Abstract
Hyperspectral imaging was originally developed for remote sensing and
astronomical applications, but adaptations of this technology have been of great
benefit to the preservation of cultural heritage. Developments in noninvasive
analytical techniques have advanced the preservation of cultural heritage materials
by enabling the identification and analysis of a range of materials, utilizing their
unique spectral response to nondestructively determine chemical composition, and
determining states of deterioration and change due to environmental conditions. When
used as a tool for noninvasive characterization of cultural heritage, these spectral
imaging systems allow the collection of chemical identification information about
materials without sampling, which is a critical factor for cultural heritage
materials. The United States Library of Congress has been developing the application
of hyperspectral imaging to the preservation and analysis of cultural heritage
materials as a powerful noncontact technique. It allows noninvasive characterization
of materials, by identifying and characterizing colorants, inks, and substrates with
narrow-band illumination to protect the object while also monitoring deterioration
or changes due to exhibit and other environmental conditions. Contiguous
illumination from the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectral regions allows the
capture of lost, obscured, and deteriorated information. The resulting image cube
allows greater capabilities for mapping and coordinating a range of complementary
chemical and spectral analyses. The capabilities of this technique are illustrated
by a review of results from analysis of the Waldseemüller World Map, the L'Enfant
plan for Washington, D.C., and the first draft of the U.S. Declaration of
Independence.
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