Scientific Researches on Constituent Materials and Conservation of Cultural Heritage in Ancient West Asia

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Ancient West Asian Civilization as the foundation of all modern civilizations: A counter to the 'Clash of Civilizations' theory.
• Project/Area Number: 24101014
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Humanities and Social Sciences
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: TANIGUCHI Yoko 筑波大学, 人文社会系, 准教授 (40392550)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小泉 圭吾 大阪大学, 工学研究科, 助教 (10362667) ; 島津 美子 国立歴史民俗博物館, 研究部情報資料研究系, 助教 (10523756) ; 沼子 千弥 千葉大学, 大学院理学研究科, 准教授 (80284280) ; 高嶋 美穂 独立行政法人国立美術館国立西洋美術館, 学芸課, 研究員 (80443159) ; 伊庭 千恵美 京都大学, 工学研究科, 助教 (10462342)
• Research Collaborator: CANEVA Giulia Università di Roma Tre, Dipartimento di Scienze, Professor ; MAZUREK Joy Getty Conservation Institute, Science Department, Assistant Scientist ; PIAO Chunzu ハイテック株式会社, 環境保全技術課
• Project Period (FY): 2012-06-28 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 保存科学 / 文化遺産 / 西アジア / 石造文化財 / 劣化抑制 / 微気象モニタリング / ELISA / 放射光

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Three themes were set in order to reveal ancient constituent materials and production technologies in West Asia from Neolithic to pre-Islam period with scientific methods: (1) non-invasive in-situ analysis and high accuracy laboratory testing such as synchrotron-based techniques, (2) developing identification methodologies using ELISA and proteomics on organic binding media in painted archaeological objects, (3) in detail simulation using micro-environmental and 3D monitoring on weathering outdoor cultural heritage. A rock-hewn church in Cappadocia was selected to conduct whole range of scientific studies including in-depth micro-biological studies and major factors of deterioration were identified from overall meteorological assessment.

Free Research Field

保存科学