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Workshop I: Chemistry, Physics, and Heritage Science: A Laboratory Approach

Research

This workshop will bring together Swedish and international scholars in Heritage Science to share their experiences and findings through lectures and hands-on sessions.

Workshop
Date
11 Feb 2026 - 12 Feb 2026
Location
Korallrevet in Natrium, Medicinaregatan 21, Gothenburg

Good to know
The registration deadline is Friday, 9 January, and the payment instructions will be added in January.
Organizer
Heritage Science Network Programme, Department of Conservation

About

This workshop will bring together Swedish and international scholars in Heritage Science to share their experiences and findings through lectures and hands-on sessions. Participants will explore and discuss novel methods for material characterisation, innovations in sampling, and non-invasive analytical techniques. The program will also highlight recent advancements and case studies involving chemical analysis in Heritage Science.

The workshop is suitable for master’s students, PhD students, researchers, and professionals working in the field of heritage science.

The workshop and all presentations will be conducted in English.

Introduction

In recent decades, the application of science and technology to address questions posed by archaeologists, conservators, and art historians has advanced significantly, giving rise to a new field within cultural heritage studies known as Heritage Science. This interdisciplinary field has also gained momentum in Sweden, with a growing number of research projects and publications. Developed over the past twenty years, Heritage Science has served as a bridge between conservation, art history, and scientific research, aiming to deepen our understanding of cultural and historical heritage through scientific methods and tools.

Although it is a relatively new discipline, Heritage Science remains in its early stages in Sweden. A limited number of institutions and experts have recently come together to form a network called Heritage Science Sweden, which conducts regular meetings. This network focuses on the scientific analysis of archaeological materials and artworks to address questions rooted in the humanities while exploring opportunities for sharing research infrastructure. The growing interest among scholars from various disciplines reflects a broader commitment to analyzing ancient and historical objects to gain a better understanding of material culture, technology, trade, and production practices in past societies.

This network program aims to establish a unique two-year research initiative for Heritage Science in Sweden by fostering collaboration with both national and international scholars and scientists. Many of these partners work in research environments with long-standing traditions in cultural heritage studies and have recently been actively exploring new possibilities in Heritage Science and Archaeological Science. 

Program

11 February

12:00-13:00
Welcome Session

First Session (Chair: Omid Oudbashi)

13:00-14:00
Lecture by the keynote speaker (Title will be announced)
Rocco Mazzeo, University of Bologna

14:00-15:00
Heritage Science in Sweden
Sara Norrehed, Swedish National Heritage Board

15:00-15:30
Coffee Break

15:30-16:00
Portable, Non-Invasive Methods for Preliminary Assessment of Archeological Burnt Bones
Zohreh Chahardoli, University of Bologna

16:00-16:30
The power of combining elemental, microscopic and molecular techniques in the characterizations of heritage materials: Some cases from Rogaland in Norway and beyond
Kidane F.  Gebremariam, Museum of Archaeology, University of Stavanger (UiS)

16:30-17:30
Roundtable (Discussants: Sara Norrehed, Elyse Canosa, Omid Oudbashi)

12 February

10:00-12:00 Practical Workshops 

Practical Workshop I: 
Application of micro-XRF analysis technique in the study of Artworks Sebastian Karlsson and Devsara Wasalabandara, University of Gothenburg

Practical Workshop II:
Cross-Section Mounting and Preparation Methods for Microscopic Studies
Omid Oudbashi, University of Gothenburg

Note: Seats for the practical workshops are limited (10 for each workshop). Please contact the programme organisers to reserve a place. There is no additional fee for attending the workshops. The practical workshops are scheduled to take place concurrently; therefore, participants are required to select which workshop they wish to attend and inform us in advance. 

12:00-13:00
Lunch Break

Second Session (Chair: Sara Norrehed)

13:00-14:00
Heritage Science, Archaeological Science, and Archaeometry, and their Connection to the Natural Sciences: Where are we today?
Omid Oudbashi, University of Gothenburg

14:00-14:30
The Multidisciplinary Conservation Project of the Mural Paintings of the Cathedral of Amfissa City, Greece
Georgios Tavlaridis, Greece

14:30-15:00
MiCorr - a non-invasive approach to documentation and diagnosis of corroded metal artifacts
Ida Langemark, Copenhagen

15:00-15:30
Coffee Break

15:30-16:00
From Workshop to Wall: Techniques and Materials of Ctesiphon Stucco in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Collection
Atefeh Shekofteh, University of Gothenburg 

16:00-16:30
Evaluating Chemical Reduction as a Cleaning Method for Silver Tarnish on Daguerreotype Photographs
Sebastian Karlsson, University of Gothenburg

16:30-17:00
Closing Remarks

Registration

The registration fee for the two-day workshop is 500 SEK, and the payment deadline is February 1. The workshop is free of charge for speakers, students, and employees at the Department of Conservation at the University of Gothenburg.

Register for the seminar by emailing your contact information to the event administrator. 

Payment methods

You can use one of the following payment methods to pay the registration fee.

Payment from abroad

  • Payments via IBAN/SWIFT
    IBAN-account: SE8912000000012810107130
    SWIFT (BIC): DABASESX
    ACCOUNT HOLDER: Göteborgs universitet
    The participant must enter: A3016 + your name + the name of the event (HS Workshop I).
  • Payments by card (Pengu)
    If you want to pay the registration fee via card (Pengu), please contact us. We will provide you with a link for card payment.

Payment from Swedish participants

  • Via the University's bankgiro
    Bankgiro: 5051-8646
    The participant must enter: A3016 + your name + the name of the event (HS Workshop I).
  • Via Swish payment 
    Our Swish number is: 123-563 74 75.
    The participant must enter: A3016 + your name + the name of the event (HS Workshop I).
  • Payment by card (Pengu)
    If you want to pay the registration fee via card (Pengu), please contact us. We will provide you with a link for card payment.