2024 Athens, Greece: Physical & Chemical Analysis of Metal & Ceramic Objects

Location: Athens, Greece

Season: June 24, 2024 to July 5, 2024

Session Dates: Single session

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://www.fieldsciences.org/program/2024-greece-athens-conservation/

Discount for AIA members: None

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Center for Field Sciences, Balkan Heritage Foundation, NCSR Demokritos (Greece)

Project Director:
Dr. Adamandia Panagopoulou, NCSR Demokritos (Greece) and University of Barcelona (Spain) & Dr. Angela Pencheva, Co-Founder of Balkan Heritage Foundation

Project Description:

This is an intensive program designed to teach students how to conduct intensive physical and chemical analysis of ethnographic and archaeological metal and ceramic objects. The program will introduce students to multiple analytical techniques and instruments, including Optical Microscopy (OM), X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (pXRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDS), IR spectroscopy and Statistical analysis, dating techniques, petrography, elemental analysis, SEM, X-Ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD), IR spectroscopy and 3D Scanning.
This program is for students who may seek careers in conservation or archaeology. The large range of methods and technologies presented are important tools for the study, analysis, and interpretation of cultural artifacts. Graduating students may not be experts in all the techniques presented but will get comprehensive understanding of the ways these techniques may be deployed in research and enhance our ability to understand and interpret material culture.

The program is hosted by the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN) at the National Centre for Scientific Research ˊDemokritosˋ in Greece. During the program, students will work with ethnographic and archaeological artifacts from the collection of Demokritos.

Period(s) of Occupation: Various periods

Notes:
Tuition cost is $3,165, including room & board and 2 semester credit units

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Full session

Minimum Age: 18 years old

Experience Required: There are no prerequisites for participation in this field school but note that conservation work requires good manual dexterity skills and ability to carry out delicate bench work. Students will receive hands-on training in analytical and conservation work and will spend most of the time in the lab. Students will be taught how to use a variety of laboratory procedures and equipment – from microscopes to analytical instruments. Analytical work is slow and may be tedious. It requires patience and focus. This is an introductory course so we will cover all the very basic elements of analytic and conservation ethnographic work.

Room and Board Arrangements:
This program does not provide accommodation or meals. Athens is a major tourist destination with many hotels for all price ranges, Airbnb’s, and plenty of excellent, affordable restaurants. Athens public transportation is excellent, connecting the city with an efficient & affordable metro and bus system.

Academic Credit:
2 Semester Credit units from Culver-Stockton College, our School of Record