ANALYTICAL METHODS AND APPLICATIONS WITH LABORATORY - 1

The course Analytical Methods with Laboratory is one of the key educational activities of the Master's degree program in Conservation Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage. The course is divided into two modules, both aim to provide to the students an understanding of chemical-analytical methods for investigating cultural heritage materials. In particular, Module 1 focuses on the knowledge, comprehension, and application of analytical methods for dating archaeological artifacts and objects made of various materials, such as bones, carbonate-containing matrices, organic residues, pottery, obsidian, and iron artifacts. The objective of the course aligns with the specific educational goals of the program, which involves training experts in the characterization, conservation, restoration, and prevention of fraud in the field of cultural heritage.

In terms of knowledge and ability, the teaching course allows the student to acquire the knowledge and scientific expertise to date historic artifacts.
In particular, the teaching course allows the student to comprehend and interpret the results obtained from dating methods and to choose critically and efficiently the best strategies to evaluate the age of historic artifacts.
The teaching course provides the student the scientific tools and the proper language for the comprehension of scientific papers related with the materials for cultural heritage, providing the ability to evaluate critically the more recent scientific studies in this field.

Knowledge and comprehension:
Advanced techniques to date historic artifact.
Elaboration and interpretation of experimental data

Ability of applying knowledge and comprehension
Expertise in the characterization of materials for cultural heritage
Expertise in diagnostics
Expertise in critical evaluation of the scientific procedures and analytical techniques suitable for the characterization of materials.

Basic knowledge in organic and inorganic chemistry, physics of solid state and maths

The teaching course is focused on the main dating methods to be applied to metallic artifact as well as pottery, mortars and organic materials. The methods proposed are: radiocarbon dating, luminescence, OHD, U-series, Ar/Ar and K/Ar dating, Amino Acids Racemization, Raman spectroscopy on bones, dendrochronology and cation-ratio dating.
The laboratory experience is focused on case of study where the students is asked to choose a suitable methodology, data elaboration by using specific softwares, interpretation and presentation through a report.

Materials provided by the professor

The course is unique, semester-based, and structured into two modules (MOD.1 and MOD.2). Therefore, the achievement of the overall educational objectives is determined by the contribution of each module. The examination is singular and oral, with assessment methods specific to each module to evaluate the learning outcomes. Specifically, the examination for Module 1 includes a discussion with the student about the principles and application of dating techniques, as well as the ability to choose the most appropriate one for a given case study, considering expected results and possible issues. Based on the volume and complexity of the topics covered in this course, the student is allowed, if requested, to take the examination for only one module at a time. However, the overall evaluation will be determined by the algebraic average of the individual grades obtained in both modules.

The teaching course is carried out through lectures and lab activities.

English

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