2013-02
Raman spectroscopy is recognized within the preservation community as a potentially powerful technique for analysis of cultural heritage objects. The use of Raman to aid in the preservation and study of these objects has grown dramatically in recent years. Most major museums own or plan to purchase an instrument, especially for identifying pigments, minerals and corrosion products. However, greater use of Raman has been limited by the lack of training to overcome challenges that are particular to cultural heritage analysis and a lack of suitable reference spectra.
To address the need for information and training, the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) awarded a grant to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) to support a Raman spectroscopy training workshop for the preservation community. The resulting three day workshop was held at the PMA on September 27-29, 2012. Instructive lectures were given by experts on a range of Raman topics that included theory, instrumentation and cultural heritage applications.