Special Session 4

The session aims at illustrating the techniques used to study the artifacts of cultural significance, highlighting the methodologies to be applied to adequately characterize them from the geochemical and physical point of view, to study new strategies, tools and materials for their restoration and conservation, to support their critical interpretation investigating the artifact-environment interaction. At the same time, this session is also aimed at promoting and stimulating discussions among scientists from different backgrounds, involved in Cultural Heritage studies, such as geologists, mineralogists, chemists, physicians and conservation scientists.
In-depth interdisciplinary studies exploring diagnostic methods, alteration and/or deterioration phenomena, prevention and conservation treatments are encouraged, in order to offer valuable information to archaeology, art history and conservation and to support preservation and restoration of Cultural Heritage.

Topics include, but are not limited to:

• New methods and instruments for the characterization of natural and artificial stone materials, diagnosis and conservation treatments;
• Forthcoming developments in conservation and restoration knowledge: nanotechnology, biotechnology and green conservation materials;
• New tools and methods for mapping damage forms;
• Assessment of efficiency, compatibility, reversibility of new conservation treatments and methods.

Michela Ricca, is a researcher at the Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria (UNICAL). She deals with archaeometry and diagnostic investigations on materials, in the field of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage. She participated in the research and management activities of several National and European projects. With over 60 peer-reviewed scientific papers, published in international journals, she has also presented more than 50 contributions to National and International Conferences and Events in the Cultural Heritage sector. In particular, her research interests include: a) provenance study and mineralogical-petrographic characterization of natural and artificial stone materials used in Cultural Heritage; b) experimentation and testing of new protective/consolidating products against ageing, weathering and decay agents on stone materials; c) study of degradation forms of cultural resources in underwater environments.

Luciana Randazzo, is a researcher at the Department of Earth and Sea Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo. She graduated in Geological Science in 2004 at the University of Palermo. In April 2009 she awarded a PhD in Petrography and Petrology at the University of Catania. The research activity of Dr Luciana Randazzo has dealt mainly with topics in the field of applied Mineralogy and Petrography to Cultural Heritage. Her research concerns subjects focused on technical knowledge and conservation features of natural and artificial stone materials used in monuments as well as archaeometric characterization of archaeological ceramics (production and provenance). Dr Randazzo's expertise and professional background are reflected in her publications in books, national and international peer-reviewed journals and proceedings of international congresses.