Advances in (LA)-ICP-MS techniques and applications for the in elemental analysis the field of cultural heritage: A review

A growing attention to non-destructive or micro-invasive techniques in the field of cultural heritage is attracting a great interest in archaeometric and conservation studies towards Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), coupled with Laser Ablation (LA) as a sampling method, to achieve elemental chemical profiles of the investigated materials with high analytical sensitivity and very low destructivity. The paper presents the state-of-the-art regarding LA-ICP-MS applications in cultural heritage research. It evidences the recent advancements, including improved instrumental configurations, interference reduction strategies and enhanced calibration protocols, which have significantly increased the analytical reliability and precision performance, while the integration of multivariate statistical techniques has further enhanced data interpretation. The overview of the applications to the study of archaeological materials (ceramics, glass, metals, flint, obsidian, stone objects and pigments) shows significant contributions to the reconstruction of provenance, ancient trade routes and production methods. The analyses on paper, inks and black crusts effectively helps to understand degradation processes and support conservation strategies. A key role of ICP-MS in assessing the release of engineered nanoparticles, recently implemented in conservation products, is also highlighted. Literature examination features LA-ICP-MS as a powerful tool for the analysis of a wide range of materials in cultural artefacts, thanks to the capability of determining trace elements and isotopic ratios, supporting the knowledge of historical, technological and degradation aspects. This technique offers significant advantages in enabling direct, micro-invasive analysis on the objects, without taking samples, as well as spot or micro-area analyses and high-resolution chemical imaging.