1ab64759-4f6f-4e91-a85a-5e800f2f980a RESOURCES Glossaries + Databases Glossaries + Databases Reference Materials Reference Materials Scientific Resources Scientific Resources Videos + Lectures Videos + Lectures Journals + Publications Journals + Publications Coming Soon Explore reference collections and databases of materials and samples assembled by cultural institutions. REFERENCE MATERIALS Asian Textile Database Asian Textile Database: inventory of textiles used to mount East Asian paintings and calligraphy scrolls and screens at the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, in Washington, DC. Explore Videos + Lectures CSR reference collection National Museum of Asian Art CSR reference collection: more than 3,000 samples from a variety of sources available for comparison and analysis. Explore Videos + Lectures Dye Analysis Database Dye Analysis Database: analyses of reference dye materials and analyses of samples from cultural artifacts that have been carried out by liquid chromatography, generally coupled with diode array and mass spectrometer detectors (LC/DAD/MS) Explore Videos + Lectures FRIL Fiber Reference Image Library (FRIL): a database of images of textile fibers acquired through the use of multiple microscopic techniques. Explore Videos + Lectures Forbes Pigment Database Forbes Pigment Database: 3000 colorants assembled by the late Edward Waldo Forbes, former Director of the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University. Explore Videos + Lectures GCI Reference Collection Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) Reference Collection: repository of reference materials for use in the analysis of art objects. Explore Videos + Lectures Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana The HSLL houses a number of Reference Material Collections. All have been acquired commercially and through donations for the purpose of heritage science research projects and their value is purely scientific. Explore Videos + Lectures Islamic Paper Collection A collection of 230 paper samples was gathered from various commercial sources across Central Asia, Near East and North Africa (spanning the 15th to 19th centuries) for the purpose of scientific research. Explore Videos + Lectures NGA Art Materials Research and Study Center National Gallery of Art (NGA) Art Materials Research and Study Center: artists' materials, technical information, and trade literature, including more than 18,000 of samples, including a variety of paints, varnishes, and drawing materials. Explore Videos + Lectures NGA Paper Sample Collection National Gallery of Art (NGA) Paper Sample Collection: collection of documented samples, identified by the manufacturer or distributor, and covers mostly fine- and student-grade artists’ papers available in the United States. Explore Videos + Lectures Uemura Dye Archive Uemura Dye Archive: collection of 744 dyed fabrics prepared in early 20th century Japan. Explore Videos + Lectures

Keep current on the latest research and techniques! OPPORTUNITIES Events Events Fellowships Fellowships Funding Funding Internships Internships Jobs Jobs Studentships Studentships Mentorship Mentorship Workshops + Courses Workshops + Courses WORKSHOPS + COURSES Keep current on the latest research and techniques! There are no current active opportunities to show today! If you have something you'd like to share, please send it to info@artbiomatters.org so we can upload it. Alexis Gregory Curatorial Practice Program Deadline Location The Alexis Gregory Curatorial Practice Program introduces graduate students to diverse aspects of curatorial practice within the context of a museum. Drawing on the richness of The Met’s collections, which represents thousands of years of human creativity from across the globe, as well as the depth and breadth of its staff’s expertise, this program explores the complexities of curating in the present by focusing on object-based analysis, research, exhibition planning, collection building, gallery display, and curatorial methodologies. Course content foregrounds some of the most pressing ethical, social, and political matters facing curators and museums today. Explore Conservation Science Tutorials, AIC & FAIC Deadline Location With the support of the Getty Foundation, FAIC has created a series of self-paced modules that review key science principles in conservation. Explore

64c49c36-2df6-4507-b8d5-de9aa8391586 RESOURCES Glossaries + Databases Glossaries + Databases Reference Materials Reference Materials Scientific Resources Scientific Resources Videos + Lectures Videos + Lectures Journals + Publications Journals + Publications Coming Soon Explore academic publications from adjoining fields of study. JOURNALS + PUBLICATIONS American Journal of Material Science Explore Videos + Lectures Heritage Science Explore Videos + Lectures History of the Human Sciences Explore Videos + Lectures International Journal of Advanced and Multidisciplinary Social Science Explore Videos + Lectures International Journal of the Arts Explore Videos + Lectures Journal of Interdisciplinary History Explore Videos + Lectures Journal of the American Institute for Conservation Explore Videos + Lectures Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Explore Videos + Lectures

Need guidance or willing to share your expertise? Find a mentor or be one! OPPORTUNITIES Events Fellowships Funding Internships Jobs Studentships Mentorship Workshops + Courses Categories MENTORSHIP Need guidance or willing to share your expertise? Find a mentor or be one! Coming Soon

Advance your research skills - and jump start your career! OPPORTUNITIES Events Events Fellowships Fellowships Funding Funding Internships Internships Jobs Jobs Studentships Studentships Mentorship Mentorship Workshops + Courses Workshops + Courses FELLOWSHIPS Advance your research skills - and jump start your career! There are no current active opportunities to show today! If you have something you'd like to share, please send it to info@artbiomatters.org so we can upload it. Wallis Annenberg Curatorial Fellowship Deadline March 1, 2025 Location Los Angeles, CA, USA The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) announces a search for candidates for the Wallis Annenberg Curatorial Fellowship. This two-year fellowship in the museum’s Latin American Art department will provide general curatorial training, support scholarly research on the permanent collection, and engage the Fellow in the organization of an international traveling exhibition on the connection of Asia and Latin America in the early modern period. Explore Andrew W. Mellon Postgraduate Fellowship in Scientific Research Deadline March 1, 2025 Location Philadelphia, PA, USA The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) invites applications for a two-year Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Scientific Research, which begins September 2025 and ends August 2027. The fellowship will provide the opportunity to gain working knowledge of and proficiency in the scientific research and instrumental analysis of cultural heritage materials within a museum setting. During the first year, the fellow will be introduced to the workings of the PMA, including those of the curatorial and conservation divisions. The fellow will be incorporated into the daily activities of the Department and will receive instruction on the proper usage of core analytical instruments (FTIR, Py-GCMS, Raman, SEM-EDS, and XRF). In the second year, the fellow will develop original research focused on the PMA’s collections culminating in work of publishable quality. Explore Short-Term Resident Research Fellowships Deadline March 1, 2025 Location Philadelphia, PA, USA One- to three-month fellowships are available for Ph.D. candidates, holders of the Ph.D., and degreed independent scholars, within any field of study that requires using the collections of the APS's Library & Museum. This opportunity is closed for 2024, but will reopen annually. Explore Mellon Foundation Native American Scholars Initiative (NASI) Digital Knowledge Sharing Fellowships Deadline Mar 1, 2025 Location Philadelphia, PA, USA These short-term fellowships support university- and community-based scholars working on digital projects that connect archives and Indigenous communities. This opportunity is closed for 2024, but will reopen annually. Explore Engen Conservation Fellowship Deadline Feb 15, 2025 Location Chantilly, VA, USA The Engen fellowship will introduce the candidate to conservation techniques for a wide range of composite objects, metals, organic materials, and painted surfaces. This fellowship is intended to contribute to the education of recent graduates by allowing them to delve into the complexities of working with modern composite materials, refine treatment process, learn management, and conduct a small-scale research project. The Fellow's independent research will be derived from our diverse collection materials. Fellows will be encouraged to publish or present their research at the end of their tenure. This opportunity is closed for 2024, but will reopen annually. Explore Conservation Science Fellow Deadline February 10, 2025 Location London, UK We are looking for a Conservation Science Fellow to join our team based at Rangers House, London. The role is full time and fixed term of 20 months. You'll be on a fixed term, full time basis, working 36 hours per week. As conservation science fellow, you will undertake research in the international Go-Green project, Green Strategies to Conserve The Past And Preserve The Future Of Cultural Heritage. Specifically manage and deliver a series of experiments to develop damage functions and analytical regimes to reduce the carbon footprint of preventive conservation. Explore Beal Family Postgraduate Fellow in Conservation Science Deadline Rolling Basis Location Cambridge, MA, USA The Harvard Art Museums’ Fellowship program is designed to broaden the experience of those embarking on professional museum careers in art history and related fields, conservation and conservation science, and/or education. Harvard Art Museums’ global collections encompass cultures across Asia, North Africa, Europe, and the Americas from ancient times to today. The Fellow is an integral member of the Museums staff whose work serves the Museums’ purpose, vision, and values. Explore

Participate, expand you network and have some fun with these events on biological materials in heritage. OPPORTUNITIES Events Fellowships Funding Internships Jobs Studentships Mentorship Workshops + Courses Categories COMING UP These events are coming up soon! If you have an event to post, please email info@artbiomatters.org . No events or deadlines coming up now. Check again later! Perceptions of Human Remains Cynthia, an art historian, and Kat, a conservator, will be holding an informal conversation on how practices around interacting with bodily remains vary across cultures and time periods. Which may well be of interest to a wider range of scholars and practitioners: curators, scientists, and academics whose work involves human remains, and anyone else who may be concerned with thoughtful approaches regarding the study and stewardship of physical remains and associated belongings. Details PAST EVENTS These events have already passed. If you like what you see, don't miss upcoming events! Symposium—Chia Oil in 18th Century Mexican Lacquerware and Paintings Details Gain insight into the art of Mexico with a live demonstration by celebrated artisans from Michoacan, Mexico and presentations from Met scholars and multidisciplinary experts. Join us to explore the scientific, historical, and cultural implications of the use of chia oil in colonial Mexican artworks and hear about exciting advancements in the study of this versatile plant material. This program is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Mex-Am Cultural Foundation Inc. ECBSM2024 - 6th European Conference on Biodeterioration of Stone Monuments Details A great opportunity to gather researchers, heritage professionals, industry experts, teachers, and students working for the conservation of historic and culturally relevant objects and buildings. Abstracts due by September 9, 2024 Registration deadline: September 18, 2024 Milan, Italy on 7-8 November 2024 36th CIHA World Congress - Lyon 2024 Details The 36th CIHA Congress is organized under the aegis of the Comité français d'histoire de l'art (CFHA) in partnership between the CFHA, the Institut national d'histoire de l'art (INHA), the Université Lumière Lyon 2 and the Laboratoire de recherche historique Rhône-Alpes (LARHRA CNRS UMR 5190). The main aims of this internationally-renowned scientific and cultural event are to share and disseminate research by bringing together communities of art history and heritage around a unifying theme. AMNH Techniques Tuesday Details Lindsey Paskulin is a PhD student at the University of British Columbia and lab manager of the ADaPT Archaeological Laboratory that is a dedicated space for ancient DNA and paleoproteomic analysis. Her talk will provide background on collagen mass fingerprinting and shotgun proteomics techniques as well as discuss her research focused on applying proteomic techniques to vessel interiors and vessel residues to reconstruct elements of food processing, preparation, and consumption in the past. Please see ABM members' Slack for Zoom link. Reimagining Materiality: Artistic Interventions and Sustainable Innovations in algae-based polymers Details Jessica French May 17th, 2024 6:30 PM ET In this seminar, French delves into her pioneering work with algae-based polymers, a cornerstone of her artistic practice. Through 'Other Matter', her experimental design studio, French champions sustainability with innovative outcomes for algae-based bioplastics, impacting beyond the cultural sector. The talk will offer an overview of her artistic journey, showcasing how traditional techniques are transformed by groundbreaking sustainable materials, including her innovative non-petrochemical decal signage—Other Matter Decals™. These exemplify the practical implementation of closed-loop, zero-waste systems. The discussion not only highlights French’s unique blend of research and creative experimentation but also fosters a broader conversation on the role of sustainable practices in transforming artistic production and environmental responsibility. Additionally, the seminar will address ongoing research questions and spotlight knowledge and data gaps inherent in working with unconventional materials, underscoring the critical need for continued investigation and collaboration in this evolving field. Identification of a lichen dye source in a fifteenth century medieval tapestry Details Rachel Lackner Apr 18th, 2024 11:00 AM ET As part of a long-term campaign to clean, conserve, and treat the Heroes tapestries from The Cloisters collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, organic colorant analysis of Julius Caesar (accession number 47.101.3) was performed. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of several dark brown samples revealed the presence of several molecules produced only by certain species of lichen. Various lichen dye sources have been documented in the literature for centuries and are classified as either ammonia fermentation method (AFM) or boiling water method (BWM) dyes based on their method of production. However, none of these known sources produce the distinctive metabolites present in the tapestry. Lichen metabolites were definitively identified in the tapestry by LC-MS based on comparison with a reference of Lecanora sulphurata. This finding marks the first time that these lichen metabolites have been identified in a historic object, and the first evidence that BWM lichen dyes may have been used prior to the eighteenth century. This is a members-only event. Registration links will be sent directly to ABM members. ABM March Round Table Details ABM members share their current research projects and challenges to spark conversation and connect with relevant colleagues: Thainá Vígio is seeking other fungicide methods other than freezing and anoxia treatment for 19th c. silk textiles. Pamela Hatchfield will discuss an outdoor Chinese sandstone sculpture compromised by a myriad of microbiological growth, and how to evaluate the risk of further damage from these species. Micheal Galardi (Celeste Mahoney) will discuss light spots uncovered on a Huastec sandstone relief and wonders about the possibility of biological growth as a factor. This is a members-only event. Registration links will be sent directly to ABM members. 2024 Edition: 'New Perspectives in the Study of Medieval Manuscripts' Details Inaugural Seminar. Jiří Vnouček Conservator of parchment, paper & bookbinding The Royal Library, Copenhagen Changes in production of parchment during one millennium: 4th to 14th centuries Facultad de Geografía e Historia, Sala de Grados 2 de febrero de 2024 · 16:00h The seminar will take place in a hybrid format and is open to the general public. To register, please send an email to ainoacastro@usal.es The cause of much chagrin: using marine shagreen for the marine historical ecology of elasmobranchs Details Rachel Winter December 14th, 2023 11 AM ET / 4 PM GMT Marine shagreen is a luxurious, storied leather made from the skins of elasmobranchs (sharks, rays, and skates). Demand for marine shagreen peaked between the 17th-19th centuries in northwestern Europe. Once elasmobranch skins have been turned into shagreen, more precise taxonomic identification than shark or ray is not possible. Preliminary review of historical sources indicates at least 17 species, spanning the Atlantic Ocean to the Indo-Pacific, were targeted. One third of all elasmobranch species are classified as being threatened with extinction by the IUCN. A key challenge to conservation efforts is the lack of historical data, long term perspectives, and ecological baselines. This talk will discuss some of the potential avenues and challenges for studying marine shagreen museum objects for insights into which species and seas were targeted. Exploring how shagreen can be used to investigate the ecological consequences of historic elasmobranch fisheries and investigate past species biogeography. Animal mummy genomics: success, failure and collaborative interpretation Details Evon Hekkala Fordham University and American Museum of Natural History November 14th, 2023 11 AM ET / 4 PM GMT Silk and Science: Collaborative research into a knitted waistcoat associated with Charles I Details Jane Malcolm-Davies (Project Leader, Knitting in Early Modern Europe), Beatrice Behlen (Senior Curator, Fashion and Decorative Arts, Museum of London), and Paula Nabais (Junior Researcher at LAQV-REQUIMTE Research unit) May 18th, 2023 11AM EDT/3PM GMT Since 1924, the Museum of London has had an undergarment, knitted of fine silk, said to have been worn by King Charles I at his execution in 1649. Several attempts have been made to analyse stains on the front of what would then have been called a waistcoat, and to fill gaps in its provenance. A new research project has brought together a curator, a knitting historian, a conservator, scientists, and expert craftspeople, including knitters. Different methods have been used to broaden knowledge of this rare garment: detailed object examination and description, comparison with other extant garments, radiocarbon dating, various dye analysis techniques, and silk sample knitting. In this talk, the challenges and advantages of this work will be discussed: from discoveries that can be made by looking at objects together to the difficulties of grappling with science for those unfamiliar with laboratory techniques. Click "Explore" below to learn more about the project! Compound Specific Radiocarbon (14C) Dating of Our Colorful Past: from Theory to Practice Details Laura Hendriks, Branco Weiss Fellow at the School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg (HEIA-FR), Switzerland April 20th, 2023 11AM EDT/3PM GMT Join us for a 20-minute presentation by ABM member Laura Hendriks, Branco Weiss Fellow at the School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg (HEIA-FR), Switzerland. Laura’s presentation will be followed by a discussion/Q&A with current ABM members. For more information, click “Explore” below to view her abstract.

24040f3a-b84f-43e2-8d33-9a26f1df329a RESOURCES Glossaries + Databases Glossaries + Databases Reference Materials Reference Materials Scientific Resources Scientific Resources Videos + Lectures Videos + Lectures Journals + Publications Journals + Publications Coming Soon Explore glossaries and literature databases related to art, cultural history, scientific analysis, and art conservation. GLOSSARIES + DATABASES AATA Art and Archaeology Technical Abstracts (AATA): research database containing abstracts of literature related to the preservation and conservation of material cultural heritage. Explore Videos + Lectures ABM 2018 Glossary Art Bio Matters (ABM) 2018 Glossary: a short glossary of scientific analysis terms from the 2018 ABM conference. Explore Videos + Lectures AIC Wiki American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Wiki: compendia of working knowledge on materials and techniques used to preserve and treat works of art and historic artifacts, preventive care, research and analysis, work practices, and education. Explore Videos + Lectures AICCM Visual Glossary Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material (AICCM) Visual Glossary: identify damage and deterioration by comparing it to glossary image and description. Explore Videos + Lectures BCIN Bibliographic Database of the Conservation Information Network (BCIN): bibliographic resource for the conservation, preservation and restoration of cultural property. Explore Videos + Lectures BHA/RILA Bibliography of the History of Art (BHA) / Répertoire international de la littérature de l'art (RILA): European and American visual arts material including articles from over 1,200 journals. Explore Videos + Lectures CAMEO Conservation and Art Materials Encyclopedia Online (CAMEO): a database that compiles, defines, and disseminates technical information on the distinct collection of terms, materials, and techniques used in the fields of art conservation and historic preservation. Explore Videos + Lectures CCI Notes Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) Notes: practical advice about issues and questions related to the care, handling and storage of cultural objects. Explore Videos + Lectures Genbank GenBank ® is the NIH genetic sequence database, an annotated collection of all publicly available DNA sequences (Nucleic Acids Research, 2013 Jan;41(D1):D36-42). GenBank is part of the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration, which comprises the DNA DataBank of Japan (DDBJ), the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA), and GenBank at NCBI. These three organizations exchange data on a daily basis. This database is paywalled, so we recommend collaboration with colleagues to access it. Explore Videos + Lectures Getty Research Portal Getty Research Portal: multilingual and multicultural art historical text catalog of complete digital copies of publications devoted to art, architecture, material culture, and related fields. Explore Videos + Lectures Getty Vocabularies Getty Vocabularies: structured terminology for art, architecture, decorative arts, archival materials, visual surrogates, art conservation, and bibliographic materials. Explore Videos + Lectures Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History: the story of art and global culture through The Met collection. Explore Videos + Lectures MoMA Learning Glossary of Art Terms MoMA Learning Glossary of Art Terms: glossary explaining techniques, mediums, art movements, and other terms in the MoMA collection. Explore Videos + Lectures NGA Glossary of Instrumental Methods National Gallery of Art (NGA) Glossary of Instrumental Methods: glossary of chromatography, spectroscopy, and microscopy analytical techniques. Explore Videos + Lectures Painting Conservation Glossary Of Terms Smithsonian: Museum Conservation Institute Painting Conservation Glossary of Terms Explore Videos + Lectures Tropicos The Tropicos botanical data database links over 1.38M scientific names with over 6.96M specimens and over 1.78M digital images. The data include over 167K references from over 55.3K publications offered as a free service to the world’s scientific community. Explore Videos + Lectures

Explore biological materials found in cultural heritage, ethics, current analytical approaches and protocols, sampling topics and more. EDUCATION Materials Ethics Analytical Techniques Sampling Topics MATERIALS An ever growing list of biological materials found in cultural heritage - their composition, chemistry, analysis, conservation, and historical use, and significance. Materials(all) Read More Adhesives Read More Feathers/horn/hair/nails Read More Paint Binders Read More Pigments / Dyes Read More Textiles Read More Animal skin Read More Ivory Read More Paper Read More Plant Fibers Read More Varnishes/Coatings Read More Bone Read More Lacquer Read More Photographs Read More Surface History (Biome) Read More Wood

A non-exhaustive list of publications from ABM members related to their research and collaborations. If you have a publication to post, please email info@artbiomatters.org. COMMUNITY Projects Projects Publications Member Events Members Publications PUBLICATIONS A non-exhaustive list of publications from ABM members related to their research and collaborations. If you have a publication to post, please email info@artbiomatters.org . Blues from Tikuna/Magüta Masks and a Still Unknown Blue Colorant in Technical Art History and Conservation Science Thiago Sevilhano Puglieri [1,2] , Laura Maccarelli [3] Literature from the Tikuna/Magüta culture, from the Amazon Forest, suggests the use of chemical reactions between the juice of the naīcü fruit and iron to produce a blue colorant still unknown among technical art historians and conservation scientists. Explore Paleoproteomic identificationof the species used in fourteenthcentury gut‑skin garmentsfrom the archaeological siteof Nuulliit, Greenland Annamaria Cucina 1,2*, Anne Lisbeth Schmidt 3*, Fabiana Di Gianvincenzo 4,5*,Meaghan Mackie 4,6 , Carla Dove 7 , Aviâja Rosing Jakobsen 8 , Bjarne Grønnow 9 ,Martin Appelt 9 & Enrico Cappellini 4 Until recently, the identification of the species of origin for skin and fur materials used in theproduction of archaeological clothing has been based on the analysis of macro‑ and microscopicmorphological features and on the traditional knowledge of Indigenous groups. This approach,however, is not always applicable due to the deterioration of the archaeological objects.Paleoproteomics was used as an alternative approach to identify the species of origin of fifteensamples of various tissues from approximately 600‑year‑old garments found in Nuulliit, northernGreenland. Proteomics revealed that a limited group of marine and terrestrial mammals were usedfor clothing production. The results obtained from the analysis of multiple types of clothing andelements, such as sinew thread and gut skin, suggest that their applications were based on theirproperties. When conclusive assignment of a sample to a species via proteomics was not possible, theobservation by transmitted light microscopy of feather and hair micromorphology, if not affected bydiagenesis, was used to improve the identification. The proteomic characterization of animal materialsused for clothing production in the Nuulliit archaeological context provides an insight into thepractical knowledge and the strategies adopted by the local Indigenous community to exploit naturalresources Explore Unraveling a Historical Mystery: Identification of a Lichen Dye Source in a Fifteenth Century Medieval Tapestry Rachel M. Lackner [1], Solenn Ferron [2], Joël Boustie [2], Françoise Le Devehat [2], H. Thorsten Lumbsch [3], and Nobuko Shibayama [1] As part of a long-term campaign to document, study, and conserve the Heroes tapestries from The Cloisters collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, organic colorant analysis of Julius Caesar (accession number 47.101.3) was performed. Analysis with liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-qToF-MS) revealed the presence of several multiply chlorinated xanthones produced only by certain species of lichen. Various lichen dye sources have been documented in the literature for centuries and are classified as either ammonia fermentation method (AFM) or boiling water method (BWM) dyes based on their method of production. However, none of these known sources produce the distinctive metabolites present in the tapestry. LC-qToF-MS was also used to compare the chemical composition of the dyes in the tapestry with that of several species of crustose lichen. Lichen metabolites, including thiophanic acid and arthothelin, were definitively identified in the tapestry based on comparison with lichen xanthone standards and a reference of Lecanora sulphurata, confirming the presence of a lichen source. This finding marks the first time that lichen xanthones have been identified in a historic object and the first evidence that BWM lichen dyes may have been used prior to the eighteenth century. Explore Species identification of ivory and bone museum objects using minimally invasive proteomics Catherine Gilbert, Vaclav Krupicka, Francesca Galluzi, Aleksandra Popowich, Stéphane Claverol, Julie Arslanoglu, Caroline Tokarski Ivory is a highly prized material in many cultures since it can be carved into intricate designs and have a highly polished surface. Due to its popularity, the animals from which ivory can be sourced are under threat of extinction. Identification of ivory species is not only important for CITES compliance, it can also provide information about the context in which a work was created. Here, we have developed a minimally invasive workflow to remove minimal amounts of material from precious objects and, using high-resolution mass spectrometry–based proteomics, identified the taxonomy of ivory and bone objects from The Metropolitan Museum of Art collection dating from as early as 4000 B.C. We built a proteomic database of underrepresented species based on exemplars from the American Museum of Natural History, and proposed alternative data analysis workflows for samples containing inconsistently preserved organic material. This application demonstrates extensive ivory species identification using proteomics to unlock sequence uncertainties, e.g., Leu/Ile discrimination. Explore Microbial fingerprints reveal interaction between museum objects, curators, and visitors Lukas M Simon [1], Cecilia Flocco [2], Franziska Burkart [2], Anika Methner [2], David Henke [3], Luise Rauer [4, 5 6], Christian L Müller [6], Johannes Vogel [7], Christiane Quaisser [7], Jörg Overmann 2, Stefan Simon [8] Microbial communities reside at the interface between humans and their environment. Whether the microbiome can be leveraged to gain information on human interaction with museum objects is unclear. To investigate this, we selected objects from the Museum für Naturkunde and the Pergamonmuseum in Berlin, Germany, varying in material and size. Using swabs, we collected 126 samples from natural and cultural heritage objects, which were analyzed through 16S rRNA sequencing. By comparing the microbial composition of touched and untouched objects, we identified a microbial signature associated with human skin microbes. Applying this signature to cultural heritage objects, we identified areas with varying degrees of exposure to human contact on the Ishtar gate and Sam'al gate lions. Furthermore, we differentiated objects touched by two different individuals. Our findings demonstrate that the microbiome of museum objects provides insights into the level of human contact, crucial for conservation, heritage science, and potentially provenance research. Explore The Inside (and Outside) Scoop: Scientific Analysis of Food Residues Inside the Jars from Old Edgefield, South Carolina Adriana Rizzo The exceptional and exciting occurrence of organic food residues inside large nineteenth century alkaline-glazed stoneware vessels from the Old Edgefield district, some also signed by enslaved potter and poet David Drake, has offered a unique opportunity to study those residues as anthropological evidence of the jars’ contents (e.g., preserved meat, fat, eggs, etc.), potentially offering information on the use of the jars and the lifestyle of the people that used them. Residues scraped from the jars’ surfaces were analyzed in the Department of Scientific Research of The Met to evaluate their composition, assess contaminations and clues to their condition (e.g., presence and extent of degradation products), all informing of the next process to further characterize the residue. Explore Cutting Through the Fat: Animal Species and Food Processing Techniques of Residues Found in Nineteenth-Century Edgefield Pottery Julie Arslanoglu As part of the exhibition, Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina, The Met’s Department of Scientific Research (DSR) investigated organic food residues found inside large nineteenth-century alkaline-glazed stoneware vessels from the Old Edgefield District, South Carolina. “Examining Storage Jars from the American South” describes the driving questions about the jars’ use and the users’ lifestyle. Investigations reported in “The Inside (and Outside) Scoop: Scientific Analysis of Food Residues Inside the Jars from Old Edgefield, South Carolina” established that the heterogeneous residues are mostly oily materials with solid materials of various unknown origins. We hoped to gain more information about the jars’ contents from these residues, but to do so we need the sophisticated tools and expertise of our collaborators through ARCHE. Explore Hydrogen‑deuterium exchange mass spectrometry to study interactions and conformational changes of proteins in paints Francesca Galluzzi, Stéphane Chaignepain, Julie Arslanoglu, Caroline Tokarski Little is known about structural alterations of proteins within the polymeric films of paints. For the first time, hydrogen‑deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) was implemented to explore the conformational alterations of proteins resulting from their interaction with inorganic pigments within the early stages of the paint film formation. Intact protein analysis and bottom-up electrospray-ionisation mass spectrometry strategies combined with progressively increasing deuterium incubation times were used to compare the protein structures of the model protein hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) extracted from newly dried non-pigmented films and newly dried films made from a freshly made mixture of HEWL with lead white pigment (2PbCO3 Pb(OH)2). The action of other pigments was also investigated, expanding the HDX study with a global approach to paint models of HEWL mixed with zinc white (ZnO), cinnabar (HgS) and red lead (Pb3O4) pigments. The results show structural modifications of HEWL induced by the interaction with the pigment metal ions during the paint formulation after drying and prior to ageing. Both the charge distribution of HEWL proteoforms, its oxidation rate and its deuterium absorption rate, were influenced by the pigment type, providing the first insights into the correlation of pigment type/metal cation to specific chemistries related to protein stability. Explore So you want to do biocodicology? A field guide to the biological analysis of parchment Sarah Fiddyment, Matthew D. Teasdale, Jiří Vnouček, Élodie Lévêque, Annelise Binois & Matthew J. Collins Biocodicology, the study of the biological information stored in manuscripts, ofers the possibility of interrogating manuscripts in novel ways. Exploring the biological data associated to parchment documents will add a deeper level of understanding and interpretation to these invaluable objects, revealing information about book production, livestock economies, handling, conservation and the historic use of the object. As biotechnological methods continue to improve we hope that biocodicology will become a highly relevant discipline in manuscript studies, contributing an additional perspective to the current scholarship. We hope that this review will act as a catalyst enabling further interactions between the heritage science community, manuscript scholars, curators and conservators. Explore

The crux of cultural heritage analysis is the ethical considerations and determination of the necessity, or not, for sampling: value of information garnered, selection of sampling site, how much sample is needed, conservation treatment history, etc. If you have sampling topics to post, please email info@artbiomatters.org. EDUCATION Materials Materials Ethics Ethics Analytical Techniques Analytical Techniques Sampling Topics Sampling Topics SAMPLING TOPICS The crux of cultural heritage analysis is the ethical considerations and determination of the necessity, or not, for sampling: value of information garnered, selection of sampling site, how much sample is needed, conservation treatment history, etc. If you have sampling topics to post, please email info@artbiomatters.org . Coming Soon Coming Soon