FIELD OF RESEARCH / THE RESEARCH GROUP’S NAME

Archaeometry

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH

Preservation of cultural heritage has traditionally been a task for conservators, restorers and art historians. Nowadays analysis of art objects requires a multidisciplinary approach – experts from the social and natural sciences work together on conservation and restauration of art objects, as well as on the reconstruction of their “life stories”.

Physicochemical characterisation of ceramic objects is an important part of archaeological research. Artifacts produced at high temperatures (during firing) provide information about manufacturing techniques and are excellent markers of societal development. The application of scientific methods to determine chemical and structural features of ceramic bodies and decorations enables the determination of production technology, identification of particular workshops where the objects were made, as well as the level of knowledge and trade routes in certain epochs.

Physicochemical methods can be also used for characterisation of paintings, frescoes, icons…. Identification of materials used by artists helps historians to better understand an object’s history since many of the choices that artists made were influenced by trade and migrations among specific cultural groups, and the current state of technology. Results of physicochemical analyses offer art historians a better understanding of artists’ technique development, and better insight into modifications of substances used as pigments, binders, ground layers or varnishes over time. Also results of scientific analyses enable art historians to establish the degree of degradation and to check the authenticity of the artwork. They can also help conservators and restorers to choose the most appropriate procedure for restoration, conservation and display of an artwork.

Subjects of our research have been the physicochemical characterization of Neolithic and Medieval ceramics excavated in the territory of Serbia, in order to obtain information about ancient ceramic technology and create a national database based on the retrieved characteristics. Also, we studied wall paintings in the monastery Žiča and from the Patriarchate of Peć Monastery, a canvas painting entitled “The Inspiration of the Poet” by Milo Milunović, as well as icons painted on canvas and wood.


THE MEMBERS OF RESEARCH GROUP

  • Dr. Ljiljana Damjanović-Vasilić, Professor
  • Dr. Ivanka Holclajtner-Antunović, Retired Professor
  • Dr. Danica Bajuk-Bogdanović, Research Assistant

SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT

  • Optical microscope
  • Micro-Raman spectrometer
  • FTIR Spectrometer
  • SEM/EDS

COOPERATION AND PROJECTS

  • The Institute of Archaeology, Belgrade
  • National Museum Belgrade
  • Faculty of Applied Arts, University of Arts in Belgrade
  • Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade
  • Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade
  • Department of Chemistry, Durham University, UK
  • Project: “Urbanization and development processes of medieval society”, MSEP 177021, Institute of Archaeology

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  1. M. Marić-Stojanović , D. Bajuk-Bogdanović , S. Uskoković-Marković , I. Holclajtner-Antunović, “Spectroscopic analysis of XIV century wall paintings from Patriarchate of Peć Monastery, Serbia”,, Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 191 (2018) 469–477
  2. Lj. Damjanović, U. Mioč, D. Bajuk-Bogdanović, N. Cerović, M. Marić-Stojanović, V. Andrić, I. Holclajtner-Antunović, “Archaeometric investigation of medieval pottery from excavations at Novo Brdo, Serbia”, Archaeometry, 58(3) (2016) 380-400.
  3. I. Holclajtner-Antunović, M. Stojanović-Marić, D. Bajuk-Bogdanović, R. Žikić, S. Uskoković-Marković, “Multi-analytical study of techniques and palettes of wall paintings of the monastery of Žiča, Serbia”, Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 156 (2016) 78–88.
  4. N. Perišić, M. Marić-Stojanović, V. Andrić, U.B. Mioč, Lj. Damjanović, “Physicochemical characterization of pottery from Vinča culture, Serbia, regarding firing temperature and decoration technique”, Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society, 81(12) (2016) 1415-1426.
  5. Lj. Damjanović, M. Gajić-Kvaščev, J. Đurđević, V. Andrić, M. Marić-Stojanović, T. Lazić, S. Nikolić, “The characterization of canvas painting by the Serbian artist Milo Milunović using X-Ray fluorescence, micro-Raman and FTIR Spectroscopy”, Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 115 (2015) 135-142.
  6. Lj. Damjanović, O. Marjanović, M. Marić-Stojanović, V. Andrić, U.B. Mioč, “Spectroscopic investigation of icons painted on canvas”, Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society, 80(6) (2015) 805-817.
  7. S. Stojanović, M. Gajić-Kvaščev, Lj. Damjanović, “Spektroskopsko ispitivanje ikone slikane na drvenom nosiocu”, Hemijska Industrija,  69(4) (2015) 387-393.
  8. Lj. Damjanović, V. Bikić, K. Šarić, S. Erić, I. Holclajtner-Antunović, “Characterization of the Early Byzantine Pottery from Caričin Grad (South Serbia) in Terms of Composition and Firing Temperature”, Journal of Archaeological Science, 46 (2014) 156-172.
  9. I. Holclajtner-Antunović, D. Bajuk-Bogdanović V. Bikić, M. Marić-Stojanović, “Micro-Raman and infrared analysis of medieval pottery findings from Braničevo, Serbia”, Journal of Raman Spectroscopy 43 (2012) 110-1110.
  10. Lj. Damjanović, I. Holclajtner-Antunović, U. B. Mioč, V. Bikić, D. Milovanović, I. Radosavljević Evans, “Archaeometric study of medeival pottery at Stari (Old) Ras, Serbia”, Journal of Archaeological Science, 38 (2011) 818-828.