Analytical Methods Committee, AMCTB No 66
First published on 23rd February 2015
Heritage Science is a field of study that has emerged within the last 15–20 years. It is principally the scientific study of cultural and historic artefacts to assist their conservation and preservation, to enable public access to our heritage, and for overall collection management. It uses analytical science to identify the composition of objects, to determine how they change and degrade over time, and how conservation treatments affect them. Analytical science is also used to understand anthropological issues and enhance the wider public understanding of heritage.
The Analytical Methods Committee has now created a new sub-committee for heritage science. This expert group aims to help develop the knowledge of analytical science requirements for those working within the sector. In terms of improving the understanding of analytical methodology this sub-committee has identified the following areas that can be developed:
• Technical briefs that outline the principles of different analytical techniques, or explain how historic artefacts need to be sampled and how to interpret results.
• Greater awareness of the benefits of scientific analysis within conservation.
• Greater understanding of the needs of conservators by scientists.
One of the most important considerations is that historical artefacts are irreplaceable and any damage likely to be caused by scientific investigation has to be considered very carefully. Consequently sampling and certain types of analytical measurement can become a real challenge. Researchers sometimes have to work within quite restricted guidelines so that non-invasive analytical techniques and handheld devices are extremely useful.
Another challenge to those working within the heritage community is the availability of experimental facilities, instrumentation, and expertise to understand and interpret the data produced. Because workers may be knowledgeable in selected techniques and only have access to a limited range of analytical equipment, it is important to create and develop partnerships between institutions that manage heritage artefacts and those that have analytical instruments.
In terms of analytical science there is a need to have up-to-date analytical reference standards, which are a requirement for reliable and reproducible results, a need for specific information that will help conservators and scientists apply the most appropriate analytical techniques to use in the study of historical objects, and a need to understand how sampling and statistical analysis can be used to improve the quality and interpretation of data.
A key to transferring knowledge between the scientific and conservation communities is a dialogue between institutions and researchers. More crucially it is important that scientists comprehend the questions that conservators are seeking to answer, while conservators need an appreciation of the limitations of instruments and an overview of the information that analytical techniques can provide them with.
Through public engagement of this kind it is possible not only to demonstrate the importance and benefit to society, but also to show the potential for the technologies and knowledge gained to influence other areas of science, the arts, and society. Cross-pollination of ideas is hugely beneficial and any form of public engagement that encourages it should be welcomed.
Lee Gonzalez
This Technical Brief was prepared by the Heritage Science Subcommittee and approved by the Analytical Methods Committee on 09/02/2015
.
This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015 |