Achievement

We have developed a new methodology for the characterization of cultural heritage artifacts: using geometric studies, multispectral imaging diagnostics with analytical techniques in materials science, we establish a baseline state of health and conduct further non-invasive tests to monitor and project long-term performance and environmental decay. We will implement this digital clinical chart as an organizational tool for comparable datasets generated during the research; the chart has potential to become the model that all cultural heritage scientists can look to for storage, representation, and comparison of artifact data. We are also producing a visual forecast of the state of conservation of an artifact by studying decay processes on macro and micro scales over time using diagnostic exams. This forecast will bring awareness to long term effects of neglecting conservative interventions directed only by the comprehensive materials evaluation of the artifact.