8. Conclusion

8.1 Strengths of XAS methods

From the various examples presented in this article, a few general characteristics can be drawn as to the potential of XAS methods for the analysis of antique and artistic objects:

• In the family of chemical speciation analysis methods, these are undoubtedly the most versatile: they can be used on any type of material, regardless of crystallinity, color or luminescence, and on virtually all elements of the periodic table;

• analyses can be carried out in air, if the threshold is above 4-5 keV, which allows work to be carried out on whole objects, without sampling;

• different detection methods or geometries are available (transmission, XRF, TEY),...