Neutrons can reflect the past, and shed light on since long forgotten techniques. They can force their way into archaeological materials like ceramics, coins and glass without destroying them or even leaving a trace.
 
Neutrons can tell about the substances that objects are made of and how they are manufactured. The materials are like fingerprints and can tell about how earlier societies built their culture.

Ceramic objects are important for dating objects, and neutrons can reveal what is hidden behind glazes and surfaces. The fingerprints of these objects give researchers the possibility to draw conclusions on, for example, mineral composition, how the object was made, and at what temperature it was burnt.

Cultural heritage is a relatively new field for neutron scientists, mainly due to the limitations of today’s neutron sources.