Non-destructive analysis and testing of museum objects: An overview of 5 years of research

This paper gives an overview of research in or associated with the pan-European network COST Action G8, which aims at achieving a better preservation and conservation of our cultural heritage by increasing the knowledge of art and archaeological objects through advanced chemical and physical analyses. The paper is focussed on the use of various analytical techniques for the examination of cultural heritage materials and includes research examples on painted works of art, ceramics, glasses, glazes and metals. In addition attention is drawn to advances in analytical instrumentation, for example the development of portable techniques to perform analyses on site, and to the need for collaboration between people directly involved in the field of cultural heritage and analytical scientists.