ARCHAEOMETRIC ANALYSES

Physico-chemical study of cultural and archaeological heritage assets at OSE Services

Thanks to our more than 10 years of experience in the physico-chemical analysis of inorganic and organic materials, both in the laboratory and on site, using reliable and high-performance measurement instruments, we are able to meet all your analysis needs.

And since every archaeometric investigation begins in the field, we meet you at excavation sites, museums, and restoration workshops with our in situ investigation tools!

Our studies make it possible to rediscover ancient recipes and manufacturing techniques, understand aging processes, and identify the nature of previous restorations prior to the implementation of restoration and/or conservation protocols. In addition, through our studies, it is also possible to refine the chronology of a work of art or an archaeological object by identifying the materials used.

Thanks to our mobile analytical equipment, we offer analysis services to identify unknown materials and substances, to characterize inorganic materials (paints, ceramics, metals, minerals...) and organic materials (binders, resins, varnishes, waxes...).

Our analyses are carried out either in situ when it is impossible to sample/move an object, or from micro-samples of material in our laboratory.

We work within a network of academic and private partners in France to respond as quickly as possible.

The studies carried out result in a commented and documented analysis report.

Imaging study methods

Discovering what is not perceptible, observing the visible and the invisible through modern imaging methods, is the first step in any dialogue between science and art.

At OSE Services, several imaging techniques are used:

• white light
• UV light
• IR light
• X-ray radiography
• X-ray tomography

Analysis methods

While scientific observation reveals technical realities, physico-chemical analyses aim to understand and give a voice to the material itself.

At OSE Services, various analytical methods are implemented to meet your needs depending on your specific issues :

Inorganic analysis methods :

• optical microscopy
• metallographic microscopy
• X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
• scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX)
• X-ray diffraction (XRD)
• Raman spectrometry
• ICP-MS

Organic analysis methods :

• Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
• liquid or gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS)