Scientific Analysis of the mural paintings of Aruch, Kobayr and Akhtalà

Non-destructive analyses directly on painted surface and micro sampling are useful in many cases to obtain information about the material characteristics of both pigments and fresco structure of ancient mural paintings. In our case artworks could not be studied under laboratory conditions, and the majority of data had to de recorded in a short time in the field, allowing only a small amount of micro samples, pivotal for understanding past artistic techniques, to be examined scientifically. Thus this kind of analysis was deemed important to complement the information about the mural paintings studied in the context of the Training Program implemented in Armenia. Another aim consisted in providing support to the Armenian Ministry of Culture in the execution of the conservation of murals