How Can Neutrons Contribute to Cultural Heritage Research?

Abstract

Protection of artefacts belonging to our treasure of Cultural Heritage is high on the agenda, both in Europe and other parts of the world. Due to this growing interest, there is a more interdisciplinary approach using natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, geology, etc.) and its applications and analytical tools; archaeometry has become an independent discipline. Inquiries by experts of humanities and arts (museologists, archaeologists, conservators, curators, etc.) usually concern dating, provenance, manufacturing identification, as well as fake identification or preservation of objects. A very specific feature of these investigations is that they must be non-destructive and non-invasive, because of the inestimably high and prestigious value of these objects of study.