Heritage

With the French at the door, on May 31st of 1509, the Head of the Venetian Garda fleet received the order to burn and sink the ships and come back to Venice: the war on the lake was temporarily lost. The small fleet, whose base was at Lazise, was formed by one light galley and two fustas, so the commandant sunk the galley and one fusta in front of the town and went with the third ship to the northern lake to take a safe trip to Venice on horseback. One shipwreck was discovered in 1960 and was studied in several campaigns, but it was not clear if it was a small galley or a large fusta. New research was started in 2018 with BENĀCUS, a project of the Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage of the University of Udine, in a joint venture with the Trieste and Firenze Universities, and under the Superintendency for the Archaeology, Arts and Landscape of the provinces of Verona, Vicenza and Rovigo. The aim of this project was an historical research and geophysical survey to map the underwater cultural heritage (UCH) of Garda Lake. Full article

This paper proposed a multianalytical, non-invasive, accessible and expensive (compared to traditional ones) approach for the characterization of pictorial surfaces. A set of 18 pigments and 37 mixtures widely used in the Middle Ages in the Apulia (Italy) artistic and archaeological contexts was considered, and corresponding replicas were produced. Pigments were first characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), then replicas were studied by optical microscopy using a portable instrument, colorimetry and fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS). The investigation provided encouraging results, which allowed the creation of a library including diagnostic microscopic, colorimetric and reflectance markers of each pigment and the identification of the mixtures’ components. Full article

Earthen architecture, by its nature, is a fragile because it has a poor resistance toward the action of weathering, which has also increased in recent years through the effects of climate change. The presence of interesting examples of earthen brick buildings, for example, in the Piedmont Region of Italy, is characterised by the absence of rendering, which reveals the need to test treatments for the protection and/or strengthening of the walls of these buildings. This action is of fundamental importance to improve its resistance to the aggressive action of atmospheric agents and avoid their disappearance. A testing campaign adopting protective products with sustainability characteristics and low environmental impact was carried out on earthen brick walls. Different products belonging to various categories (synthetic polymers, natural resins, nano-structured materials) and selected based on previous experiments or tested for the first time on earthen surfaces were selected. The performance assessment of the products was carried out by taking into account the standardised procedures in the field of cultural heritage conservation through the following tests: water absorption, water vapour permeability, drilling resistance, water erosion tests (Geelong and spray), contact angle measurements, colorimetric measurements, and ageing tests. Although the choice of the optimal protective product should be made on a case-by-case basis, where it is not sustainable to proceed in this way, the results of this experimental campaign—in the presence of materials and weathering conditions similar to those of the case study analysed—will provide indications in identifying of the most appropriate product. Full article

Raman spectroscopy, a non-destructive reference technique, is used in heritage science to directly identify materials like pigments, minerals, or binding media. However, depending on the material, the laser source can induce a strong fluorescence signal that may mask the Raman signal during spectral detection. This photo-induced effect can prevent the detection of a Raman peak. A pulsed Raman spectroscopy, using a time-gated detection and pulsed laser, is proven capable of rejecting the fluorescence background and working with the environmental light, which makes Raman spectroscopy more adapted for in situ applications. In this paper, we investigated how an ns pulsed laser can be an excitation source of Raman spectroscopy by focusing on different parameters of laser excitation and collection. With proper implementation, this pulsed Raman technique can be used for cultural heritage with an ns pulsed laser for the first time. Full article

In the late 1750s, the Swedish botanist Engelbert Jörlin (1733–1810), one of Carl Linnaeus’ students wrote his dissertation Plantae tinctoriae on more than one hundred dye plants. The article presents a systematic study on these dyeing materials and reflects the knowledge in the mid-18th century. His dissertation focused on domestic plants that could be suitable instead of expensive imported trade goods and was published during the Age of Utility (1719–1771). The Latin text of Jörlin’s dissertation was first converted into a digital version by the ‘Noscemus General Model’ from Transkribus and then translated into English. The current scientific names were obtained from various biological websites. The dyestuffs were assigned to four groups: native and applied in Sweden (A); imported trade products (B); native to Sweden with potential use for dyeing (C); non-native and used abroad (D). They were mainly applied for dyeing textiles, less frequently for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics (make-up), inks and artists’ pigments. In his dissertation, Jörlin refers to scriptures from antiquity, Latin botanical literature from the 16th and 17th centuries but especially to the publications of Carl Linnaeus. Full article

The documentation and metric knowledge of architectural and cultural heritage is becoming an increasingly important need, especially concerning the state of degradation of some historical assets and the associated required interventions. In this context, the metric documentation of the investigated heritage becomes fundamental for a complete knowledge of the asset in order to support architects and engineers in the restoration process. Recently, methods and geomatic instrumentation have been developed for the survey of cultural heritage aiming at optimizing costs and time. Apple has integrated into its devices a LiDAR sensor capable of providing a 3D model of spaces and objects. The present paper aims to investigate the potential of this sensor for the production of 3D models of cultural heritage assets in terms of accuracy and applicability. Consistently, four apps developed for the generation of point clouds for five case studies related to architectural-cultural heritage assets have been tested. We used Polycam, Sitescape, 3D Scanner and Scaninverse. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the Apple LiDAR sensor can be used for the creation of 3D models for applications and metric documentation of architectural and cultural heritage that are not particularly complex in form and texture. Full article

Shipbuilding is inherently a social process involving numerous craftsmen utilizing their knowledge and skills while working together to produce a complex machine. The construction of a ship traditionally relies on a stratified apprenticeship system that entails a master teaching apprentices their trade. In this type of setting, the shipyard becomes the classroom where the younger generations learn and mimic mannerisms from their instructors. The development of this technique is considered an individual practice, which, with other construction methodologies and shared interactions, becomes social structures within a specific society. Repetition of this type of practice may reaffirm the existing structure, which in this article relates to various communities of shipbuilders. This paper addresses shipbuilding’s social perspective through an operational process based on surviving shipwreck timbers. Two case studies are addressed: Mediterranean shipbuilding between the Medieval and Modern periods and a case study of late 17th-century French shipbuilding social organization. Full article

The scientific examination and comparative investigation of pigments are fundamental for further understanding and analysis of historic and artistic works, and particularly useful for conservators. In fine art authentication, investigations are strongly focused on the identification of the painting materials used by the author. This study is focused on the use of non-invasive analytical techniques to increase the knowledge of the painting technique of Olga Boznańska. The aim of this study was to assess the technology, painting technique, and materials used by Olga Boznańska. The pallets, tubes with the paints, and several oil paintings were studied. For each painting, a series of images were recorded using various ranges of electromagnetic radiation, including near-infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, and X-rays. In order to characterize the pigments present in the paint layer, measurements of the elemental composition by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) were carried out. The ground layers and paints were measured with infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). This allowed us to identify the artist’s painting technique and determine how she executed her painting, how she applied the paints, and what pigments she used. Full article

This article aims to review and identify key challenges and opportunities in the interrelationship between cultural tourism, inclusive design, and digital storytelling fields.. The literature review included searching Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for three main field keywords, drawing 421 articles between 1990 and 2022. Content analysis was applied to literature findings and five categories with twenty-three themes emerged accordingly: (1) issues in cultural tourism; (2) diversity in museums; (3) inclusive design in museums; (4) motivation in museums; and (5) digital storytelling in museums. The article further discusses the nuanced relationship between these three fields and proposes an initial framework to help future growth of cultural tourism through increasing visitors’ motivation and diversity. As such, the work aims to facilitate cultural tourism as an activity that better reflects the diversity of its potential audiences and proactively addresses their needs, requirements and interests. Full article

Digital objects are now pervasively used across the heritage sciences, often as 3D models. However, the theoretical discussion of what these objects are, ontologically speaking, can be diverse, ranging, and inconclusive. This paper will focus on the Cherish Project, a European research initiative that used a range of methods—including drone-based photogrammetry and laser scanning— to create 3D models of coastal heritage landscapes that are at risk due to climate change. In specifically attending to the database storage schemes and software/platforms employed by Cherish, this paper explores how digital heritage objects can more broadly be discussed in terms of their ontological multiplicity, the multi-sitedness of their production and circulation, and their mobility across interfaces as they are formalised and circulated. In tracing these specific factors, this paper arrives at epistemological insights about how digital heritage objects factor into knowledge producing practices like Cherish, foregrounding critical questions about how these practices might be differently discussed, pursued, or imagined. Full article

The Ethiopian magic scrolls are traditional parchment artifacts used by the Christians of Ethiopia as protection against disease and demonic possessions. On the occasion of their restoration in the Accademia delle Belle Arti di Bologna (Italy); a preliminary characterization before the treatments has been performed on four Ethiopian scrolls belonging to the Archivio storico della provincia di Cristo Re dei Frati Minori dell’Emilia Romagna of Bologna (Italy). In order to plan an effective preservative restoration procedure and; at the same time; to investigate the manufacturing techniques; the text and the decorations on the magic scrolls were studied and characterized. A combined approach by imaging and compositional techniques was used: Infrared Reflectography (IRR) for the preliminary characterization of the graphic supports and the identification of the points to sample the chemical measurements; and the spectroscopic analyses to clarify the hypothesized investigations and confirm the chemical composition of the inks. In particular; Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy has provided information relating to the molecular composition of inks and pigments; while a characterization of the constituent elements is obtained with the Ion Beam Analysis (IBA). The ink composition proved to be consistent with data generally documented in the literature and contributing to the expansion of knowledge on Ethiopian magic scrolls and their production. Full article

The problem of preservation, and optimal demonstration of it to local residents and tourists of architectural monuments, is of constant scientific and public interest. Two concepts coexist in dialectical interaction: conservation to preserve the monument in the form in which it has come down to in our times, and restoration of the monument with the restoration of lost details. In each case, one or another decision is made, which finds both supporters and opponents. One of the aspects of this problem is the attitude to buildings that have long breaks in the history of conduct in their construction works. An interesting example of such a monument is the mausoleum-khanaka of Ahmed Yassawi in Turkestan, which remains unfinished. Given its importance for the self-determination of the culture of modern Kazakhstan, it seems appropriate to consider the planned design, which remains unrealized. For the first time, the article suggests, by way of discussion, several options proposed by the authors for solving the main facade of the mausoleum-khanaka and the shape of the central dome. Full article

The study aims to enhance our knowledge of the materials and techniques applied in the making of Russian, portable ecclesiastical paintings produced after the 16th century, and to evaluate a pilot, non-destructive, non-invasive, research methodology proposed for their examination. Based on research relating to the historical background of their production and distribution in the South, the availability of materials and the applied techniques, a non-destructive, non-invasive methodology is exploited to examine three triptychs and two polyptych side panels belonging to the collection of the Benaki Museum. As their small size and excellent state of preservation prohibit sampling, a study scheme based on visual examination, the implementation of a series of spectral imaging techniques (VIS, IRRFC, SWIR, UVL, RTI, X ray) and a non-invasive micro XRF analysis is tested. Fiber and wood-type identification are carried out microscopically. The collected information relates to the making of the frames and the supports, the design, the use of metal foils and pigments, the order of application of paint layers and the rendering techniques. Due to the non-destructive, non-invasive character of the procedure, organic constituents are not thoroughly examined. Use of an expected palette was confirmed, but the modelling proved rather sophisticated. Among the most interesting finds were the use of distinct pigment mixtures for the underpaints of the flesh parts and certain deviations from the expected rendering techniques. The methodology proved very effective in terms of its output, the global approach of the construction technique, the user-friendly application, the low cost and time consumption factors. Full article

In this work, the effect of X-ray irradiation as a disinfection treatment in original ancient parchment samples, belonging to a discarded book cover of a 16th-century archival register, has been evaluated. Specifically, the bacterial and fungal species isolated from the book cover have been characterized and then irradiated with increasing doses of X-rays with the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the antimicrobial protocol on the isolated microorganisms. The deterioration effects induced by the X-ray treatment as well as the natural aging on the collagen matrix of the parchment sample have been tested by employing several techniques, namely, Light Transmission Analysis, Fiber Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy, Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy, UV Resonant Raman spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy. The results reveal that the irradiation treatment applied to our ancient parchment samples deteriorated by biological attack and other naturally occurring phenomena, possibly associated with inappropriate conservation conditions, does not seem to induce further damage factors even when large doses of irradiation are employed. The X-rays-based disinfection treatment effects are limited on the collagen support and this confirms the potential of this method in mass disinfection of library and archival materials. Full article

In this work lasers with micro-, nano-, pico- and femtosecond pulse durations were used to clean atmospheric corrosion products from the fragments of a 19th-century lead outdoor sculpture. The state of the surface was studied by optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It was shown that for all lasers used there is no self-limiting cleaning effect, and the metal damage threshold is lower than the corrosion removal threshold. Using the XPS method, it has been demonstrated that the effect of turning a metallic lead surface blue after irradiation is associated with an interference effect in the PbO film. Raman spectroscopy indicated no phase changes in the corrosion layer after laser cleaning with 8 ns, 75 ps and 100 fs pulses, which makes these lasers useful for the layer-by-layer cleaning of archaeological objects. Full article

Tidal exchange, capillary rise, water condensation-evaporation cycles, and crystallization of salts are the main causes of damage in historic brick buildings in Venice. The present study addressed these issues by proposing a study of twenty-three brick samples collected on the main façade of the Santa Maria dei Servi Church (14th century). The color, mineralogical composition, and texture of these samples were studied using standard methods such as spectrophotometry, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), optical microscopy (OM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The presence of carbonates (calcite and dolomite) and newly formed silicate phases, such as gehlenite and diopside, provided indications of the temperatures reached during firing and suggested the absence of a good standardization in the production process. Meanwhile, XRPD and hyperspectral analysis (HA) detected sulfates (e.g., gypsum and mirabilite) as the main weathering products due to the salt decay process that affects monuments in the Venice lagoon environment. Moreover, secondary phases, such as Mg- and Ca-zeolites, occurred in bricks where the groundmass observed by OM was more vitrificated, and the XRPD patterns displayed the highest amorphous content. On-site mapping of sulfates and chlorophyll by HA was also performed on the main façade of the Church, highlighting the large presence of salts and biodeterioration. Full article

This article explores the use of open source 3D tools to improve the transformation of the archaeological record into a virtual reconstruction. The goal of the research was to improve the dissemination of complete reconstructive Extended Matrix (EM) datasets, organized by epochs, to allow a “time travel” experience, by means of the EMviq online service “metaphor”. This article presents an incremental version (ver. 1.3.1) of EMtools (add-on for Blender 3D) and a renewed version of EMviq. These two original open source (GPL3) tools have been developed, on one hand, to facilitate the process of semantic enrichment and source-based 3D modeling of cultural contexts (EMtools) and, on the other hand, to visually inspect data within immersive virtual reality viewers, online (WebXR), or via mobile devices (EMviq). An application case is shown to illustrate the entire work-flow from the archaeological stratigraphic reading to the representation of the virtual reconstruction of what a context must have looked like at a given time in antiquity. Full article

The research field of digital storytelling is cross-disciplinary and extremely wide. In this paper, methods, frameworks, and tools that have been created for authoring and presenting digital narratives, are selected and examined among hundreds of works. The basic criterion for selecting these works has been their ability to create content by computational, emergent methods. By delving into the work of many researchers, the objective is to study current trends in this research field and discuss possible future directions. Most of the relevant tools and methods have been designed with a specific purpose in mind, but their use could be expanded to other areas of interest or could at least be the steppingstone for other ideas. Therefore, the following works show elements of computational and emergent narrative creation and a classification is proposed according to their purpose of existence. Finally, new potential research directions in the field are identified and possible future research steps are discussed. Full article

Organic colorants of textiles found in the female burial of Lieto Ristinpelto, SW Finland, were analyzed by HPLC-PDA. The textiles’ visible colors varied from different brownish shades to blueish, greenish, and reddish hues. The aim of the chromatographic analysis was to deepen the current understandings of the dyes used in Finland at the transition between the 12th and 13th centuries AD, i.e., at the beginning of the local Medieval period, and to contribute important new information about dyes and clothing from this less-known period of textile history of Finland. The textile finds consisted of a bronze spiral ornamented shawl, an apron tied at the waist, two tablet-woven bands, and a diagonally plaited band with plaited tassels. A unique find was a textile possibly made using the sprang technique. Other textile finds were an orange wool tabby and twill fragments. Analysis of thirty samples from fourteen different textiles indicated that woad colorants were present in most samples, accompanied with lichen compounds, and dyer’s madder was in two visually orange fragments. The visually reddish samples contained luteolin, but no red colorants. Full article