Journal of Cultural Heritage最新文献

{"title":"Research on the influence of traditional plant-based reinforcement materials on the dry shrinkage cracking behavior of lime layers in ancient China","authors":"Jianan Hu ,&nbsp;Tiancheng Huang ,&nbsp;Chenhong Lv ,&nbsp;Chengquan Qiao ,&nbsp;Decai Gong ,&nbsp;Yuxuan Gong","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.04.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.04.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the process of creating and preserving murals and clay sculptures, adding specific fiber-based materials to lime paste is a crucial step in preventing dry shrinkage cracking. This study focused on traditional reinforcement materials, such as cotton, ramie, jute and jute paper. It employed the pore (particle) and crack analysis system, digital image correlation, scanning electron microscopy, and fiber microscopic analysis to investigate surface crack development, crack parameters, strain processes and reinforcement mechanisms. The results showed that the application of these materials significantly improved the dry shrinkage cracking performance of lime paste. Especially, hemp-reinforced samples exhibited lower shrinkage strains, in spite of the increase in fine cracks. Cotton- and paper-reinforced samples maintained surface integrity but showed more pronounced overall shrinkage, led to the development of cracks surrounding the boundaries. For the same type of material, the reinforcement effects would be influenced by fiber length, content and beating treatment. The quantitative study of the dry shrinkage cracking resistance of lime layer reinforcement materials revealed the scientific significance of this traditional technique and simultaneously explained the reasons behind the expansion and variation of reinforcement materials in ancient lime layers from a performance perspective. The research overall provides useful insights for the conservation and restoration of clay sculptures and murals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"79 ","pages":"Pages 308-321"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147858221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Portable macro-FTIR scanner for advanced analysis of paintings and monitoring of cleaning operations","authors":"Francesca Volpi ,&nbsp;Lucilla Pronti ,&nbsp;Martina Romani ,&nbsp;Claudia Invernizzi ,&nbsp;Marcella Ioele ,&nbsp;Francesca Fumelli ,&nbsp;Serena Sechi ,&nbsp;Angelica Donati ,&nbsp;Mariangela Cestelli Guidi","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.04.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.04.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the last decades, there has been a marked increase in interest in External Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy for non-invasive and in-situ analysis of paintings, aimed at identifying constituent materials and degradation products without damaging artifacts. For the same reasons, it has also been successfully used to assess cleaning and conservation treatments directly on artwork surfaces during restoration. Within the CHANGES project, this research focuses on recent advancements in external reflection FTIR spectroscopy, utilizing a macro-FTIR scanner for fully automated chemical mapping with Pearson’s coefficient correlation maps. The scanner was employed to identify the paint material and study the distribution of degradation products present on the panel painting “Madonna con Bambino e altri episodi sacri” by Arcangelo di Cola (15th century). In particular, measurements were taken to monitor the progress of two cleaning gel systems during restoration. A 4 × 11 cm² area of the painting was scanned before and after cleaning to assess the thinning of oxidized degradation products and oil-based retouching from the Madonna’s blue mantle. The macro-FTIR scanner allowed automated acquisitions of about 1200 points per map, and material distribution was visualized through false-color correlation maps based on the Pearson correlation coefficient. These maps revealed detailed pigments distribution across glazes, highlights, and shadowed areas, offering valuable evidence of the artist’s meticulous technical approach. Pre-cleaning maps revealed oxalates as degradation products, likely originating from an old restoration, and possibly oil-based repainting; this finding was confirmed by paint fragment analysis through macro-ATR-FTIR imaging system. Post-cleaning maps showed a significant reduction in calcium oxalate and oil retouching, particularly achieved with one of two cleaning systems, thereby confirming the gel’s effectiveness in removing unwanted surface layers and degradation products. The macro-FTIR proved effective in simultaneously identifying and mapping organic and inorganic compounds, even distinguishing overlapping layers in some cases. Moreover, the use of correlation maps proved useful for comparing and assessing different degrees of cleaning performance, representing a significant new advancement in the real-time analytical evaluation for users without advanced chemometric expertise, during conservation treatments. These results support further research on an experimental setup to predict the risk of painting degradation by monitoring the extent of superficial deposits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"79 ","pages":"Pages 285-295"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147802393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study on a thermo-hygrometric coupling-based anti-fogging prediction model for display glass in high-humidity earthen heritage sites","authors":"Jing Wang ,&nbsp;Minting Chen ,&nbsp;Bingjian Zhang ,&nbsp;Yulan Hu ,&nbsp;Yabo Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.02.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.02.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study addresses the critical problem of inner-wall fogging in glass enclosures protecting high-humidity earthen heritage sites. We construct an anti-fogging prediction model by integrating thermo-hygrometric coupling theory—specifically the capillary pressure-driven mechanism and modified dew-point temperature model—with machine learning algorithms. Utilizing field monitoring data (temperature, humidity, soil moisture content) from the Liangzhu Tiger Ridge Dam site in Hangzhou, China, we quantify the influence of soil moisture content on vapor condensation through a modified dew-point temperature calculation. The fogging driving potential (<span><math><msub><mi>Y</mi><mrow><mi>d</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>w</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>) is proposed as the core predictive indicator. A Spline Transformation-Ridge Regression algorithm establishes the prediction model, configured with a four-level risk threshold system achieving 99.3% prediction accuracy. This model provides precise pre-judgment for intelligent anti-fogging strategies, significantly reducing energy consumption while enhancing visitor experience and maintaining stable humidity conditions for earthen heritage conservation, thereby providing theoretical support for optimizing high-humidity preservation methods and advancing preventive conservation of earthen sites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 198-206"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147421436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Portable ER-FTIR as a non-destructive method to pre-screen collagen for ZooMS analysis in archaeology","authors":"M. Di Matteo ,&nbsp;K. McGrath ,&nbsp;C. Lemorini ,&nbsp;S. Nunziante-Cesaro ,&nbsp;S. Soncin","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.01.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.01.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the last decades, archaeology has witnessed a significant increase in the use of biomolecular analyses to study a variety of materials, including skeletal elements, as they are frequently preserved in archaeological deposits and directly linked to cultural and economic dynamics of ancient human populations. Radiocarbon dating, isotopic studies, and proteomic analyses are particularly useful to explore these questions, while their success is highly dependent on the state of preservation of collagen, the most abundant component of the organic fraction of skeletal elements. Over time collagen degrades, and its preservation is often compromised in very ancient archaeological contexts or when taphonomic processes are particularly severe, which can significantly limit the feasibility of subsequent biomolecular analyses.</div><div>The aim of this study is to test whether external reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ER-FTIR) can serve as a rapid, non-destructive pre-screening tool for assessing collagen preservation prior to ZooMS analysis. To evaluate the method's effectiveness, various faunal bone fragments were selected from different archaeological contexts (e.g., rock shelters, pits in dune fields, etc.) located in the Central Sahara (SW Libya), dating to the Middle and Late Holocene (8300–3400 cal BP). The bone fragments were first subjected to ER-FTIR analysis and then to ZooMS (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry) to compare the results and assess the presence of collagen in the samples.</div><div>Our results indicate that collagen was detected in about one-third of the samples, consistently associated with specific spectral features and further validated by ZooMS analyses. The method effectively distinguished well-preserved from poorly preserved samples while avoiding destructive sampling. This pre-screening approach reduces time and financial costs and safeguards the integrity of archaeological bones. Beyond its practical application, it also contributes to bioarchaeology and conservation science by providing a reproducible, non-destructive framework for evaluating biomolecular preservation across different sites and periods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 55-66"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In-situ digestion and micro-destructive sampling for dental proteomic sex determination analysis using polyvinylalcohol-based gel","authors":"Enrico Greco ,&nbsp;Matteo Battistella ,&nbsp;Elia Marin ,&nbsp;Andrea Casini ,&nbsp;Leonardo Bellandi ,&nbsp;Caterina Gabriele ,&nbsp;Alessandro Miani ,&nbsp;Prisco Piscitelli ,&nbsp;Cătălin A. Lazăr ,&nbsp;Pierluigi Barbieri ,&nbsp;Rodorico Giorgi ,&nbsp;Marco Gaspari","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.01.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.01.012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Determining biological sex is pivotal for archaeological and forensic studies, providing insights into past societies, burial practices, and population demographics. Traditional methods, such as morphological analysis and DNA-based techniques, face limitations, including inconclusive results for juveniles, contamination, and genetic material degradation. Additionally, these approaches often involve significant destruction of artifacts, raising ethical concerns. Dental proteomics has emerged as a robust alternative, utilizing the stability of enamel-bound proteins, such as amelogenin isoforms (AMELx and AMELy). However, current sampling techniques are invasive, requiring substantial material removal and risking the integrity of culturally significant specimens.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>This study introduces a novel, minimally invasive technique for enamel protein sampling using a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based highly viscous polymeric dispersion (HVPD). Acting as an elastic gel-like system, HVPD enables in-situ digestion and efficient extraction of proteins without compromising the tooth's structural integrity. The method was successfully applied to contemporary and archaeological samples, demonstrating effective recovery of amelogenin isoforms, reduced contamination risk, and compatibility with degraded specimens. This minimally invasive approach achieves reliable detection of all key amelogenin markers required for sex determination, matching the analytical outcome of conventional destructive protocols while preserving specimen integrity.’</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>This methodology offers transformative potential for archaeology, anthropology, and forensic science, bridging scientific innovation with ethical stewardship. By preserving the physical and cultural integrity of artifacts, it addresses a critical need for sustainable research practices. Reliable biological sex determination in challenging contexts expands the scope of proteomic applications, providing new insights into past societies while safeguarding irreplaceable heritage for future generations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 79-88"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146075448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring funerary heritage through augmented reality: A training application for the micro-excavation of funerary urns in the laboratory","authors":"Lorena Zaragoza ,&nbsp;Josep Benedito ,&nbsp;Jose Manuel Melchor ,&nbsp;Elisabetta Interdonato ,&nbsp;M.-Carmen Juan","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.01.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.01.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The excavation of funerary urns is a delicate and complex archaeological task that demands both technical skill and cultural sensitivity. However, hands-on training with real urns is limited due to their fragility and scarcity. This research presents the design, development, and evaluation of a novel augmented reality (AR) application that simulates the micro-excavation of funerary urns in the laboratory for archaeology students. The AR application digitally replicates authentic archaeological objects and excavation procedures, creating an immersive learning environment that preserves the integrity of original artifacts. By digitalizing real archaeological materials, our approach ensures high fidelity and accuracy, allowing students to engage with realistic replicas that enhance both educational value and cultural heritage preservation. The application was developed within the context of the European project ArchaeoPills, focused on practical archaeological training in higher education. The application was validated in an international archaeology course attended by 19 students. The following conclusions are drawn from the data obtained in the study and subsequently analyzed. The AR application effectively supported knowledge acquisition. The students reported a low perceived workload and an excellent user experience. The results for all of the variables analyzed were independent of gender and age. Correlation analysis shows that: (1) higher workload is associated with lower user experience; (2) cognitive and emotional strain (e.g., frustration, effort) reduces presence; and (3) presence increases with lower frustration, greater usability, and balanced cognitive demands. Our proposal bridges theoretical knowledge and practical experience while promoting cultural heritage through hands-on, repeatable training. The findings highlight the potential of AR to transform archaeological education and promote wider cultural heritage dissemination and conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 135-144"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146189737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ours Elsevier","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1296-2074(26)00047-6","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1296-2074(26)00047-6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"78 ","pages":"Page iii"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147421401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A mild and efficient aerosol-based strategy integrated with calcium propionate for deacidification and strengthening of aged paper","authors":"Linjie Cai ,&nbsp;Tong Luo ,&nbsp;Hangjian Wang ,&nbsp;Tianying Chen ,&nbsp;Chen Yu ,&nbsp;Yanjun Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.02.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.02.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Deacidification is a well-established conservation methodology for prolonging the stability of aged paper. However, most existing deacidification techniques suffer from low efficiency, risk of physical damage to paper, and environmental concerns. In the present work, a mild, efficient and environmentally friendly aerosol-based deacidification strategy was proposed to minimize aged paper damage, enhance mechanical strength, and prolong service life. This method atomized aqueous solutions of calcium propionate (CP) and sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) as a surfactant into micron-sized aerosol particles, which were uniformly deposited onto paper surfaces to effectively neutralize acids. Comparative analysis revealed that treatment time and CP concentration were the key determinants of deacidification efficacy. Under optimal conditions (12 h, 15% CP), the pH value of deacidified paper increased from 3.70 to 7.40, accompanied by 16.65% and 14.22% improvements in tensile index and tear index, respectively. Furthermore, accelerated aging tests showed that the deacidified paper retained alkalinity (pH &gt; 6.50), an alkaline reserve of 0.28 mol/kg, and experienced a cellulose DP reduction of &lt;0.25%, indicating that the deacidification effectively preserved both chemical integrity and long-term stability. Therefore, this approach efficiently suppresses cellulose hydrolysis, and provides a promising strategy for prolonging the lifespan of paper-based cultural heritage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 207-216"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147421435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of hydroxypropyl cellulose nanocomposites in consolidation of dyed archaeological and historical cotton textiles","authors":"Safa Abdelkader Mohamed Hamed ,&nbsp;Duaa Mohamed Mohamed Abouzeid ,&nbsp;Wael Sabry Mohamed ,&nbsp;Manal Abdel-Moneim","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.02.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.02.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research seeks to explore the impact of adding Halloysite nanoclay (HNC) and Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) of different concentrations (0.5% and 1%) to hydroxypropyl cellulose (Klucel G 1%) on the consolidation’s efficiency of plain and dyed cotton samples. In this paper, the retention of the consolidation solutions within plain and dyed cotton fabric, the colorimetric measurement, mechanical properties determination, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled to energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were used to investigate the consolidation’s efficiency and to select the appropriate consolidation solution. The results suggest that dyed cotton samples, especially Madder-dyed samples, treated with (Klucel G1%/HNC 1%) exhibit improvements in mechanical properties, without color, morphological, and chemical changes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 248-255"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147421439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Black manganese crusts on Galician Romanesque buildings: first analytical data on characterization and cleaning","authors":"T. Rivas ,&nbsp;L. Espiño ,&nbsp;S. Pozo-Antonio ,&nbsp;C. López","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.01.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2026.01.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work presents the results of the characterization of Mn-rich black crusts developed on granite in a Galician Romanesque monastery and the initial experiments aimed at their removal. Once the crusts were characterized from a chemical, mineralogical and micromorphological point of view, several <em>in situ</em> cleaning methods was performed: microabrasion, a Nd:YAG laser and chemical cleaning processes (aqua regia, EDTA, oxalic acid, gallic acid and formic acid solutions). An <em>in situ</em> analytical methodology based on optical microscopy, colour spectrophotometry, LIBS and Raman spectroscopy was applied to characterize the cleaning effectiveness and the side effects exerted in the granite underneath. Among all the methods, saturated oxalic acid proved to be the most effective, although slight calcium contamination was detected. In contrast, less effective methods such as laser cleaning and microabrasion resulted in textural alterations in the granite.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 21-34"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}