Non-Invasive Characterization for Long-Term Preservation of Cultural Heritage
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Non-Invasive Characterization for Long-Term Preservation of Cultural Heritage France, F. G1 1 Preservation Research and Testing Division, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave, SE, Washington D.C, 20540-4560, U.S.A. ABSTRACT Developments in non-invasive analytical techniques advance the preservation of cultural heritage materials by identifying and analyzing substrates and media. Spectral imaging systems have been used as a tool for non-invasive characterization of cultural heritage, allowing the collection of chemical identification information about materials without sampling. The Library of Congress has been developing the application of hyperspectral imaging to the preservation and analysis of cultural heritage materials as a powerful, non-contact technique to allow non-invasive characterization of materials, by identifying and characterizing colorants, inks and substrates through their unique spectral response, monitoring deterioration or changes due to exhibit and other environmental conditions, and capturing lost and deteriorated information. The resulting image cube creates a new “digital cultural object” that is related to, but recognized as a distinct entity from the original. The range of data this object contains encourages multidisciplinary collaboration for the integration of preservation, societal and cultural information. INTRODUCTION An ongoing challenge associated with the preservation of cultural heritage is the need for advances in non-invasive, non-destructive analytical techniques that can be used to identify and analyze substrates (paper, parchment) and media (inks, pigments, colorants). Spectral imaging systems have been used as a tool for non-invasive, non-contact characterization of cultural heritage, allowing the collection of chemical identification information about materials without sampling. These imaging tools developed for astronomical imaging and remote sensing have been adapted and customized for the cultural heritage field for characterization of library and artist materials, and the recovery of historical texts on degraded manuscripts [1]. The Library of Congress Preservation Research and Testing Division (PRTD) has been developing the application of hyperspectral imaging to the preservation and analysis of cultural heritage materials as a powerful, non-invasive technique with a range of capabilities. Advanced hyperspectral imaging allows non-invasive characterization of materials, providing both access and enhanced non-visible and visible information in registered high resolution digital images. This non-contact tool has the capability to non-invasively identify and characterize colorants, inks and substrates through their spectral response, monitor deterioration or changes due to exhibit and other environmental conditions, assessment and potential identification of previous (often undocumented) treatments that modify chemical and spectral responses of cultural heritage materials, and detection and capture of watermarks on paper. The resulting image cube creates a new “digit
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