Heritage Objects Research Articles

IAEA fostering of the development and applications of nuclear analytical techniques for Heritage Science

The IAEA Physics Section is strongly involved in the development and utilization of accelerator-based analytical techniques, which are powerful tools for the characterization of cultural and natural heritage objects and materials. Various activities are carried out with the purpose to build capacity, strengthen capabilities, transfer knowledge and foster networking in the field of heritage science. In addition, access to different X-ray fluorescence spectrometers and other analytical techniques is provided at the Nuclear Science and Instrumentation Laboratory (part of the IAEA Physics Section), and access to ion beam accelerators and synchrotron light is facilitated thanks to collaborations with Ruđer Bošković Institute (RBI) in Croatia and the Elettra Sincrotrone facility in Italy, respectively. Member States are also supported on their Research and Development programmes, as well as through the technical cooperation projects. This paper aims to provide a broad overview about how the IAEA Physics Section is engaged in the field of heritage science, promoting the safe, reliable, and effective use of ion beam, X-ray and neutron-based techniques for the characterization and preservation of cultural and natural heritage through its global networks and partners.

Memorial museums as an object for studying cultural and historical heritage in the system of modern education

Introduction. Preservation and study of cultural and historical heritage is one of the strategic tasks of modern society. UNESCO has played a major role in the implementation of these tasks for many years. UNESCO suggests that cultural and educational tourism, as a way of consuming cultural attractions, among which museums occupy an important place, is an effective method of studying world heritage. The purpose of the article is to prove the role of memorial museums as an objects of cultural and educational tourism and a factor in the study of cultural and historical heritage. Materials and methods. The research materials and methods are based on an analysis of the specifics of memorial museums as an object of study of cultural and historical heritage. The methodological basis is the theory of museum communication, the theory of “memory studies”, as well as methodological aspects of the study of cultural and historical heritage in the system of modern education. The research materials are based both on traditional methods and on the use of an interdisciplinary approach, including sociocultural and activity methods. Results. The results of the study are based on the analysis of information on the topic of educational and scientific activities of two modern memorial museums: The State Memorial Historical-Literary and NaturalLandscape Museum-Reserve of A. S. Pushkin “Mikhailovskoye” and the State Memorial Museum of the Defense and Siege of Leningrad, which have a unique history and status as objects of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation. Authors analyze media files from museum data, materials from online broadcasts of conferences, seminars and round tables, interviews, lectures and publications of researchers. Conclusion. The conducted research helps to determine further ways of developing educational tourism and the role of the memorial museum as an object for studying cultural and historical heritage with the aim of using it in the process of educational and outreach activities.

Rekomendasi Penataan dan Perawatan Batu Nisan Kuno Berbasis Lingkungan di Gampong Pande, Banda Aceh

In Gampong Pande there are cultural heritage objects and mangrove forests which are the part of former ancient port city of the Aceh Darussalam Kingdom. After the earthquake and tsunami waves that hit the coast of the city of Banda Aceh in 2004, the former capital city was damaged so ecological recommendations for the arrangement and maintenance of cultural heritage objects are needed. This paper aims to provide recommendations for the arrangement and care of ancient tombstone cultural heritage objects. The methods used were literature studies, initial surveys, observations, aerial photographs, satellite images, tombstone object distribution maps, object plan recommendations, lichen sample tests in the laboratory, and field tests of citronella and coconut oil essential oil emulsions. Recommendations are planned for arranging ancient tombstones located in scattered fish ponds and mangrove forests and planning supporting facilities for their protection, development, and utilization. In maintaining ancient tombstones, environmentally friendly materials were tested, namely an emulsion of citronella essential oil, distilled water, and coconut oil. Variations in citronella essential oil emulsion with distilled water are 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 100% and coconut oil concentration is 100%. Observations were made on color changes visually and with a microscope for 24 hours, 48 ​​hours, and 72 hours. Test results on six variations after the specified time both in the field and laboratory tests showed that citronella essential oil could inhibit the growth of lichens while coconut oil was not effective.

Multi-Technique Characterization of Cartonnage and Linen Samples of an Egyptian Mummy from the Roman Period

The historical and cultural significance of artistic works and archaeological artifacts underscores the imperative use of non-destructive testing methods in cultural heritage objects. Analyzing pigments in artwork poses a specific analytical challenge that demands a combination of various techniques to accurately determine chemical compositions. In this context, our work focused on the multi-analytical characterization of samples derived from fragments of a Roman-era Egyptian mummy named Kherima, dating back to around 200 AD. To identify the layers and elemental composition of the pigments used in the decoration, various techniques were employed: X-ray microfluorescence (µXRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high-resolution optical microscopy (OM), and X-ray computed microtomography (microCT). This multi-analytical approach facilitated the identification of the original pigments in the analyzed mummy fragments, along with insights into the materials used in the ground layer and the techniques applied in artifact manufacturing, indicating their accordance with the historical period and region to which they originally belonged.

Enhancing point cloud registration with transformer: cultural heritage protection of the Terracotta Warriors

Point cloud registration technology, by precisely aligning repair components with the original artifacts, can accurately record the geometric shape of cultural heritage objects and generate three-dimensional models, thereby providing reliable data support for the digital preservation, virtual exhibition, and restoration of cultural relics. However, traditional point cloud registration methods face challenges when dealing with cultural heritage data, including complex morphological and structural variations, sparsity and irregularity, and cross-dataset generalization. To address these challenges, this paper introduces an innovative method called Enhancing Point Cloud Registration with Transformer (EPCRT). Firstly, we utilize local geometric perception for positional encoding and combine it with a dynamic adjustment mechanism based on local density information and geometric angle encoding, enhancing the flexibility and adaptability of positional encoding to better characterize the complex local morphology and structural variations of artifacts. Additionally, we introduce a convolutional-Transformer hybrid module to facilitate interactive learning of artifact point cloud features, effectively achieving local–global feature fusion and enhancing detail capture capabilities, thus effectively handling the sparsity and irregularity of artifact point cloud data. We conduct extensive evaluations on the 3DMatch, ModelNet, KITTI, and MVP-RG datasets, and validate our method on the Terracotta Warriors cultural heritage dataset. The results demonstrate that our method has significant performance advantages in handling the complexity of morphological and structural variations, sparsity and irregularity of relic data, and cross-dataset generalization.

A revered place in the rural landscape: Whose heritage? On the history of the holy spring in Altai

The article examines the problems of the relationship between rural local communities and local landscape shrines. Drawing on fieldwork data, archival materials, local periodicals, and writings of Siberian Old Believers, I attempt to reconstruct the historical past of the Holy Spring, one of the most revered places in the Altai region, which bears the characteristics of both the cult and memorial place. I inquire into the conditions leading to transformations in the historical memory that is embodied in revered places and expound the methodology for studying such loci as functional zones of cultural landscapes, locations of memory, and objects of cultural heritage. I further specifically address the interesting case of overlapping vernacular practices of venerating holy places and collective memory of local events during the Civil War. Finally, I examine the most significant stages in the history of the revered place, as well as the reasons for its “reinvention” at the present time.

Assessment of Microstructural Features of a Silchrome 1 Exhaust Valve of a Harley-Davidson WLA World War II Motorcycle.

The paper aims at documenting the material employed in 1942 for the fabrication of an exhaust valve for a Harley-Davidson WLA/WLC motorcycle and assesses the material features with modern steel standard specifications and treatment. Facing properties of the original historical parts of technical heritage objects according to modern standards is a rare discipline, as these objects are nowadays in collections of museums or private collectors and experimental instrumental analyses are strictly forbidden. In this case, a preserved accessible unused surplus replacement kit was studied. The microstructure was assessed by light optical and scanning electron microscopy, electron probe micro-analysis and by heat treatment-hardness correlation. It was found that the valve was made of Silchrome 1 steel in coherence with the X45CrSi9-3 steel modern material standard, but with a slightly higher content of phosphorus and sulfur. Microscopic observations and hardness profile testing suggested a tempered martensitic structure (sorbite) with very fine grains uniformly distributed in the valve and an even heat treatment. Heat treatment-hardness experimentation demonstrated that the original heat treatment cannot be achieved by the modern standard procedure. The tempering temperature was surprisingly deduced to be lower than the recommended one according to the modern standard, which contrasts with the service temperature indicated in the contemporary motorcycle mechanics handbook.

Scientific-Practical Enhancement Principles for the Long-Term Stability of Cultural Heritage Objects through a Multi-Component Underground Space Analysis

This article presents approaches for enhancing engineering-geological and geotechnical research for the restoration and reconstruction projects of cultural heritage objects in St. Petersburg’s historical center. According to the Venice Charter, an interdisciplinary approach is recommended for developing a preservation program for cultural heritage objects. The authors consider the underground space as a multi-component system, where soils are a host medium for underground water with specific composition, complex physicochemical and biochemical conditions, the presence and vigorous activity of microorganisms, gases of various origins, and underground bearing and enclosing structures. The last of these components is crucial for the long-term stability of historical and cultural objects, as they interact in complex with water-saturated soils and microorganisms. This approach is not to be found in Russian cultural heritage preservation regulations. In engineering-geological and geotechnical research, multi-component underground space should be studied at the regional, local, and object levels. Assessing redox conditions in the underground environment is crucial for understanding the state of its components. Moreover, this can trigger hazardous processes such as changes in the stress–strain state and unconsolidation of the soil layer due to the generation of low-solubility gases and biocorrosion of ancient and modern building materials, causing premature destruction. Recommendations are provided for carrying out engineering-geological and geotechnical research based on cultural heritage objects, considering the multi-component underground space and features of its geoenvironmental state due to the long-term contamination and transformation of its components.

Masterpiece of the Leningrad School of Constructivism – House of Culture Named after Ilyich (Cultural and Leisure Center «Moscowsky»)

Architects of the 1920–1930s acted in the context of the new communist agenda, constructing the spatial environment of the person of the future. The projects of that era realized a dialectical connection between formality (geometricity) and functionality (utilitarianism). Constructivism became the key style of this stage; he was characterized by experiments with volumes, rectangular and curvilinear shapes. House of Culture named after Ilyich, which is the focus of this study, became one of the signs of the time — the era of palaces and houses of culture, where cinemas, concerts, sports, rehearsal halls, libraries, music schools, premises for clubs and circles were located under one roof. The article presents an analysis of the volumetric-spatial solution, the functional characteristics of the building and the history of the existence of the building of the House of Culture, and also identifies the problem of the preservation and restoration of constructivist architecture. In 2020, the House of Culture named after. Ilyich received the status of an object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation of regional significance. The analysis of the scientific context makes it possible to conclude that today in the scientific community there is an increased attention to avant-garde architecture as a striking phenomenon of Russian architecture and a change in the protective status of the House of Culture building is a positive marker of a change in attitude towards the architecture of the 1920–1930s.

Development of a Software Module for Studying Historical and Cultural Heritage Objects Using Non-Invasive Research Data

This work proposes the development of a software module for studying historical and cultural heritage objects using remote and non-invasive research data. The module aims to integrate modern technologies such as image processing, data analysis, and visualization to provide access to heritage information for researchers, conservators, and the general public. Utilizing non-invasive data, such as geophysical surveys, enables the collection of information about heritage objects without causing damage. The module facilitates the analysis and visualization of this data as well as the creation of interactive object models, thereby promoting further research, preservation, and popularization of cultural heritage. The module consists of three blocks: defining areas for ground-based research using interferograms; constructing a comprehensive 3D model based on ground and underground research data; and refining the boundaries of historical-cultural heritage objects and establishing protective zones. The program is developed in the object-oriented programming language VisualBasic with additional modules. This developed module could become a significant tool for studying and preserving historical and cultural objects in the modern world.

MONITORING OF BOUNDARIES OF IMMOVABLE OBJECTS OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE BY CARTOMETRIC METHOD

Today, the most effective methods of studying polygonal objects of historical and cultural heritage are cartometric and remote (mainly based on the processing of remote sensing data). If necessary, also use archeology, but only after using the specified methods. This work presents the application of the cartometric method using GIS technologies on the example of determining the boundaries of Jewish cemeteries in the village of Gornostaypil, Kyiv region, which is located on the border of the Chernobyl thirty-kilometer exclusion zone, and in the village of Olyka, Volyn region. Today, the territory of the cemeteries is not used for burials, and in the Soviet period, in the village of Gornostaypil, it was built up with administrative and economic buildings, in the village of Olyka, partly by the private sector. Both archival and modern cartographic products and remote sensing data served as input data. Thus, all cartographic products are small-scale, due to the display of objects and the generalization of the border and area of cemeteries, they are displayed distorted, so their use is conditioned by the study of the dynamics of the elevation of cemeteries. To display the historical boundaries of objects in the modern urban planning picture, plans of cemeteries on a scale of 1:500 were created using geodetic methods using GNSS surveying.

Application of attenuated total reflectance—Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy—(ATR-FTIR) and principal component analysis (PCA) in identification of copying pencils on different paper substrates

Presence of copying pencils in heritage objects poses a significant challenge for conservators due to their proneness to fading, sensitivity to solvents and difficulties in differentiation from regular graphite pencils. In this paper a method of copying pencils identification by means of ATR—FTIR spectroscopy is used. A protocol for spectra processing and dimensionality reduction of spectral data by means of principal component analysis has been developed, allowing for pencil types differentiation and providing an easy to read visual representation of the collected data. The protocol has been developed on mock-up samples and tested on objects from the archives of the State Museum Auschwitz – Birkenau.

Amorphous Alumina ALD Coatings for the Protection of Limestone Cultural Heritage Objects

Amorphous Alumina ALD Coatings for the Protection of Limestone Cultural Heritage Objects

Siginjei Museum Halal Tourism Management

The museum is a place to store historical objects, the objects in the museum are historical heritage objects that should be preserved, so that the Indonesian state does not forget the services of the heroes who defended their homeland. The aim of establishing a museum is so that citizens do not forget the history of their nation. Halal tourism itself is expected to be an alternative for Muslim and non-Muslim tourists to travel and fulfill their spiritual needs. This research is field research carried out at the Siginjei Jambi Museum because it is about halal tourism. This type of research is descriptive using a qualitative approach because the data produced is in the form of descriptions. Data collection techniques used in this research were observation, interviews, documentation and literature. The research results of the Siginjei Museum include halal tourism, looking at the facilities it has, such as a prayer room, a toilet, a comfortable place and providing value about the history of the Jambi people's struggle against colonialism and as a goal for school children to learn about the history of Jambi and broaden their knowledge. In terms of service, the Siginjei Museum has done its best, such as preparing a guide to tour the museum and explain the history of each object in the museum.

Triggering A Renaissance in Historical Textual Studies in Turcology: Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) and the Initial Standardised Ottoman Mathematics Text

This article seeks to answer a critical question about the impact of digital transformation, which global technological and digital developments have made a necessity, on historical textual studies in Turcology. The article draws attention to the need for digital transformation in historical textual studies and the lack of literature on the use of TEI in Turcology. The research considers historical textual studies as an object of digital cultural heritage, digital humanities, and digital scholarship. It is evaluated through the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) standard. The aim is to establish a symbiotic relationship between historical textual studies and the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) and offer a new perspective on the latest digital environment for studying Turkish manuscripts and the future of this research. It also explains how manuscripts (especially in the Ottoman field) should be encoded at TEI to enable interdisciplinary cooperation in digital editions. A case study of an 18th-century Ottoman mathematical text was encoded in TEI, and the process is explained in detail for those working in Turcology and those who want to do text editions with this method. The article's results are shared with the reader by presenting a Github link. These results constitute a new source for the international literature on digital encoding of historical texts and set standards for digital text editions to be used in historical text studies in Turcology. In this way, it aims to trigger a renaissance promoting the use of TEI in historical textual studies and to take the first step towards its eventual transformation into a renewed field of research.

Legal consequences of the discovery of a treasure containing archaeological objects: problems of legal regulation

The article reveals the legal problems associated with finding a treasure containing cultural values. According to the author, the person who found the treasure, without special knowledge, cannot independently determine its cultural significance. The paper also examines the legal consequences of the discovery of a treasure, which includes archaeological items. The normative legal regulation of these public relations has its own peculiarities. Based on the analysis of the norms of the current legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of protection of cultural heritage objects and law enforcement practice related to the finding of archaeological treasures, determining their fate, the author formulates a number of conclusions and proposals for improving legislation.

Preservation and popularization of the scientific, historical and cultural heritage of the university (to the 55th anniversary of the Kemerovo State Institute of Culture)

The author examines the issues of preserving and promoting the historical, scientific, and cultural heritage of the Institute of Culture. She characterizes the heritage and the main ways of its promotion (through publishing scientific and educational works, organizing library collections, building digital resources, hosting various events, loading digital content about the Institute to the Internet environment, etc.). Special attention is paid to the capability of the specialized (library) department to solve the issues of creating, promoting, and preserving the university’s heritage as the educational and research problems. Several aspects of interaction between the Library Department and the Scientific Library of Kemerovo State Institute of Culture are discussed. The main research methods applied were: bibliometric analysis of indicators of scientific output of the faculty and students, as provided by external digital information aggregators, as well as the direct analysis of departmental reports. The Institute of Culture is seen as the object of cultural heritage for educational and scientific purposes of students of the Department Faculty of Information, Library and Museum Technologies.The author concludes, in particular, that close integration of the Institute’s library and its Library Department enables to solve complex problems related to the institutional heritage. The findings of the study may be applied in other institutes and universities of culture of the Russian Federation.

The Impact of NGOs on Heritage Objects and Spaces

In the context of an increasing social interest in cultural heritage and, consequently, a wide range of increasingly diversified grassroots activities related to the protection of heritage objects and spaces, there is a growing need for identifying the dimensions of social impact on cultural resources. The analysis of this issue in this article is based on the case of a group of public benefit organizations which are engaged in protecting heritage objects and spaces. As a result, the article identifies a group of factors which represent organizations’ impact in this area, giving attention to the perspective of target heritage objects and spaces, their surroundings and social and economic environment, public authorities and institutions, indirect beneficiaries, as well as considering the criterion of the time of impact (immediate, deferred and potential effects). The analysis is based on desk research, including a literature review, expert analyses, and with regard to empirical studies – reports prepared by public benefit organizations, the content of their websites and social media.

Date estimation of fabrication and repair of Color garments encouragement banner

The Color Garments Encouragement Banner was designated a Korean Heritage in 2014 to recognize it as the most significant object of the color garments encouragement campaign. However, despite its significance, nothing is known about its manufacture. Therefore, this study attempted to analyze the materials of the banners to estimate when they were manufactured and repaired. The investigation of materials on the banner involved visual examination, literature review, microscopy, SEM–EDS, FT-IR, Py-GC–MS, ICP-MS, and LC–MS. The fabric, patch, and threads comprising the artifact were identified as cotton. FT-IR and Py-GC–MS confirmed that the repair patch was a woven blend of polyester and cotton yarns. EDS analysis indicated that the polyester was treated with titanium delustering. ICP-MS detected high concentrations of chromium that were not used in traditional dyeing techniques. The azo and sulfur compounds were identified by LC–MS analysis. The material layered on the grommet patch was thought to be a mixture of Pb, Ti with CaCO3 and BaSO4. Based on the overall results, the production date of the banner was narrowed down to the late 1920s, and the repair date to the mid-1950s. Although the materials used could not be identified owing to the limitations of the applicable analysis. Nonetheless, it is hoped that the analyses conducted in this study can serve as a scientific foundation for dating modern cultural heritage objects with limited handed-down record and historical documentation.

Vivienda social invadida y la percepción de soledad: Un estudio de caso sobre los fraccionamientos con viviendas deshabitadas en el suroriente de Ciudad Juárez

This work derives from the need to make visible the perspectives, emotions and interactions of those who, at present, inhabit social housing through a process of invasion in an area that historically has been characterized by a high number of uninhabited dwellings, mainly as a result of neoliberal policies. At the national level, the municipality of Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, has been among the entities with the highest number of uninhabited homes. In the southeastern part of the municipality, the situation is increasing, deriving in practices and perspectives that configure the plot of these places invisibilized under the context of abandonment presented. In this sense, making visible the new forms of inhabiting the uninhabited necessarily implies addressing the relationship between people, objects and built environments, elements that are little developed when it comes to assessing the impacts of urban policy. Through a qualitative approach, the use of the phenomenological method, in-depth interviews and non-participant observation as techniques for obtaining information, this work gathers emotions and perspectives that are situated between loneliness and resistance to abandonment, in a context that limits the possibility of social interactions, and that contrasts with the need for housing as an object of heritage and with the difficulties to access it.