ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY IN HERITAGE SCIENCE WITH LABORATORY - 2

The course is part of the core educational activities of the degree programme in Conservation Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage and aims to provide students with the necessary tools to acquire knowledge and understanding of both the structural, chemical, and physical properties of materials constituting cultural heritage, and the methodologies used for their diagnostic investigation. The course objective aligns with the specific educational goals of the programme, which focus on the training of experts in the characterisation, authentication, conservation, and restoration of cultural heritage.

In terms of knowledge and skills, the course will enable students to acquire in-depth scientific understanding and competences related to the structure, production, and processing of archaeological metals and metals of relevance to cultural heritage, in combination with their characterisation through advanced analytical techniques and multi-technique approaches.
Specifically, the course will enable students to understand, interpret, and correctly use the main thermodynamic and kinetic diagrams that describe transformations in the structure and in the chemical and physical properties of metallic materials. This knowledge will support the ability to predict structural transformations in relation to production processes and the working and use of artefacts. This will be combined with the study of advanced analytical techniques used for the characterisation and diagnosis of metallic artefacts, aimed at the comprehensive investigation of their technological processes from a historical/archaeological perspective and their state of conservation. The course is based on the analysis of specific case studies drawn from the scientific literature. It will also provide students with the scientific and terminological tools required for the correct understanding of scientific articles related to the materials studied, fostering the ability to critically assess and clearly communicate recent scientific studies in the field of cultural heritage.

Knowledge and Understanding
Students will acquire in-depth scientific knowledge related to:
- the structure, production, and processing of metallic materials of archaeological and cultural heritage interest
- advanced analytical techniques for the characterisation of metallic materials and associated matrices
- tools for processing and evaluating experimental data

Applying Knowledge and Understanding
Graduates will have developed:
- the ability to define ad hoc investigation strategies for provenance studies, reconstruction of production processes, and use of metallic artefacts
- the ability to identify the most suitable analytical techniques for the physico-chemical characterisation of metallic artefacts
- the ability to critically evaluate and effectively communicate analytical results in the context of multidisciplinary cooperation and interoperability

Basic knowledge in organic, inorganic and analytical chemistry; physics of the solid state.

The course is structured with an introductory block on the chemical and structural properties of metallic materials, aimed at defining all potential diagnostic targets. This is followed by the presentation of advanced analytical techniques suitable for addressing the corresponding diagnostic questions, starting from the principles of each technique and the hardware components, and progressing to applications, guided by specific case studies drawn from the scientific literature.

The specific course content includes:
- Introduction to metallic materials: composition and structure of metallic materials; alloys; microstructural features of archaeological metallic artefacts; heat treatments; production processes.
- Archaeometallurgy: analytical techniques for assessing authenticity, provenance, production technologies, degradation mechanisms, and usage contexts of artefacts. Semi-quantitative bulk elemental characterisation and imaging using XRF; microstructural characterisation using SEM(-EDS); nanostructural characterisation using (S)TEM; surface characterisation using STM, AFM, and XPS; mineralogical characterisation using XRD; quantitative bulk elemental characterisation using NAA and ICP-OES/MS; isotopic analysis using IRMS/MC-ICP-MS; characterisation of organic residues using GC-MS and LC-MS; integrated multi-technique approaches and applications.
- The laboratory component consists of practical activities, including applied case studies focused on the characterisation of one or more metallic artefacts using the techniques covered in the theoretical part, with additional emphasis on the hardware and software management of instrumentation and on data processing.

Lecture notes, slides, scientific publications as case studies provided by the teacher.

The exam consists in an oral discussion. The exam consists of an initial part in which the student is asked to briefly and critically present a literature case study of their choice, relevant to the topics covered in the course. This is followed by in-depth questions on the presented case and subsequently on other topics covered during the course.
During the oral exam, the following will be assessed:
- theoretical knowledge of the composition, structure, production, and processing of metallic artefacts;
- theoretical knowledge of the analytical techniques and methodologies covered;
- technical knowledge of the specific application of the analytical techniques addressed for the study of metallic artefacts and associated matrices;
- technical skills in designing approaches to solve archaeometric problems;
- theoretical and technical knowledge in the processing and evaluation of analytical data.

oral

Assessment Grid:
27–30: Full mastery of the topics covered in the course; ability to independently reorganise acquired knowledge to adapt the analytical strategies presented in the programme to specific applications; appropriate use of technical terminology.
23–26: Good understanding of the topics covered; fair ability to organise information and effectively present analytical strategies previously described during the course; familiarity with technical terminology.
18–22: Superficial knowledge of the topics covered; partially structured oral presentation requiring occasional guidance; inconsistent use of technical terminology.
Honours (cum laude): awarded in cases of demonstrated ability to rework and expand upon the analytical solutions presented in the programme in a personal, original, and critical manner.

Classroom lessons and laboratory activity.