Non-Destructive Analysis of Ancient Metals, Glass, and Pigments
This community applies modern spectroscopic and imaging techniques to determine the chemical composition, origin, and preservation state of archaeological artifacts, focusing primarily on metal objects, ancient glass, and painted surfaces.
The work centers on identifying materials in Bronze and Iron Age artifacts, such as copper alloys, silver coins, and glass beads, as well as analyzing pigments in wall paintings and cultural heritage sites. Recurring methods include Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and hyperspectral imaging, often using portable devices to examine objects in situ. Specific applications include tracing the provenance of metals using lead isotope analysis, studying the degradation of ancient glass, and identifying the chemical composition of historical pigments like lead white. The research spans diverse geographic contexts, with significant attention to sites in China, the Southern Levant, and Roman-era locations, aiming to reconstruct production techniques and trade networks through material evidence.
The largest share of the community's output is found in copper research, accounting for 0.7% of all copper research tracked, and 2,111 papers here. Iron and lead research also contribute significantly, with 1,910 and 1,050 papers respectively.
The community comprises 14,182 papers, published most frequently in Archaeometry, Heritage Science, and the Journal of Raman Spectroscopy.
Recent work continues to focus on the application of portable X-ray fluorescence for authenticating paintings and metals, as well as the use of hyperspectral imaging to identify mineral pigments in heritage conservation.