Non-Destructive Analysis of Ancient Metals, Glass, and Pigments
This community applies modern spectroscopic and imaging techniques to determine the chemical composition, origin, and manufacturing methods of archaeological artifacts, specifically focusing on metalwork, glass objects, and painted surfaces.
The research primarily utilizes Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and hyperspectral imaging to analyze copper alloys, lead-based pigments, and ancient glass. A significant portion of the work focuses on dating and sourcing materials from the Bronze and Iron Ages, as well as identifying specific corrosion products and manufacturing techniques in wall paintings and glass beads. The recurring objective is the identification of elemental signatures to reconstruct production processes and trade networks, with a strong emphasis on non-destructive methods suitable for cultural heritage conservation.
The community is most prominent within copper research, accounting for 0.7% of all tracked copper studies, and represents 0.6% of tin research. It also constitutes 0.5% of lead, silver, and gold research.
The group comprises 10,949 papers, published most frequently in Archaeometry, Heritage Science, and the Journal of Raman Spectroscopy.
Recent work continues to apply portable X-ray fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging to authenticate paintings and analyze metal corrosion, while also investigating the sourcing of tin in historical bronzes and the chemical composition of historical glass and pigments.