Preserving History : Chemical and Mineralogical Insights into Monument Deteriorations

 In this first spectroscopic investigations on  building materials from the Ahom Dynasty (1600-1900 AD). In this study  We report the application of spectroscopic techniques in  the evaluation of the deterioration of three culturally important historical monuments in India, built during 1600–1700 AD by the Ahom Dynasty (namely, Rang Ghar, Kareng Ghar, and Talatal Ghar). Micro-Raman spectroscopy was used to evaluate the weathering of nano-crystalline minerals, which were deposited on the ancient structures,  This study is useful to improve our understanding about  the technological and cultural aspects of such ancient civilizations. The presence of potentially hazardous elements (PHE), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), and mineral abundance (gypsum) were also observed in these heritage materials. Thus, such research findings on the historical monuments can also help to address the possible conservation of these historical monuments in near future.