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Heritagebites: Easy-to-digest research summaries in cultural heritage research

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We highlight research in cultural heritage science through easily digestible 'bites' to inform and connect scientists, conservators, and society.

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Abed Haddad
Janille Maragh
Lora Angelova
Diego Iván Quintero-Balbás
Joen Hermans
Lianne Jordan
Marc Vermeulen
Marcie Wiggins
Megan DiNoia
Molly Wagner
Stephanie Zaleski
Teresa Duncan
Xiao Ma
Yuliia Orlova

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acetic acid adsorption aerial laser scanning analysis Ancient Egypt animal glue Archaeology binding media biofilm biosensor cadmium yellow Caillebotte capture Characterization Chromatography Cleaning conservation consolidation CT scan cultural heritage digital elevation models display DNA dyes Education egg white Elemental analysis Gamma rays genetics Hidden image Hidden portrait historic graves Hydrogel imaging Impressionism Industrial Revolution landscape monitoring lasers manuscript Matisse Mercury white modern pigments molecular organic framework nanoparticle nanoparticles nanostructured bacteria CaCO3 Neutrons non-invasive Norway Painting paintings palimpsest Paper photogrammetry photoluminescence Pigments Pressure-sensitive tape protein proteomics Raman spectroscopy Restoration Roman Iron Age self-inoculation SERS Skeleton stone stone conservation storage Synthesis Tomography tourism Underpainting vinegar syndrome X-ray fluorescence XFM

Last week in Bruges, Belgium, there was an exciting conference entitled TechnArt. Presentations focus on the use of analytical techniques for the characterization of artworks. These are just a few of the topics covered! Cutting edge scientific analysis of cultural heritage helps us learn about our past and preserve our culture for the future. Curious about a topic?? Ask below! . https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/conferences/technart-2019/ . https://www.uantwerpen.be/images/uantwerpen/container51136/files/TechnArt2019_Programme-booklet.pdf . #heritagebites #technart #bruges #culture #heritage #belgium #art #science #history #preserve #conservation #uantwerpen #antwerp #monday

As with all research, further studies continue in this area. The biggest obstacle at the moment is the amount of time such investigations take, sometimes taking nearly 3 days to measure a binding! From handwritten manuscripts to the printing press to today’s digital era, we can remain hopeful at least that this will soon be a hurdle of the past. Perhaps inspiration from the earlier post about the eyes of ‘Lobsters’ will be the solution! (Nibble 4 of 4) . Visit heritagebites.org for a bigger bite! . And check back soon for 4 more nibbles! #happybiting . #regram #time #xrays #lobsters #spectroscopy #hidden #text #parchment #recycle #books #bookbinding #artandscience #history #culture #cultural #culturalheritage #artconservation #conservationscience #oldstuff #museums #watercolor #research #nerd #nerdalert #blogger #blog #shortstories #funfacts #wednesday

How do we read and learn from these hidden texts? Once again, X-rays of the technique X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy non-invasively provide researchers elemental maps of the hidden fragments. Sensitive to the metals of medieval inks, XRF helps us read the texts covered by paper or parchment. (Nibble 3 of 4) . Visit heritagebites.org for a bigger bite! . #regram #xrays #xrf #spectroscopy #hidden #text #parchment #recycle #spines #books #bookbinding #artandscience #history #culture #cultural #culturalheritage #artconservation #conservationscience #oldstuff #museums #watercolor #research #nerd #nerdalert #blogger #blog #shortstories #funfacts #friday

Interestingly, parchment fragments of medieval manuscripts can be found in early-modern bookbindings! Thanks to the invention of the printing press in the 15th C., manuscripts were no longer of much use, motivating the recycling of the strong parchment leaves for use in bookbindings. Much like the recycled paintings in this week’s post :) How do we know this? (Nibble 2 of 4) . Visit heritagebites.org for a bigger bite! . #regram #parchment #recycle #spines #books #bookbinding #artandscience #history #culture #cultural #culturalheritage #artconservation #conservationscience #oldstuff #museums #watercolor #research #nerd #nerdalert #blogger #blog #shortstories #funfacts #friday

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