Program Overview

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Course Overview

The Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) and the Escuela Nacional de Conservación, Restauración y Museografía (ENCRyM) of Mexico are coordinating to offer a specialization course in Cultural Heritage: "Restoration of Archaeological Metals" (5th edition).

Objectives

The course aims to specialize students in the instrumental handling of techniques and procedures applied in the laboratory to intervene and correct the deterioration problems of different types of metals that are part of the Archaeological Heritage, with special emphasis on innovative conservation systems and methodological protocols.

Structure and Content

The program will be developed in three modules:

I. Theoretical-Methodological Module (Presential)

This module will cover introductory lessons on historical, methodological, and scientific bases of the restoration of archaeological metals.

Topics:

1. Chemistry of Archaeological Metals: Inorganic chemistry applied to archaeological metals, corrosion processes, and alteration products.
2. History and Technology of Archaeological Metals: Technological perspective, historical development of ancient metal technology, and archeometallurgy.
3. Analytical Techniques and Research: Metallography, radiology, and ion beams applied to archaeological metal research.
4. Conservation and Restoration of Archaeological Metals: Criteria, methodology, and protocols for restoration interventions, including cleaning, stabilization, and conservation techniques.

II. Practical Module (Presential)

This module will focus on laboratory practices for the acquisition of skills in:

1. Analysis of the Conservation State: Recognition of deterioration problems and determination of alteration causes.
2. Methodology of Intervention: Systems and techniques for cleaning and restoring archaeological metals.
3. Conservation and Restoration Treatments: Practical application of restoration techniques and conservation protocols.
4. Preventive Conservation: Methodology for the preventive conservation of archaeological metals.

III. Project Module (Non-Presential)

Students will work on a project proposing an intervention on an archaeological metal piece, including technological, research, restoration, and conservation aspects, as well as a preventive conservation protocol.

Evaluation Criteria

• Attendance and participation in theoretical classes: 5%
• Laboratory practicum: 50%
• Final work report and project: 35%
• Final theoretical exam: 10%

Director

Prof. Dr. Joaquín Barrio Martín, Catedrático de Arqueología y Conservación y restauración del Patrimonio Arqueológico, UAM.

Access Conditions and Number of Places Offered

• Requirements: Bachelor's or licentiate degree in Conservation and Restoration, History (specializing in Prehistory and Archaeology), or related fields.
• Selection Criteria: Priority given to students who finished their studies after 2006, based on academic and professional records.
• Places Offered: 20 students, with a distribution of 12 places for Spanish students and 8 places for Portuguese and Latin American students (4 of which are reserved for Mexican students).
• Minimum Number of Students: 10.

Scholarships

• Number of Scholarships: 4 scholarships covering 50% of tuition fees.
• Selection Criteria: Based on academic merits and additional formation or experience.

Calendar, Schedule, and Venue

• Calendar: June 1 to September 30, 2015 (presential part from June 1 to July 19, 2015).
• Schedule: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (monographic sessions from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM).
• Venue: Laboratorio Docente del Dpto. de Prehistoria y Arqueología, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, UAM, and other specified locations.