The Maltese archipelago is home to megalithic structures of extraordinary interest for archaeo-astronomy. Some of those impressive prehistoric complexes have revealed significant architectural and topographic features reflecting a certain knowledge of the celestial bodies and astronomical phenomena by their ancient builders. While previous archaeo-astronomical studies of these Neolithic structures were primarily based on traditional methods, this paper presents an innovative approach for the case study of the Borg in-Nadur site. Through an ensemble of techniques, such as terrestrial laser scanning, aerial and terrestrial digital photogrammetry and 3D modeling, the prehistoric remains have been 3D digitized and inserted in a virtual environment to test archaeo-astronomical hypotheses via computer simulation.

The basilica of Santa Caterina D Alessandria was built between 1369 and 1391, by order of Raimondello Orsini del Balzo. These, on one of his many journeys, returning from the Crusades, went as far as the summit of Mount Sinai to pay homage to the body of Saint Catherine. The building, on Raimondello s death in 1405, will be completed by his wife, Princess Maria d Enghien, and then by his son, Giovanni Antonio Orsini Del Balzo. A study, using ground penetrating radar tecnique (GPR) was undertaken inside the Basilica in order to investigate the oldest structure of the church. The GPR analysis showed a series of anomalies that could be related to the old plant of the basilica.

X-rays techniques present several valuable advantages in the field of archaeometry. Using X-rays, structural and chemical details can be obtained through a non-destructive and element-specific interaction. Synchrotron radiation sources can not only provide X-ray beams, but they can also offer extraordinary intensities and energy tunability, This results into unprecedented spatial resolution while maximising elemental selectivity and chemical sensitivity.
Archaometry, in its constant effort to interpret the past through the application of scientific techniques, has widely employed synchrotron radiation. Nevertheless, synchrotron facilities have evolved tremendously in the last decades. Thanks to the advancements in X-ray production, X-ray optics design, and to the acquisition of higher-level technical and scientific expertise, new frontiers have been approached.
In this contribution, we will present the recent achievements that could be of interest for the archaeometry field. After the analysis of the present situation, we will delve into future perspectives. Scientific case studies will be thoroughly discusses as well as technical potentialities yet to be fully exploited.

This paper focuses on the study of the Coronation of the Virgin altarpiece by the Bolognese painter Michele di Matteo (1410-1469).
In the field of diagnostics and conservation of cultural heritage, non-invasive techniques are increasingly used to study and understand works in depth. Only through these techniques is it possible to preserve the integrity of the work itself.
The aim of the study is therefore to investigate the pictorial composition of the work in a completely non-invasive and non-destructive manner in order to obtain useful information on the restoration methods that have been applied to the altarpiece over the years, and, where possible, to evidence the differences before and after cleaning.
For this purpose, colourimetric and visible reflectance analysis in addition to multispectral imaging techniques were employed.
Further analyses are necessary to better understand the composition of the work. Indeed, portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and iperspectral imaging measurements are ongoing, whose application could be useful to obtain information on the elements and compounds that make up the pigments used to paint and decorate the artwork.

This paper shows the results obtained in the chemical and dynamic vibrational characterization of a set of decorative tiles from the Capilla de los Reyes of the church of Nuestra Señora del Castillo at Flores de Ávila (Ávila, Spain). This tilework, dating from 1526, contains extraordinary pieces produced by the famous Renaissance ceramicist and painter named Francisco Niculoso El Pisano. However, this relevant tilework has been relocated and rearranged along history. The last arrangement of the tiles was quite arbitrary, potentially mixing the work of El Pisano with other tile sets. The main objective of this work is the identification of the types of pigments used in the different shades of color, relating them with other works of the same author.