Understanding Written Artefacts on Inorganic Supports at the Atomic-Scale Level

Weathering and Crystal Chemistry of the Rock-Forming Minerals

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2019–2022

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RFA02

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The primary goal of the project is to develop a novel method based on Raman spectroscopy for unravelling vanished or hardly readable inscriptions on inorganic rock-base writing supports via mapping the lateral distribution of crack-enhanced weathering products. For this purpose the weathering processes in marble, limestone, and diorite in different atmospheric environments are going to be comprehensively analysed. In addition, the relationship between the crystal chemistry and Raman scattering of selected layered silicates is thoroughly studied as a first step towards a followed-up long-term project on non-destructive material profiling of clay tablets to elucidate their provenance and history.

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People

Project lead: Boriana Mihailova, Kaja Harter-Uibopuu, Jochen Schlüter

Research Associate: Stelios Aspiotis