Since 1980 our activity focused on the application of scientific techniques to archaeology, geology and cultural heritage, in particular in the field of absolute dating and characterization of archaeological materials.
For what concerns the dating techniques, thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) are used to determine the event of ceramics firing and sediment deposition respectively. Other available techniques are dendrochronology (dating of wood) and radiocarbon (preparation of samples for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, AMS, to evaluate the concentration of 14 C atoms in organic remains). Recently, we started investigating the new Rehydroxylation (RHX) dating technique, based on the water gain of pottery after firing in kiln. The laboratory is member of the CUDaM (Centro Universitario Datazioni Università di Milano Bicocca, http://cudam.mater.unimib.it).
Regarding the characterization of ancient materials, our research deals with non-invasive spectroscopic methods, mainly performed using portable instruments, to study polychrome artefacts of various kind (paintings on boards, enamels, decorated ceramics, metal artifacts ...).
The laboratory is associate member of EURADOS (European Radiation Dosimetry Group, Working Group 10), of MODIS (Mortar Dating Intercomparison Study) and of the RHX International Research group to validate and study the rehydroxylation dating technique.
Since 2012 the laboratory is a first level hub in the CH_NET E-RIHS Italian cultural heritage network.