Conservation Science EASL

Expanding Access to Synchrotron Light for Cultural Heritage Research

close up of artwork

Cultural Heritage Research at CHESS

The Conservation Science EASL (Expanding Access to Synchrotron Light) Working Group at CHESS is a multidisciplinary, cross-institutional initiative committed to advancing the study of cultural heritage objects using synchrotron x-ray techniques.

Based at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) in Ithaca, NY, our mission is to:

  • Foster partnerships between CHESS scientists, Cornell faculty, and regional collecting institutions.
  • Lower barriers to synchrotron access for cultural heritage researchers.
  • Support lab-based preparatory work and guide proposal development.
  • Provide hands-on training and educational opportunities for students and professionals.

We envision a vibrant, supportive community of scientists, students, conservators, and cultural heritage professionals working together across institutions and disciplines to expand the study of heritage objects through innovative synchrotron x-ray techniques. 

EASL Working Group Leadership

Synchrotron & Laboratory Techniques

CHESS offers a range of advanced techniques through the EASL Working Group, including:

  • X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping
  • X-ray powder diffraction mapping
  • High-energy x-ray diffraction
  • X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Primary CHESS Beamlines:
1A3 (SMB), 2A (PIPOXS), 3A (FAST), 3B (FMB), and 6B (XLEAP, coming 2028)

Lab-Based Analyses Supported:

  • Point x-ray fluorescence
  • Fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy
  • Low-resolution in-situ optical microscopy

Access to EASL Beamtime

EASL beamtime is currently limited to pilot project partnerships.
We anticipate opening a general call for proposals in Summer 2026.

Check back then for updates on proposal submissions.

Research Projects

Use the accordions below to explore EASL-supported pilot projects and past research collaborations.

Composition of Ancient Roman Coins (Pilot project, 2025-)

Two ancient Roman coins in the 1A3 beamline at CHESS
  • Partner: Cornell Coin Collection
  • Techniques: High-energy x-ray diffraction
  • CHESS Beamline: 1A3 (SMB)
  • Collaborators: Dr. Kelly Nygren, Lena Franklin, Prof. Annetta Alexandridis, Olivia Graves

Composition of 17th-century Dutch blue paper (Pilot project, 2025-)

Brittany Rubin and Louisa Smieska examine a drawing at HFJ
  • Partner: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
  • Techniques: Lab-based point x-ray fluorescence; optical microscopy; fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy
  • CHESS Beamline: n/a
  • Collaborators: Brittany Rubin, Dr. Andrew Weislogel

Medieval manuscript pigments (Continuing project, 2015-present)

Ruth Mullett, Louisa Smieska, and Arthur Woll with a manuscript fragment and Maia detector in the A2 beamline

Thanks to Prof. Adam Smith and the Landscapes and Objects Laboratory for access to portable XRF instrumentation at the start of this project.

Portable XRF analysis of a Gorgoneion antefix (Student thesis, 2022-23)

Roof tile with Gorgon’s head decoration
  • Partner: The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
  • Techniques: Point X-ray fluorescence
  • Collaborators: Hannah Master '23, Prof. Annetta Alexandridis, Dr. Andrew Weislogel
  • Research products:
    • Master, H. A Gorgon Biography: Theory and Methods in Unprovenanced Museum Antiquities. 2023. Cornell University, The Program of Archaeology in the College of Arts & Sciences, Undergraduate Honors Thesis.

Thanks to Prof. Adam Smith and the Landscapes and Objects Laboratory for access to portable XRF instrumentation used in this project.

Portable XRF analysis of an Etruscan funerary urn (Student thesis, 2018-19)

Cinerary urn in the shape of a sarcophagus
  • Partner: The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
  • Techniques: Point X-ray fluorescence
  • Collaborators: Ryan Stommel '19, Prof. Annetta Alexandridis, Dr. Andrew Weislogel
  • Research products:
    • Stommel, R. An Etruscan Cinerary Urn from Chiusi at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum. 2019. Cornell University, Bachelor's in Art History Honors Thesis.

Thanks to Prof. Adam Smith and the Landscapes and Objects Laboratory for access to portable XRF instrumentation used in this project.

A hidden composition beneath a painting attributed to Honoré Daumier (Past project, 2016-2019)

Tin (blue), copper (green), cadmium (yellow), antimony (gray)
  • Partner: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
  • Techniques: X-ray fluorescence and x-ray diffraction imaging
  • CHESS Beamline: A2 (pre-CHESS-U)
  • Collaborators: Dr. John Twilley, Dr. Arthur Woll, Mary Schafer, Dr. Aimee Marcereau DeGalan
  • Research products:
    • Smieska, L. M., Twilley, J., Woll, A. R., Schafer, M., DeGalan, A. M. Energy-optimized synchrotron XRF mapping of an obscured painting beneath Exit from the Theater, attributed to Honoré Daumier. Microchemical Journal 146, 679-691 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2019.01.058

Other cultural heritage research previously supported at CHESS

Prior to the formation of the EASL working group, CHESS has supported a number of user-driven cultural heritage science projects, including:

  • Kozachuk MS, Sham T-K, Martin RR, Nelson AJ, Coulthard I, Smieska L, Woll AR. Recovering Past Reflections: X-ray Fluorescence Imaging of Electrocleaned 19th Century Daguerreotypes. Heritage 2019; 2(1):568-586. doi: 10.3390/heritage2010037
  • Kozachuk MS, Sham TK, Martin RR, Nelson AJ, Coulthard I, McElhone JP. Recovery of Degraded-Beyond-Recognition 19th Century Daguerreotypes with Rapid High Dynamic Range Elemental X-ray Fluorescence Imaging of Mercury L Emission. Sci Rep. 2018; 8(1): 9565. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-27714-5
  • Pouyet E, Devine S, Grafakos T, Kieckhefer R, Salvant J, Smieska L, Woll A, Katsaggelos A, Cossairt O, Walton M. Revealing the biography of a hidden medieval manuscript using synchrotron and conventional imaging techniques. Anal Chim Acta. 2017; 982: 20-30. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2017.06.016
  • Favero, P.A., Mass, J., Delaney, J.K. et al. Reflectance imaging spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence mapping used in a technical study of The Blue Room by Pablo Picasso. Heritage Science 2017; 5: 13. doi: 10.1186/s40494-017-0126-5
  • Woll, A. R., Mass, J., Bisulca, C., Cushman, M., Griggs, C., Wazny, T., & Ocon, N. The Unique History of The Armorer’s Shop: An Application of Confocal X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy. Studies in Conservation 2008; 53(2): 93–109. doi: 10.1179/sic.2008.53.2.93
  • Mass, J.L., Woll, A.R., Ocon, N. et al. Collaboration or Appropriation? Examining a 17th c. Panel by David Teniers the Younger and Jan Brueghel the Younger Using Confocal X-Ray Fluorescence Microscopy. MRS Online Proceedings Library 2007; 1047: 701. doi: 10.1557/PROC-1047-Y07-01