Heritage Materials Research Articles

Designing Shakespeare: Tibor Reich and the 1964 Shakespeare Quatercentenary

ABSTRACT This article explores the work of the designer, Tibor Reich (1916–1996) as part of the material heritage of William Shakespeare. It suggests Reich’s partnership with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is a significant means of investigating the influence of artists and designers of the 1930s diaspora as purveyors of modernism and their impact on the visual arts and interior design in Britain. It situates Reich’s work for the 1964 Shakespeare quatercentenary, an anniversary marked internationally, in the broader context of the cultural and social history to which William Shakespeare’s material heritage responds.

Естественнонаучные и философские аспекты единства живописи и музыки: взгляд через призму искусственного интеллекта

This article discusses a philosophical description of the unity of painting and music through the prism of the natural-science phenomenon of the generation of phonon oscillations by the surface of a painting surface. A method is proposed for using artificial intelligence in the automated detection of phonon oscillations, which consists in a matrix recording of dynamic two-dimensional light scattering, convolution of the matrix into topological indices, and sonification of the change in indices over time. We have developed the new method for controlling surface phonon oscillations based on diffuse reflection kinetics. The specialized software “Vidan” records the kinetics of changes with 10 topological indices, which reflects the propagation of a phonon wave on the surface during capture and inelastic scattering of secondary cosmic rays [3]. To control the state of the surface, either the fingerprint of 10 topological descriptors is used (this analysis is automated through the “Atrium” remote software), or a spectral analysis of the distribution of descriptor values in time is carried out. In art the method was used for generation the "digital" passport (including the topological descriptors) of new paintings in order to control the appearance of copies. The algorithm for converting phonon oscillations of a painting leads to the generation of a unique melody. In this case, the main part of the creative activity belongs not to the composer, but to artificial intelligence, which generates a melody based on the chemical composition of the paint material of the picture and the method of applying the painting layer (that is, the artist's "hands"). The material heritage of the painter's work continues to generate new works of art “offline”, while artificial intelligence acts only as a way of detecting and sonification of the natural vibrations of the surface of the picture. It is shown that each painting generates its own unique melody. This uniqueness made it possible to propose an original system for checking the authenticity of works of art: for new works of artists. A cloud-based automated control system "Atrium" has been implemented, which allows tracking any logistical movements of the picture and the change of owner according to the topological musical digital passport of the picture generated by its surface.

Safeguarding and Preserving Africa’s Ritual Objects in the Face of Modernity: The Mwaghavul Case

The focus of this paper is to study ritual objects among the Mwaghavul people and their preservation as heritage materials for posterity. The paper looks into the ritual objects of the Mwaghavul and the challenges facing their preservation. In doing this study, primary and secondary sources of data were used. While rituals and ritual objects represent a major defining attribute of the Mwaghavul people, most of these objects are now abandoned on hilltops or caves, forest and rock shelters, and at the mercy of bad weather conditions and agents of destruction like termite, fire, and other things that can destroy them naturally. The paper admonishes that these materials are the people's heritage that deserve preservation. The paper identifies globalization, stereotype, migration of young people into the cities, human and natural factors, and activities of heritage looters as some of the contributory factors. The paper however argues that the challenges can be addressed through public enlightenment, provision of conducive worship environments for adherents of traditional Mwaghavul religion, introduction of traditional religion into our school curriculum and provision of good places for the preservation of ritual objects. The paper concludes that as an important aspect of their culture, the Mwaghavul people should ensure that their ritual objects are safeguarded and preserved for posterity.

<em>Roman Culture in the Ottonian World</em>

Roman culture outlived its empire in the West. Any study aiming to assess its relevance in the medieval period must consider that related conceptions and cultural features may change over time. A significantly different definition may have applied to medieval periods compared to what we know from the time of the Roman Principate. This paper studies Roman culture in the Ottonian world by considering the significance and role attributed to the culture of the Roman past and the Byzantine present. The first section focuses on cultural elements related to politics and the exertion of power, the second deals with Roman culture in the material heritage, and the third discusses related non-material aspects. The study argues that although the Ottonians called themselves emperors of a Roman empire, elements that may have been conceived as Roman or were related to the Byzantine world were far from abundant and largely limited to the court. The Roman empire was part of their western heritage, while Roman and Byzantine models represented the sole known sets of adequate examples or sources of inspiration to represent western emperorship. These models had already been adopted and adapted by the Carolingians, who remained an important reference among their imperial successors. Still, while influences from Byzantine court culture were present at the Ottonian court, monastic and popular Byzantine culture was largely absent from the Ottonian world. .

Objects on the memory borders: between Tilsit and Sovetsk

Sovetsk, a city in the Kaliningrad region of Russia, is the typical case of a complex interaction of locals with a “foreign” past. The dwellers of the city are living within the environment of material heritage that remained after the total change of population in World War II (including everyday objects, architecture and landscape) and are building their identity through them. Drawing on the approaches of border studies and memory studies, we show how regions of memory of pre-war Tilsit and post-war Sovetsk interact and conflict in vernacular narratives of city dwellers, and how the latter move between those regions in the course of manipulating evocative objects in daily and business practices. The article is a part of the RANEPA state assignment research program.

Soft power in Turkey's foreign policy in Europe

Since the mid-2000s, under the rule of the Justice and Development Party, Turkey has included the concept of soft power in its foreign policy agenda. Based on the position of Turkish officials, the practical implementation of soft power is based on public diplomacy, with its “infrastructure” being created at the same time by establishing new or transforming existing state structures in partnership with non-governmental organisations. Ankara has developed the main directions for public diplomacy to be based on interaction with its Turkish people living abroad and closely related Turkic peoples, the preservation and revival of the cultural, historical and material heritage of the Ottoman Empire, and the support of the Muslim community in different parts of the world. In addition, in recent years, relatively new directions have emerged, such as struggling against FETÖ and extension of coverage of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation. One of the regions where the Turkish public diplomacy was implemented was Europe. The latter was divided into three sub-regions: the Balkans, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe. The Balkan countries were traditionally considered important regions for Ankara with the core goal to break old historical and cultural prejudices about its image and to form a positive one in the eyes of the public. With regard to Eastern Europe, Turkey, skillfully using the Ottoman heritage and/or the Turkic factor, exerts influence in Hungary, Moldova, and Ukraine. And the activity in Western Europe is more based on interacting with the Turkish diaspora. Therefore, the aim of the study is to reveal the main directions of Turkey's public diplomacy in the context of the implementation of the policy of soft power in Europe.

The Development Status and Challenges of Times Faced by Uygur Traditional Costume -Taking Hotan Prefecture as an Example

Clothing, as a unique existence, is one of the most representative material heritage of the Uygur people. Through combing the existing literature and independent fieldwork, this study finds that the current development of traditional Uygur costumes is not only impacted by the market economy but also influenced by contemporary cultural trends. Despite facing challenges in terms of pricing as a commodity, traditional Uygur clothing continues to hold cultural significance within Uygur society, demonstrating the necessity to address these issues. We can try to take corresponding measures from different levels, such as increased industrial support from the government, active promotion and publicity within the community, and the participatory efforts of individuals. Finally, this paper emphasizes the need for comprehensive protection of endangered traditional cultures, which is a complex and systematic mission and needs joint efforts of different subjects to ensure the orderly transmission of Uygur cultural heritage.

Written Remains: Materiality and the Religious Heritage Complex of the Jewish Portuguese Past

Hebraic written stones represent the primary surviving physical testimony to the Jewish past in Portugal, apart from a Medieval synagogue in the city of Tomar. As it is true for other religious objects, medieval Hebraic epigraphic stones have become a heritage asset, opening the way to specific recognition of the Jewish materiality of Portugal. Long after the forced conversion of Portuguese Jews to Catholicism or their exodus, a few epigraphic testimonials were collected, maintained, and displayed. A group of 20th century Jewish and non-Jewish amateur archaeologists and historians assembled manuscripts, books and stones and attempted to establish a museum in the medieval synagogue of Tomar. They dedicated themselves to the study and preservation of this written religious legacy and proposed to focus on the letter as the principal material heritage to represent the Portuguese Jewish past. Drawing on the concept of religious heritage complex, this article describes how letters, as material remains, lead to the cultural renewal of a religious minority’s past. The study also sheds light on the cultural and religious consequences of this attention to letters on the heritage-making process itself. Through a combination of archival study, ethnographic fieldwork and comparison, the study sought to better understand the late destiny of the written remains of Judaism in Portugal.

Found a fossil: improving awareness, engagement, and communication strategies for heritage discoveries

Fossils and Indigenous artefacts are often found by members of the general public. To gauge Australian awareness of heritage laws and willingness to report finds, the Found a Fossil project conducted a survey to understand barriers to reporting heritage material. Results showed enthusiasm to report but confusion over appropriate authorities to contact, lack of transparency by government, and poorly communicated legislation created barriers to heritage reporting. This project represents the first attempt to quantify reporting behaviours of Indigenous artefacts and fossils in Australia and recommends improvements for reporting, protection and communication of Australian heritage items and their historical narratives.

Analysis of Salts and Clays for Conservation of Porous Cultural Heritage

Soluble salts and clays are major intrinsic causes of degradation of porous cultural heritage materials. Identifying their presence and concentrations can allow environmental control to prevent decay before it is observed. Such control is often energy- and carbon-intensive and better targeted towards those objects that require it rather than a general approach. The use of poultices has been investigated to determine salt species and concentrations in stone to replace drilling samples. A non-invasive method using two types of moisture meter has been developed to map the conductivity of salt solutions in stone. Fourier transform and near-infrared spectroscopies have been investigated to non-invasively quantify the amount of muscovite clay in limestones without the need to take drilled samples. Salts can react with extrinsic acetic acid from display and storage environments, causing extensive damaging surface efflorescences. A rapid analytical procedure based on external reflectance Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) microscopy has been developed. This allows analysis of multiple salts on a cuneiform tablet surface. Analyses of soluble salts inside the tablets has indicated the sulphate-to-chloride ratio is a good predictor of whether mixed acetate efflorescences will occur on exposure.

Consolidating Research Data Management Infrastructure: Towards Sustainable Digital Scholarship

The sustainability of digital research outputs, particularly in the humanities where these frequently comprise archives of digital cultural heritage material, has always offered a challenge to the researchers and institutions who have responsibility for them. The amount of upfront care, effort, and funding that goes into developing a research project during the active (and funded) research phase is rarely replicated within the post-project maintenance and curation of the delivered digital assets or archives. What often defines the sustainability of a research project and its archive is a combination of research method and expected life span for the digital collection. Innovation in research data design is often at the expense of its longevity. But this does not need to be so. The tradeoff between longevity and functionality is a false dichotomy. Yet what is clear is that care and consideration in planning the research data storage or archive for a project can make a big difference. A data management plan that meets grant funder requirements is asked for for many research projects, but it is more than simply a funding document. Good research data management ensures that outputs are available online for years to come and available for future research and innovation. This article offers a practical insight to the methods being employed at the University of Oxford to support Digital Humanities scholars (and beyond) safeguard their digital legacy for future generations.

An overview of Principal Components Analysis approaches in Raman studies of cultural heritage materials

AbstractThe present overview answers the need of assessing the current state of the art concerning the application of principal components analysis (PCA) to Raman spectroscopy investigations of cultural heritage and related materials. An increment of the employment of this multivariate statistic technique to Raman results in the mentioned field began between 15 and 10 years ago, after a very slow start at the turn of the millennium. A delay of about a decade was observed with respect to PCA applied to elemental quantitative data of archaeometric analyses, likely a consequence of the required spectral pre‐treatment and to results of complex interpretation. Therefore, it is by now the time to summarize this evolution in a comprehensive, yet very specific way. In this overview, painting constituents were considered, both colouring materials and binders, in addition to natural and synthetic glasses, and biogenic and mineral gemmological materials. A marked unbalance between the studies pertaining to the different sections has been noticed, revealing a concentration of the work mainly on painting materials, including the study of ageing and alteration. The different aims of PCA application to Raman spectra, the various approaches and the achievable results, with the possible arising problems, were underlined, too. Special attention was given to the pre‐treatment of the spectra, which was observed to be essential to overcome the influence of several issues concerning bands intensity, spectral noise, background, fluorescence and so on.

Hydrophobic coating using sustainable sol-gel process doped with carboxylic acids to protect heritage copper artefacts

Metal corrosion and its mitigation using alkoxysilane based sol-gel coatings presenting specific properties are a matter of interest in many areas of applications, from industrial to cultural heritage materials. Thanks to their adhesive and coupling nature with different molecules and substrates, they show excellent results against aggressive environments. This study focuses on the protection of historical copper-based alloys. A tetramethyl orthosilicate-based (TMOS-based) sol-gel coating was doped with carboxylic acid compounds (heptanoic, octanoic and decanoic acids) recognized for their non-toxicity and their interesting corrosion inhibition properties on ancient corroded copper. The development of the coating and the basic understanding of the fundamental chemistry as well as the protection mechanism on the historical samples were studied. Contact angle measurements allowed to show that the resulting coating displayed a hydrophobic protection at the surface of the samples while its chemical composition was evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis, SEM-EDS and Raman spectroscopy. The porosity of the sol-gel matrix and the distribution of the acids in the porous silica network were then investigated by establishing nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms at liquid N2 temperature. Examination of the sample's cross-section by SEM-EDS showed that the TMOS-based coatings doped with carboxylic acids penetrated up to 60 % in depth in the corrosion layer of the ancient copper, while the Raman analyses showed that the acids formed organometallic complexes both at the surface and in the corrosion layer, leading to the protection of the metallic substrate against further corrosion.

A digital ecosystem for the multidisciplinary study of Notre-Dame de Paris

The 2019 fire of Notre-Dame de Paris was not only a significant event in its history, but also provided a unique platform for multidisciplinary studies and digital data analysis. At the initiative of the CNRS and the Ministry of Culture, a large-scale collaboration is currently underway to manage and analyse the extensive data generated in connection with the restoration of the cathedral. The role of digital data is crucial for understanding complex multidisciplinary studies, especially in the field of cultural heritage. A digital data working group, composed of thirty scientists from 12 laboratories, is focused on documenting and organising this collective experience to serve both the immediate needs of restoration and the long-term goals of cultural heritage research. Key challenges include data traceability, knowledge modelling, multidimensional analysis and the need to address gaps in semantic understanding, memory, data correlation and technology. To address these challenges, a novel method is proposed that combines the digital representation of material heritage with the evolving knowledge about it. By collaborating with the wider scholarly community involved in Notre Dame's scientific action, the aim is to introduce new methods in heritage research and bridge the gap between the humanities and digitally-driven scholarship. This initiative also intersects with two primary scientific vectors: the technological approach to data collection and the generation and analysis of semantically enriched datasets.

Characterization of the Stone Masonries and Evaluation of the Environmental Impact in Panamá Viejo: A Contribution for the Conservation of the Monumental Complex

A fundamental step in the best preservation of heritage materials is investigating their chemical and physical characteristics, and understanding how they interact with the surrounding environment. For this reason, the stone masonry of the monumental UNESCO site of Panamá Viejo was subjected to a thorough study to characterize the materials and evaluate their state of conservation. Additionally, potential outcrops were explored in order to identify sites for the supply of raw materials. The methodological approach encompassed mineralogical-petrographic investigations using stereomicroscopy, polarized light microscopy (PLM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (ESEM-EDS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The results revealed that the masonries primarily consists of polygenic breccia, basaltic andesite, rhyodacite, tuffite, and rhyolite. In addition, at the potential quarries, breccia and basaltic andesite were identified. The porous structure was studied using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Possible issues due to salt dissolution/crystallization cycles were considered. Consequently, ion chromatography (IC) was conducted on samples exhibiting alteration patinas to study the presence of soluble salts. In assessing the state of conservation, prevalent forms of deterioration included biological colonization, detachments, material loss, potential salt weathering, and chromatic alteration. In conclusion, the outcomes of this work provide a valuable resource for the current and future preservation of this site.

Expanding the Microcolonial Black Fungi Aeminiaceae Family: Saxispiralis lemnorum gen. et sp. nov. (Mycosphaerellales), Isolated from Deteriorated Limestone in the Lemos Pantheon, Portugal.

With an impressive ability to survive in harsh environments, black fungi are an ecological group of melanized fungi that are widely recognized as a major contributor to the biodeterioration of stone cultural heritage materials. As part of the ongoing efforts to study the fungal diversity thriving in a deteriorated limestone funerary art piece at the Lemos Pantheon, a national monument located in Águeda, Portugal, two isolates of an unknown microcolonial black fungus were retrieved. These isolates were thoroughly studied through a comprehensive analysis based on a multi-locus phylogeny of a combined dataset of ITS rDNA, LSU, and rpb2, along with morphological, physiological, and ecological characteristics. Based on the data obtained from this integrative analysis, we propose a new genus, Saxispiralis gen. nov., and a new species, Saxispiralis lemnorum sp. nov., in the recently described Aeminiaceae family (order Mycosphaerellales). Prior to this discovery, this family only had one known genus and species, Aeminium ludgeri, also isolated from deteriorated limestone. Additionally, considering the isolation source of the fungus and to better understand its potential contribution to the overall stone monument biodeterioration, its in vitro biodeteriorative potential was also evaluated. This work represents a significant contribution to the understanding of the fungal diversity involved in the biodeterioration of limestone heritage.

Reading and understanding the city: assumptions for a hermeneutic analysis of the material heritage of urban space

The purpose of this article is to understand the theoretical assumptions underlying an urban hermeneutics. Here, we will focus on the implications of understanding the urban infrastructure and the buildings that were bequeathed to us by generations that preceded us in an analogous way to a text. therefore, we will seek to clarify some basic notions of Paul Ricoeur's hermeneutics. Furthermore, it will be possible to envision the advantages, in terms ofour relationship with the city, of considering the past as a “space of experience” and the future as a “horizon of expectations”, as suggested by Reinhart Koselleck. I believe that, like written discourse, the material heritage of cities has semantic autonomy and can be interpreted today in multiple ways by its readers. In this way, we can say that the actions that unfold in the historical present see the past as an inexhaustible source of resources and possibilities.

Ottoman palace weavings between different periods: material characterization, comparison and suggestions for conservation

Historical textiles, which are an invaluable part of the cultural material heritage, and the materials used in their production bear witness to the social past. Although a textile object was originally produced out of necessity, later it became a symbol of magnificence, power, and might. The most important basic elements that contribute to these properties are the materials used in its production, among which silk fiber, and metallic threads containing gold and silver are the leading ones. In addition to the aging behavior of textile objects due to their organic structure, the deterioration process is accelerated due to various factors such as use, environmental factors, mismanagement, inappropriate storage and display conditions, incorrect restoration-conservation practices, natural disasters, etc. In this study, a total of 7 metallic threaded textile works dated between the 16 and 19 centuries and used by the Ottoman Palace dynasty in the textile collection of the Topkapı Palace Museum (TPM) were examined. In this context, visual evaluation/documentation, color measurement, technical analysis, dyestuff analysis, elemental composition, and corrosion products were determined in the historical textiles. In this study, the following analytical instruments were used for the analyses: a CIEL*a*b* spectrophotometer, an optical microscope (OM), high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC–PDA), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX). Thanks to this study, it was aimed to document the palace fabrics containing silk and metallic yarn used in the Ottoman period, to characterize the materials they contain, to determine the production method, and to determine of the deterioration products that occur over time. According to the results obtained from the analyses, insect-origin dyestuffs in red, pink, and purple were used. When the fabrics of the sixteenth century and the fabrics of the nineteenth century were compared, it was determined that there was a decrease in the quality of weaving. In addition, it was determined that the fiber in the metallic yarn core in the textile object dated to the end of the 19th/beginning of the twentieth century was produced by using cotton instead of silk, and also the thickness of the metal strip and the wrapping density were decreased. No significant difference was detected in the chemical composition of the strips in the metallic yarns found in the examined historical textiles, but only the silver element was detected in the metal strip, although the metallic yarn core in the last period textile object was yellow in color. All these results showed that there was a difference between the sixteenth-century textiles of the rise of the Ottoman Empire and the nineteenth-century textiles of the dissolution period. This difference is especially evident in the quality of the weaving, the density of the materials used, and the chemical composition of the metal strip. In addition, all these analyses will guide textile experts in possible restoration-conservation studies.

Silent Heritage: Investigating Ruxton's Nigeria Collection at the Horniman Museum and Gardens

Abstract Museums which display all of their colonial collections are rare, and those which offer clear information on collection provenances and colonial histories in displays are rarer still. Absence and silence surrounding the colonial past in Europe's museums places them at odds with international pressure to account for the custodianship of colonial-era collections. This is examined here through investigating the silent heritage of the Ruxton Nigeria Collection, held at the Horniman Museum and Gardens in London. Ruxton collected as a military official during Britain's conquest of Nigeria. His collection is typical of assemblages throughout European ethnographic museums, dominated by “everyday” material heritage, not the “treasures” of elites which monopolise restitution discourse. How can provenance research be conducted upon quieter collections dating from the colonial era with little accompanying documentation? What are the potential impacts of such research upon restitution debates? From the available evidence around the Ruxton collection, it is clear that silences are more fundamental than just a matter of archival gaps, and if silences remain even after provenance research (which many museums are unable to conduct on all of their collections), then we need to question not only why and how collections are displayed, but how museums justify having them at all.

The Corpus of Historical Mapudungun: morpho-phonological parsing and the history of a Native American language

The Corpus of Historical Mapudungun (chm), which I present here, is a lemmatised, part-of-speech and grapho-phonologically parsed collection of texts in the ancestral language of the Mapuche people. This paper gives an overview of the corpus materials (spanning 1606 to 1930), their processing and search capabilities. The tei xml tags at the word and morpheme levels are shown to be suitable to account for the abundant agglutinative morphology of the language. The advantages of visualising sound–spelling equivalences across the various spelling systems in the corpus are also emphasised. Some uses and limitations of the corpus are surveyed too, with a particular emphasis on the contribution of typologically diverse languages to understanding language change and the importance of making heritage materials available to native speaker communities for revitalisation purposes.