Characterization and Diagnosis Scientific Methodologies

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Teaching model fundamentally theoretical and practical, combining in a balanced way theoretical presentations, presentation and discussion of concrete case studies, visits to research laboratories and execution of some experiments and their analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Get a comprehensive overview of techniques and scientific methods currently available and their use in studies of characterization and diagnosis of problems that arise related to cultural heritage. Learning how to make decisions about actions to be taken for effective safeguarding of cultural heritage. Knowing new developments in scientific research relevant to this field.

Acquiring competences in analysis and synthesis, in organization and planning, in interdisciplinary team work, in oral and written communication.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Review of scientific techniques currently used for the study of materials used in cultural goods:

1. Elemental Analysis - atomic spectroscopy and spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence, neutron activation analysis, particle induced X-ray emission

2. Molecular and Structural Analysis - mass spectrometry, biomolecular methods, Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis, UV-VIS-NIR, FTIR and FORS spectroscopies

3. Electronic microscopy and micro-probe analysis

4. Isotopic analysis - radiocarbon dating

5. Petrography

6. Sedimentology

7. Handling data and statistical analysis

8. Spectrocolorimetry and hyper-spectral images

Problems associated with the degradation of cultural heritage and the following approaches to solve them.

The latest developments in scientific research applied to cultural goods.

Head Lecturer(s)

Francisco Paulo de Sá Campos Gil

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Laboratory work or Field work: 10.0%
Report of a seminar or field trip: 40.0%
Synthesis work: 50.0%

Bibliography

Modern Analytical Methods in Art and Archaeology, Ed. Enrico Ciliberto and Giuseppe Spoto. Chemical Analysis Series, vol. 155, John & Wiley Sons, Inc, 2000.

 

Understanding Materials Science - history, properties, applications

Rolf E. Hummel

Springer, 1998

 

Concise Encyclopedia of Materials Characterisation

R.W.Cahn, E.Lifshin

Pergamon, 1993

 

A Guide to Materials Characterization and Chemical Analysis

J.P.Sibilia

Wiley, 1996

 

Environmental microscopy in stone conservation

Sudeep M. Rao, C. Jeffrey Brinker, Timothy. J. Ross. Scanning. Volume 18, Issue 7, pages 508–514, October 1996

 

Stone Conservation. An Overview of Current Research

Second Edition

Eric Doehne and Clifford A. Price

Research in conservation. The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles 2010

 

Techniques in Sedimentology

M. E. Tucker (Editor)

Wiley-Blackwell 1991