to changes in the original appearance of an object, as well as to weakened structures, corrosions and other alterations that - without any conservation to stop or slow down the degradation - could lead to it being lost completely.

Carrying out conservation and restoration first of all involves recognising a work of art as a physical object possessing both aesthetic and historical value. This is followed by work (such as cleaning, consolidation and protection) that is based on full respect for the original work of art in its historical context, on the principle of the reversibility of any intervention, and on the stability and safety of the materials used.

Scientific research makes a significant contribution to the conservation of our heritage. Several methods are used to explore the bulk, microscopic and surface properties of artefacts, including both traditional and advanced analytical techniques. The works studied include paintings, sculptures, metal works, ceramics, manuscripts, printed books and archaeological items. Science is also used to develop and test new conservation methods and to create innovative diagnostic tools.

Because of the diversity of cultures there is a deficiency of adequate techniques to preserve our cultural heritage. So it is important to study, identify and analyze the technological, analytical and innovative tools to facilitate the proper application of these techniques for the preservation of cultural heritage. In the following three technical research work studied: Nanoparticles, X-Ray digital radiography -computed tomography and Innovative methods for protecting ancient and historic metals collections from the Mediterranean Basin.

PROBLEM

We have a great deal of cultural heritage, however we do not have the adequate technique of conservation. Many of monuments, paintings, ceramics and others require analytical innovative techniques that are used for conservation. The application of the technology is important but each heritage requires special conditions that optimize its preservation. It is necessary to find innovative techniques that not degrade the cultural heritage and not damage the environment.

OBJECTIVES

• Identify innovative and efficient techniques of easy application that preserve our cultural heritage without altering its original design or cause structural damage.

Specified objectives

• Identify the technique to be used in function to the characteristics and conditions of the heritage in order to properly choose the technique: 1. Soft and nanomaterials, 2. X-Ray computed tomography and 3. Innovative conservation approaches for metals collections whit an appropriate corrosion inhibitor.

• Show examples of application of these techniques in the conservation of cultural heritage.

CHAPTER 1

CULTURAL HERITAGE

Archaeological objects comprise a wide variety of composite materials made up of complex mixtures of natural and artificial components (organic and inorganic). Additionally exposure of these artifacts to different environmental conditions (burial, refiring scenarios, pollution) may lead to new constituents and by products. This makes artwork characterization a challenge.

The main cultural heritage, where were applied the analytical techniques:

The technique applied X-Ray  digital radiography

• Pictures of shelves full of ¨ground clods¨containig archaeological finds from protohistoric necropolis.

• Sculpture Egyptian cat-shaped coffin with a cat mummy include inside

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• Crucifixion by Beato Angelico (15th century, Florence). On left, a pre-restoration image of the wall painting. On the right, post-restoration image [pic 5]

• Moorish rampart

• Maya paintings

 Recently discovered Maya paintings that decorate the inner parts of the pyramids in ‘‘La Antigua Ciudad Maya de Calakmul’’, a UNESCO World heritage Site (Campeche, Mexico). Dispersions of Ca(OH)2 nanoparticles are used to consolidate the paint layer suffering for de-cohesion and powdering phenomena. (Courtesy of Proyecto Arqueologico Calakmul).

CHAPTER 2 

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIONS

Cultural heritage encloses and hands down peoples' history to future generations.
Interventions aimed at conserving cultural heritage, and thus making it usable, are paramount to form future generations' consciousness.

Nowadays, interdisciplinary knowledge, tools and techniques are increasingly used to protect and conserve monuments representing our cultural heritage. This is of great importance especially in case of conservation and restoration of wooden historic artefacts which, as a result of physical, chemical and biological corrosion, have lost their technical, aesthetic and decorative properties. If those processes are not consciously stopped by appropriate conservation works, with the elapse of time they will start to threaten the existence of valuable relics leading to their irreversible destruction. Our generation is responsible for evolving modern, improved techniques and methods ensuring adequate, professional protection for historic artefacts. What is necessary to achieve this goal is close and smooth cooperation between conservators and museum workers, strongly supported by specialised knowledge of scientists representing diverse research disciplines, including biology, microbiology, chemistry, and physics.

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