Radiocarbon dating has long been a cornerstone of archaeological science, providing a reliable means to determine the age of organic materials. Yet when applied to cultural heritage objects, traditional bulk analytical approaches often reach their limits due to complex material histories, mixed carbon sources, conservation treatments, and the limited amount of material available for sampling.

Supported by an SNSF Ambizione program, our research seeks to overcome these limitations by shifting the focus from bulk materials to individual molecules. We aim to untangle the mixed carbon sources encountered in heritage materials through compound specific approaches and further target the color of an object, namely natural organic dyes and pigments. The implementation of compound-specific radiocarbon analysis (CSRA) and compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) in heritage science requires not only high analytical precision, but also rigorous control of exogenous carbon contamination. This presentation will highlight our current efforts toward the development of colour-specific carbon isotopic methodologies, with preliminary results focusing on protocol development, including purification strategies, blank assessment, and contamination modelling.

More broadly, this work illustrates how analytical chemistry can contribute to new methodological frameworks in heritage science. By targeting the molecules responsible for an object’s colour, compound-specific carbon isotope analysis opens new possibilities for investigating not only chronology, but also the provenance, material history, and broader cultural narratives embedded within heritage objects.

Rumpf, L.; Sandström, E.; Iacconi, C.; Sandmeier, V.; Hendriks, L. CHIMIA 2025, 79 (11), 784–791.