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In the field of arts and archaeology, uncovering the stories behind historical artifacts often begins with understanding their materials and colors. The composition of an artifact can provide substantial clues about its origin, authenticity, and provenance, and shed light on the techniques and technologies used in its creation. Moreover, accurate material identification is essential for developing appropriate conservation and restoration strategies to ensure the preservation of cultural heritage for future generations.
Raman spectroscopy has become a key tool in this field, offering a non-destructive and highly informative method for material identification. By delivering detailed insights into the molecular structure and composition of artifacts without causing damage or requiring extensive sample preparation, Raman microscopy allows researchers to analyze even the most fragile and priceless objects.
WITec Raman microscopes are designed with unparalleled versatility to meet the demands of both current and future applications. Their confocal design and high sensitivity enable outstanding spatial resolution and measurement efficiency, making them ideal for analyzing delicate and complex samples.
For added flexibility, our alphaCART system brings mobile Raman spectroscopy to the field or museum, ensuring you have the right tools wherever your research takes you.
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Art and Archaeology samples often feature uneven surfaces, such as the rough substrate of plaster, the curved contours of an ancient vase, or the layered paints of a historical artwork. These surface irregularities can pose challenges when trying to achieve precise, in-focus Raman imaging, particularly over large areas.
In this analysis of a Roman fresco, we utilized the TrueSurface imaging option, which integrates optical profilometry to adapt to the sample's topography in real time during the Raman measurement. This approach allowed for fast and accurate imaging of the fresco’s surface, ensuring detailed molecular data while simultaneously capturing the topographic features of the artifact.
Read more about the study in our Application Note
Discover TrueSurfaceThe alphaCART portable Raman system enables detailed, non-destructive characterization of valuable or large artworks and historical objects that cannot be moved to a laboratory for analysis. In this example, we employed alphaCART to analyze a Roman Fresco from Boscoreale (near Pompeii), housed at the field museum in Chicago. The system allowed us to identify key components of the painting, including the characteristic Raman spectra of calcite, Egyptian blue, and a carbon-based material. This field-based approach provided valuable insights while preserving the integrity of the artifact.
In a study conducted by Prof. Dr. Nasdala and his team at the Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM) in Vienna, Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used to analyze the gemstones of the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire. By bringing the instrumentation directly to the museum and employing non-destructive techniques, the integrity of this priceless historical artifact was fully protected throughout the analysis process.
Read more about the study here:
TrueMatch is a powerful Raman database manager designed to streamline the identification of individual components in your samples with speed and precision. It provides seamless access to established libraries, such as the ST Japan databases, while also offering the flexibility to import freely available databases or build your own custom spectral catalog.
With TrueMatch, analyzing complex samples becomes faster and more efficient, helping you focus on your research and uncovering critical insights into historical artifacts.
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