Using a Portable Spectrometer to Source Archaeological Materials and to Detect Restorations in Museum Objects

A team of archaeologists and geologists demonstrates how a portable infrared mineral analyzer (PIMA), first used by Australian geologists for mineral exploration, can be applied to provenance and authenticity studies. PIMA spectroscopy can be used to characterize both original materials and restored sections on stone and ceramic artifacts, including coatings such as shellac. The instrument works especially well in museum settings because it is portable and nondestructive. PIMA spectroscopy will become increasingly useful over time as reference databases of archaeological and restoration materials are accumulated.