Conservation and Protection of Cultural Heritage: the Role of Conservation Science

The diagnostic survey is a preliminary step before to start any conservation process on artefact. Conservation includes all measures and actions aimed at safeguarding Cultural Heritage while ensuring its accessibility to present and future generations. The characterisation of the state of conservation is generally carried out by using traditional analytical techniques such as X Ray Diffraction, Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-Ray Fluorescence, Fourier Transmission Infrared Spectrometry etc. The use of appropriate analytical tools as well as the interpretation of the results obtained is of primary importance to understand the causes of decay. During the last three-four decades many laboratory techniques of investigation on Cultural Property have been widely used, actually there is a need to develop non-invasive methods of analysis for in situ investigation.