Conservation science (cultural property)

Introduction

With respect to cultural heritage, conservation science is the interdisciplinary study of conservation of art, architecture, technical art history and other cultural works through the use of scientific inquiry. General areas of research include the technology and structure of artistic and historic works; the materials and techniques from which cultural, artist and historic objects are made. There are four broad categories of conservation science with respect to cultural heritage: 1) understanding the materials and techniques used by artists, 2) thorough examination and analysis, 3) study of the causes of deterioration, and 4) improving materials and techniques. Conservation science includes aspects of chemistry, physics and biology as well as engineering.

Material Properties

Research into the chemical and physical properties that makeup materials used to create cultural heritage objects is a large part of the field of conservation science. Materials science coupled with the long standing acts of restoration and preservation has precipitated what we now know as modern conservation. Using analytical techniques and tools, conservation scientists are able to determine what constitutes any particular item. This knowledge informs how deterioration will occur for that given material, the necessary environment to maintain the current state of that material, and which treatments will have the least amount of reaction and impact on the materials of the objects being studied. Knowledge of the material properties of cultural heritage and how they deteriorate over time, helps conservators formulate actions to preserve cultural heritage .

In many countries, including the United Kingdom and Italy, conservation science is considered part of the broader field called 'Heritage Science' which also encompasses scientific aspects less directly related to cultural heritage conservation, as well its management and interpretation.

Methods

There are a variety of scientific methods, equipment, tools, techniques, and principles used by conservation scientists to support work in the fields of art conservation, architectural conservation, cultural heritage, and care of cultural objects in museums and other collections. In addition to the use of specialized equipment, visual inspections are often the first step in order to look for obvious signs of damage, decay, infilling, etc. Prior to any type of scientific analysis, detailed documentation of the initial state of the object and justification for all proposed examinations is required to avoid unnecessary or potentially damaging study and keep the amount of handling to a minimum. Processes such as stereomicroscopy can reveal surface features such as the weave of parchment paper, whether a print was done in relief or in intaglio, and even what kind of tools an artist may have used to create their works.

Scientific Equipment

• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
  • Able to take high resolution and high magnification micrographs to study structural and surface features
  • Also may involve using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) or X-Ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD) to identify specific elements or compounds present in the object
  • Can help to determine paint composition (specific type of paint used) in art works and compounds that may aid in provenance queries
  • Allows scientists to analyze whether the object's appearance merits preservation or if there are products of deterioration and decay that ought to be removed or cleaned prior to preservation
  • Destructive/invasive method - requires obtaining a sample from an object or artwork and exposing it to X-Ray radiation
• X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF)
  • Can identify elements both on the surface and sub-surface by performing x-ray scans over the entirety of an artwork
  • Non-destructive/non-invasive method - scans of the object's surface do not require sampling or removal of material
• Computerized Tomography Scanning (CT Scan) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • Non-destructive way to image larger objects
  • Can reveal sub-surface structure as well as some composition information
  • Particularly useful for imaging artifacts such as mummified remains to aid in identification and understanding of burial practices

External links

• American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) - Research and Technical Studies Group
• Centre for Doctoral Training in Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and Archaeology at UCL, University of Oxford and University of Brighton
• AIC/NU Art Conservation Science
• Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
• Canadian Conservation Institute
• Getty Conservation Institute
• Heritage Science Masters at UCL Centre for Sustainable Heritage
• Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione e il Restauro, Rome
• Italian Risk Map of the Cultural Heritage.
• National Archives and Records Administration Preservation Programs
• Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage, peer-reviewed open access journal, University of Bologna.
• Italian Association of Conservation Scientists
• Heritage Science
• Observatorio para la Investigación en Conservación del Patrimonio
• Plan Nacional de Investigación en Conservación (España)
• Icon Heritage Science Group
• National Heritage Science Forum