Investigating the Material Composition and Degradation of Wall Paintings at Müstair Monastery Using a Mobile Multi-Spectroscopic System
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The conservation of cultural heritage requires advanced analytical tools to assess historic materials. In the context of the IPERION-CH project, a mobile multi-spectroscopic characterisation system for the analysis of cultural heritage materials, designated SYSPECTRAL, has been developed. This system integrates Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Laser-Induced Fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, and reflectance spectroscopy. The first application of SYSPECTRAL in a real-world setting was carried out at Müstair Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983) for wall paintings. In this study, stratigraphic analysis using LIBS revealed lead- and iron-based pigments in black and red hues, suggesting pigment degradation and restoration interventions. The presence of titanium in white hues indicated possible retouching. Furthermore, the presence of Egyptian blue in blue hues was identified through a combination of elemental and reflectance spectral analysis, underscoring the potential of SYSPECTRAL for heritage conservation. This approach offers comprehensive material characterization with minimal impact, a finding that is of particular significance in the context of heritage conservation. The subsequent phase of research will extend the application of SYSPECTRAL to a wider range of heritage sites, with the objective of enhancing the spectral databases and refining the analytical techniques for the purpose of improving cultural heritage conservation.
Source: Photonics
Institutions: Centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France, Archäologischen Dienst Graubünden, CY Cergy Paris Université, Laboratoire de Recherche des Monuments Historiques, Northwest Normal University, Dunhuang Research Academy, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire des systèmes et applications des technologies de l'information et de l'énergie
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
Awards: G1190173965, G1353031916, G13998632, G1511292823, G2094444661, G2623429877, G2659019386, G2963209956, G3232663935, Integrating Platforms for the European Research Infrastructure ON Heritage Science, G4032451055, G4045588730, G4937468798, G5093852079, G5598331917, G6497044765, G6803667113, G6912010274, Biblissima+, Observatoire des cultures écrites anciennes, de l’argile à l’imprimé, G7224822589, G7776120756, Paris Seine Graduate School of Humanities Creation Heritage, G8456465307, G928364919
OpenAlex ID: W4410411607