The Application of Synchrotron Radiation Techniques in Archaeology

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, significant progress has been made in accelerator-based X-ray sources, especially in terms of synchrotron radiation (SR). Due to its unique features of high brilliance, wide energy range, energy tunability, polarization, coherence, and picosecond pulse time structure, it has promoted plenty of scientific applications and important discoveries in physics, chemistry, materials, life sciences, environmental sciences, geological sciences, and archaeology.

In the production process of ancient materials, quality control largely relies on the accumulation of traditional handicraft experiences, resulting in the creation of heterogeneous composite materials at the microscopic scale; these are rich in information, such as raw components, impurities, process conditions, reaction temperatures, etc., allowing them to provide important clues and a basis for the study of ancient science and technology. The characteristics and value of historical relics require analysis methods to be non-invasive, non-destructive, or minimally damaging, and prevent the complex pre-processing of samples. However, this demand substantially limits the precision of data and the selection of testing methodologies. The inherent importance of archaeological materials and the need for reliable data introduce a tangible contradiction within the realm of relics research.

Thanks to its unique properties, SR has been proved to be a powerful tool in the scientific research of archaeology and cultural heritage. SR can provide advanced spectroscopy, diffraction/scattering, imaging, and other analytical methods with a high spatial resolution (~10 nm), high detection sensitivity (~ppb), high energy resolution (~meV), fast time resolution (microsecond/picosecond), and three-dimensional non-destructive technical properties, allowing it to obtain the composition, phase structure, chemical state, and 3D microstructures of cultural heritage materials, comprehensively investigating the multi-scale matter structure characteristics from the macro to micro scale and from molecular to atomic and even electronic scales. It can also identify the component types and process techniques of ancient materials, discuss the provenance and spread routes, reveal the exchange and interaction among civilizations, as well as provide scientific guidance for the protection and restoration of rare cultural relics.

This Special Issue invites submissions of original scientific research relating to the application of synchrotron radiation techniques in archaeology, cultural heritage, and artworks, including paints, ceramics, metals, glasses, building materials, graphic documents, fossil specimens, and archaeological human remains. This Special Issue focuses on the following topics: (1) ancient materials science; (2) process and production technologies; (3) conservation techniques; (4) SR-based methodology; (5) the interchange and interaction of material cultures; (6) and mechanism studies. 

Dr. Xiangjun Wei
Dr. Rui Wen
Dr. Yong Lei
Dr. Philippe Sciau
Guest Editors

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• synchrotron radiation
• archaeology
• cultural heritage
• ancient materials
• processes and production technologies
• conservation techniques