Analytical Characterization

The characterization of PoTaRCh materials enables the identification of their chemical and structural composition, monitoring of compositional changes over time, detection of decomposition products, and analysis of interactions with environmental factors such as soil. This detailed understanding offers extensive opportunities to determine the sources and types of raw materials for PoTaRCh production, production conditions and methods, and storage and usage methods. Consequently, this knowledge allows for a comprehensive interpretation of PoTaRCh’s impact on communities, the economy, and the environment on both regional and global scales.

• Exploration the origins and traditional technologies by compositional analysis of PoTaRCh materials,
• Exploration of chemical/analytical approaches to characterize PoTaRCh materials based on analytical and archaeological chemistry as well as both organic and inorganic material characterization,
• Developing methodological approaches (including methods able to provide information on the biological origin of natural materials, technological and possible anthropogenic modifications) and analytical protocols as well as defining new research questions based on literature review, current production and experiments.