Dating ancient manuscripts using radiocarbon and AI-based writing style analysis.

Determining by means of palaeography the chronology of ancient handwritten manuscripts such as the Dead Sea Scrolls is essential for reconstructing the evolution of ideas, but there is an almost complete lack of date-bearing manuscripts. To overcome this problem, we present Enoch, an AI-based date-prediction model, trained on the basis of 24 14C-dated scroll samples. By applying Bayesian ridge regression on angular and allographic writing style feature vectors, Enoch could predict 14C-based dates with varied mean absolute errors (MAEs) of 27.

Investigation on Tattoo Ink (Hexadecachlorinate Copper Phthalocyanine) Removal: Novel Chemical and Biological Approach.

Tattoos have been a ubiquitous phenomenon throughout history. Now, the demand for tattoo removal for aesthetic or practical reasons is growing rapidly. This study outlines the results of field investigations into the chemical and biological removal of tattoo inks (Hexadecachlorinate copper phthalocyanine-CClCuN-CAS no° 1328-53-6).

The role of early synthetic materials degradation in the downfall of the Ansaldo A.1, an Italian World War I biplane fighter.

From the Pioneer Era of the aviation to World War I the evolution of aircraft technology and chemical synthesis enabled a unique coexistence of traditional craftsmanship, artistic decoration practices, and technological advancements. The study of the materials used in these early years of aviation is still an uncharted territory: a vast portion of remaining planes has been partially or completely repaired and restored, usually by total replacement of the fabric. The Italian biplane Ansaldo A.

Violin Varnishes: Microstructure and Nanomechanical Analysis.

The aim of the current work is twofold: to demonstrate the application of in situ non-invasive imaging by portable atomic force microscopy (AFM) on the surfaces of a violin and to integrate compositional and mechanical analysis at the nano scale level on model samples of varnished wood. These samples were prepared according to traditional recipes by an Italian lute-maker family well practised in the art. Samples of oil and spirit-based varnishes on maple wood, naturally and accelerated light aged, were studied.

Biodeterioration of carbographic ribbon: Isolation, identification of causal agents and forensic implications.

Unlabelled: This study is part of a comprehensive investigation that was performed in regard to a case of alterations on a carbographic ribbon used in a typewriter that was found and seized by inner security operations of the Arma dei Carabinieri, Italy. Thirty-six coded scripts possessing potentially and criminally liable content were present on the tape; however, only the 6th and 7th scripts exhibited alterations of an uncertain nature. The study included sampling that was performed under sterile conditions of a large surface area of carbographic ribbons.

The Cultural Heritage of "Black Stones" (/) of Leopardi's Child Home (Recanati, Italy).

A macroscopic lithological study and physical (hardness, size, weight) investigations, coupled with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) chemical analyses of three egg- and one pear-shaped polished black stones, exposed in the library of the child home of the famous poet Giacomo Leopardi, at Recanati (Italy), were carried out. They are characterized by different sizes: two with the same weight of 16.9 kg and the two smaller ones of 5.

Deterioration and discoloration of historical protective treatments on marble.

This study integrates the complex research conducted on the sources of brown discolorations that occur on marble statues (fifteenth century) of the Church of Orsanmichele in Florence (Italy). They underwent conservative interventions in the past and the brownish discolorations on their surfaces strongly altered the clear tone of the marble. In this study, Carrara marble model specimens were treated with organic and inorganic substances (non-pasteurised milk; linseed oil; walnut oil; ammonium oxalate; microcrystalline wax; beeswax; milk + linseed oil; and milk + ammonium oxalate + linseed oil) to simulate their effects on the stone.

Plastics in Heritage Science: Analytical Pyrolysis Techniques Applied to Objects of Design.

The first synthetic polymers were introduced as constituents of everyday life, design objects, and artworks at the end of the 19th century. Since then, the history of design has been strictly connected with the 20th century evolution of plastic materials. Objects of design from the 20th century are today a precious part of the cultural heritage.

Profiling of high molecular weight esters by flow injection analysis-high resolution mass spectrometry for the characterization of raw and archaeological beeswax and resinous substances.

This work presents a method to characterize high molecular esters in beeswax and resinous substances based on the use of microwave-assisted extraction and flow injection analysis-high resolution mass spectrometry that combines the high efficiency of the extraction procedure with the advantages of high resolution mass spectrometry. This approach allows us to identify archaeological beeswax and plant resinous substances by the characterization of the survived intact high molecular weight components. By this way, several raw materials (beeswax, pine resin and pitch, and resin extracted from Euphorbia tirucalli) were studied and used as reference substances.

SIFT-ing archaeological artifacts: Selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry as a new tool in archaeometry.

A fast non-destructive approach based on the use of portable selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) was used for the first time to characterize organic materials in archaeological artifacts. The high sensitivity, specificity and selectivity SIFT soft chemical ionization mass spectrometry enabled us to investigate the composition of organic residues collected from ancient Egyptian findings in order to demonstrate the robustness of the techniques with different matrices. In addition, we tested SIFT-MS directly on an archaeological Egyptian amphora to prove its suitability as a completely non-invasive technique.

Validation Study of Selected Ion Flow Tube-Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS) in Heritage Science: Characterization of Natural and Synthetic Paint Varnishes by Portable Mass Spectrometry.

The identification at molecular level of organic materials in heritage objects as paintings requires in most cases the collection of micro-samples followed by micro-destructive analysis. In this study, we explore the possibility to characterize natural and synthetic resins used as paint varnishes by mean of non-invasive analysis of released volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). SIFT-MS is a portable direct mass spectrometric technique that achieves the analysis of VOCs at trace levels in real time, by controlled ultra-soft chemical ionization using eight different chemical ionization agents.

A Mass Spectrometric Study on Tannin Degradation within Dyed Woolen Yarns.

Natural tannins from various plants have been used throughout human history in textile dyeing, often as mordant dyes. The ageing behavior of these dyes is a challenge in conservation science, requiring a thorough knowledge of the textile-mordant-dye system. In this work, we analyzed reference wool yarns dyed with natural tannins from oak gallnuts, walnut (), and catechu (), after artificial ageing.

Recent Advances in Analytical Pyrolysis to Investigate Organic Materials in Heritage Science.

The molecular characterization of organic materials in samples from artworks and historical objects traditionally entailed qualitative and quantitative analyses by HPLC and GC. Today innovative approaches based on analytical pyrolysis enable samples to be analysed without any chemical pre-treatment. Pyrolysis, which is often considered as a screening technique, shows previously unexplored potential thanks to recent instrumental developments.

Long-lasting ergot lipids as new biomarkers for assessing the presence of cereals and cereal products in archaeological vessels.

Cereals were very important in ancient diets, however evidence from archaeological sites of the vessels used for processing or storing cereals is comparatively rare. Micro-organisms, as well as chemical-physical effects can easily degrade cereals during the burial period. This can lead to a complete cereal decay and to serious difficulties in estimating the intensity of use of the cereals by ancient populations.

Chemical characterisation of the whole plant cell wall of archaeological wood: an integrated approach.

Wood artefacts undergo complex alteration and degradation during ageing, and gaining information on the chemical composition of wood in archaeological artefacts is fundamental to plan conservation strategies. In this work, an integrated analytical approach based on innovative NMR spectroscopy procedures, gel permeation chromatography and analytical pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) was applied for the first time on archaeological wood from the Oseberg collection (Norway), in order to evaluate the chemical state of preservation of the wood components, without separating them. We adopted ionic liquids (ILs) as non-derivatising solvents, thus obtaining an efficient dissolution of the wood, allowing us to overcome the difficulty of dissolving wood in its native form in conventional molecular solvents.

GC/MS and proteomics to unravel the painting history of the lost Giant Buddhas of Bāmiyān (Afghanistan).

A chemical investigation of the organic paint binders of the Giant Buddhas of Bāmiyān was performed using an analytical approach based on mass spectrometry, combining traditional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry protocols with advanced proteomics methodologies. The research was carried out on a selection of rescued fragments. The data revealed the use of egg proteins as the paint binders of the original layers, in accordance with the traditional use of this proteinaceous medium in antiquity, spanning from the Mediterranean basin to the Far East, and already in the Bronze Age.

Model study of modern oil-based paint media by triacylglycerol profiling in positive and negative ionization modes.

Lipid binders have traditionally been determined in paintings by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify the characteristic profiles and ratios of fatty acids . However, the presence of mixtures in contemporary and modern oil paints makes the GC/MS determination of fatty acids insufficient to fully characterize the lipid binding media. In this study we prove that triacylglycerol (TAG) profiling by high-performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry, using ESI in positive and negative ionization modes is highly effective.

A multi-analytical approach for the characterization of wall painting materials on contemporary buildings.

Samples from Keith Haring's wall painting of the Necker Children Hospital in Paris were studied by a multi-analytical protocol. X-ray fluorescence (XRF), powder X-ray diffraction (XRDP), Electron microscope (SEM-EDS), Infrared and Raman spectroscopy (μ-FT-IR and μ-Raman) measurements were performed in order to characterize the materials and to identify the art technique used to produce this contemporary work. Materials from the mural suffered from severe detachments of materials and several fragments were found on the ground beneath.

A Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Method for the Identification of Anthraquinones: the Case of Historical Lakes.

This study deals with the identification of anthraquinoid molecular markers in standard dyes, reference lakes, and paint model systems using a micro-invasive and nondestructive technique such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-MS). Red anthraquinoid lakes, such as madder lake, carmine lake, and Indian lac, have been the most widely used for painting purposes since ancient times. From an analytical point of view, identifying lakes in paint samples is challenging and developing methods that maximize the information achievable minimizing the amount of sample needed is of paramount importance.

Analytical Approaches Based on Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) to Study Organic Materials in Artworks and Archaeological Objects.

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), after appropriate wet chemical sample pre-treatments or pyrolysis, is one of the most commonly adopted analytical techniques in the study of organic materials from cultural heritage objects. Organic materials in archaeological contexts, in classical art objects, or in modern and contemporary works of art may be the same or belong to the same classes, but can also vary considerably, often presenting different ageing pathways and chemical environments. This paper provides an overview of the literature published in the last 10 years on the research based on the use of GC/MS for the analysis of organic materials in artworks and archaeological objects.

Discovering "The Italian Flag" by Fernando Melani (1907-1985).

In the occasion of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the founding of Italy (1861-2011), it was decided to analyse the artwork "The Italian Flag" (La Bandiera Italiana) created by the artist Fernando Melani (Pistoia, 1907-1985), one of the precursors of the Poor Art artistic movement in Italy. This project is a follow-up to a previous study which was mainly focused on the pigments and dyes found in his home-studio. The main goal of this paper is to identify a correct diagnostic plan, based on the use of a combination of non-invasive and micro-invasive methodologies, in order to determine the state of preservation and define the best conservation procedures for a contemporary artwork.

Terpenoid Oligomers of Dammar Resin.

Dammar is a triterpenoid resin containing a volatile fraction, a monomeric fraction, and a high-molecular weight fraction. Although the low-molecular-weight components comprising sesquiterpenoids and triterpenoids have been extensively studied, the nature of the macromolecular components is still not fully understood, and different and sometimes contradictory theories have been proposed. The aim of this paper is to clarify the nature of the macromolecular components of dammar resin.

Painted Fiberglass-Reinforced Contemporary Sculpture: Investigating Composite Materials, Techniques and Conservation Using a Multi-Analytical Approach.

A multi-analytical approach was used to study the constituent materials, manufacturing technique, and state of conservation of a contemporary sculpture. This sculpture, entitled Nuredduna, was created by Aligi Sassu in 1995 and is located in the "Bellariva garden" in Florence (Italy). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), optical and electronic microscopy (OM and SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) highlighted the multi-layered structure of the statue: fiberglass and an overlay of different layers (gel coat) applied with an unsaturated polyester resin added with aggregate materials and bromine compounds.

Novel application of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for the characterization of drying oils in art: Elucidation on the composition of original paint materials used by Edvard Munch (1863-1944).

Modern oil paints, introduced at the beginning of the 20th century, differ from those classically used in antiquity in their chemical and compositional features. The main ingredients were still traditional drying oils, often used in mixtures with less expensive oils and added with several classes of additives. Consequently, detailed lipid profiling, together with the study of lipid degradation processes, is essential for the knowledge and the conservation of paint materials used in modern and contemporary art.

Snapshots of lignin oxidation and depolymerization in archaeological wood: an EGA-MS study.

Evolved gas analysis-mass spectrometry (EGA-MS) was used for the first time to study archaeological wood, in order to investigate its chemical degradation. The archaeological wood was from an oak pile from a stilt house found in the Neolithic 'La Marmotta' village (Lake Bracciano, Rome, Italy). The sampling was performed from the external to the internal part of the pile, following the annual growth rings in groups of five.