Raman Spectroscopy as a Cultural Heritage Forensic Tool

Abstract

The use of Raman spectroscopy as a tool to provide answers placed by forensic researchers has become increasingly recurrent. As an easy-to-use and non-invasive technique on a micro-analysis scale, Raman spectroscopy has been used in fields ranging from trace compounds identification in criminal contexts to the authenticity evaluation of art works intercepted in the trade markets by the authorities. In this chapter, the use of Raman spectroscopy to provide answers placed by forensic researchers to our laboratory will be presented, focusing both approaches followed for criminal context samples and for authenticity requests.