Lasers for Art's Sake IESL - FORTH

01/04/2026

We are thrilled to announce the publication of our latest research article in Microchemical Journal entitled: “In situ microRaman spectroscopy as a screening tool for assessing human DNA preservation in ancient dental remains.” https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2026.117446

https://www.iesl.forth.gr/en/situ-micro-raman-spectroscopy-fast-and-efficient-screening-tool-assessing-human-dna-preservation

https://phohs.iesl.forth.gr/raman-spectrometry-for-screening-ancient-teeth-for-dna/

Aggelos Philippidis, Victor Pinon, Demetrios Anglos
Photonics Laserart Forth, E-RIHS.gr
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🔬 A Faster Way to Assess DNA Preservation in Ancient Teeth

Exciting new research introduces in situ micro-Raman spectroscopy as a rapid, non-invasive screening tool for evaluating human DNA preservation in ancient dental remains.

Supported by the Theodore Papazoglou FORTH Synergy Grant (Spectra-Gen), interdisciplinary teams from IESL (Photonics Laserart Forth), IMBB (Ancient DNA Lab), and FORTH-Institute of Computer Science analyzed a large collection of ancient teeth from excavations across Greece, spanning 8,000 years.

Published in Microchemical Journal, the study presents a straightforward spectrochemical approach that helps identify which samples are most likely to yield usable human DNA—before costly genetic analysis begins.

💡 How it works:

🔵Uses a compact, mobile micro-Raman spectrometer
🔵Analyzes intact teeth non-invasively, focusing on cementum
🔵Applies a molecular marker (Amide-to-Phosphate ratio, Am-I/P)
🔵Estimates protein (collagen) content relative to mineral matrix

📊 Results show a strong correlation between protein-rich dental tissue and successful recovery of endogenous human DNA—making this a powerful pre-screening method for archaeogenetics.

This approach can significantly streamline ancient DNA workflows, saving time, resources, and precious samples.

🔗View more: https://www.iesl.forth.gr/en/situ-micro-raman-spectroscopy-fast-and-efficient-screening-tool-assessing-human-dna-preservation

30/03/2026

Two (2) PhD positions are available within the ODYSSEIA (Organic Data Yields in Aegean Bronze Age material culture. Scientific, Sensory, Ethnographic, Experimental, and Iconographic Approaches to human-environment interactions through crafting) project, to be supervised by Prof. Dr. Ann Brysbaert, Faculty of Arts, KU Leuven.
Deadline of applications 30/4/2026
Further info:
https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/jobs/60632579
https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/jobs/60634171

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ODYSSEIA's Search for Faunal Materials

08/01/2026

TriENA: A novel, hybrid spectrometer at the Ephorate of Antiquities Conservation Labs, in the City of Athens

Conceptualised, developed and constructed in the context of the Callos Project, TRIENA is a compact, portable, field-ready analytical instrument, fusing three spectrochemical techniques: Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, LED-Induced Fluorescence, and Diffuse Reflectance spectroscopy.

Since October 2023, right with the completion of CALLOS, this innovative analytical instrument has been installed at the conservation labs of the Εφορεία αρχαιοτήτων πόλης Αθηνών, (Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens, EACA), and used by conservators in the context of studies related to the preservation of heritage objects, including, among others, stone sculpture, wall paintings, icons and manuscripts. The Lasers for Art's Sake IESL - FORTH (Photonics for Heritage Science, PhoHS) group of The Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser - FORTH collaborates closely with conservation scientists at EACA developing further protocols and methods for analyzing materials and objects. Routine use of TriENA in materials analysis, not only in the EACA labs but also outdoors, at monument sites in the Athens area, is expected to enhance the scientific support for crucial ongoing research and preservation initiatives.

Details concerning the TRIENA concept along with engineering aspects and relevant examples, demonstrating the instrument’s performance, are described in an article recently published in Analytical Chemistry, titled "TriENA: a portable, hybrid multimode spectrometer combining Diffuse Reflectance, LED-Induced Fluorescence, and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for a holistic analysis of materials on monuments and objects of archaeological interest", by Victor Piñon, Anastasia Giakoumaki, Michalis Andrianakis, Kostas Hatzigiannakis, Kristalia Melessanaki, Panagiotis Siozos, Demetrios Anglos, and Paraskevi Pouli (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.5c05236).

https://phohs.iesl.forth.gr/triena-paper-in-analytical-chemistry/

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17/12/2025

On Monday 15th of December 2025 we welcomed at FORTH a delegation from the Palace Museum 故宫博物院 in Beijing led by the Director of Conservation Standards Department of the Palace Museum, Mr Qu Liang. The aim of this visit was to discuss with FORTH colleagues the progress of the “China-Greece Joint Laboratory on Cultural Heritage Conservation Technology” and investigate further collaborations and common actions.

The Chinese delegation, also consisted of Ms Du Juan, Researcher at Ancient Architecture Department of the Palace Museum, and Mr Liu Hanwen, Researcher at Conservation Standard Department of the Palace Museum, participated to a dedicated colloquium organized at FORTH which enabled prolific discussions and new common initiatives between the two Institutes of FORTH (IESL-FORTH and ICS-FORTH) and the Palace Museum.

The acting director of IESL-FORTH, Prof. Emmanuel Stratakis, welcomed the delegation and presented the activities of The Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser - FORTH, emphasizing the Greek Chinese collaboration.

Professor D. Anglos provided the delegation with a tour of the Lasers for Art's Sake IESL - FORTH labatories at IESL-FORTH, where he discussed current research initiatives.
Dr. P. Pouli shared insights into the past and future activities of the “China-Greece Joint Laboratory on Cultural Heritage Conservation Technology.”
Additionally, Dr. A. Siatou, a Taihe Scholar at the Palace Museum, participated in the meeting and shared her experience from her internship at the museum.
During the visit, Professor Y. Tzitzikas emphasized the activities of the Center for Cultural Informatics at the Institute of Computer Science at FORTH (FORTH-Institute of Computer Science).
Ms. Ch. Bekiari, together with the CCI members M. Therodoridou, D. Agelakis, L. Harami and A. Kritsotaki, presented the digital platforms developed by the CCI at ICS-FORTH, focusing on potential future collaborations between the two research teams.

The attendees of the working meeting also had the opportunity to discuss issues related to the standardization of analytical and conservation procedures.

https://phohs.iesl.forth.gr/palace-museum-of-beijing-delegation-visits-forth/
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04/12/2025

What a wonderful way to say goodbye to 2025!!

AI meets Heritage Science The Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser - FORTH

We are thrilled to announce our pioneering publication:
“Machine learning assisted real-time acoustic monitoring of laser cleaning in Heritage conservation”
by G. D. Barmparis, A.-N. Raikidis, Kristalia Melesanaki, G. P. Tsironis, George Tserevelakis, and P. Pouli.

This study marks the beginning of a new era in laser cleaning for Heritage conservation — the first feasibility study demonstrating how real-time acoustic monitoring combined with explainable machine learning can guide the conservators to take informed decisions for safe and precise restoration of sensitive cultural heritage objects.
By analyzing the acoustic signals generated during laser cleaning, our approach identifies the exact laser pulse that completely removes unwanted paint layers without harming the original substrate.

This work paves the way for smart, informed, data-driven restoration technologies, merging AI innovation with the preservation of cultural heritage — where science and heritage converge.

Read the full article: https://rdcu.be/eS3QR

04/12/2025