Forgery detection and dating manuscripts

Fahad Al-Tamtami <altamtami<-a t->nraa< . >gov< . >om> writes

>... we
>are preparing a national laboratory in the Sultanate of Oman,
>designed to detect forgeries and determine ages of manuscripts and
>documents.
>
>What are the most important and the latest devices used in the
>detection of forgery of documents and manuscripts?
>
>What are the most important and the latest devices used determining
>the age of manuscripts?

I could give you a list of analytical equipment and techniques for
the authentication and dating of historic manuscripts and documents,
but this would be missing the point.

What you need, and this is more important than any equipment money
can buy, is the right person to run your laboratory.  It is
essential to appoint this person well before you order any
equipment, and let him or her have the last word because this person
will have to work with the instruments afterwards.  If you invest in
infrastructure first and then try to find or to train your
laboratory staff you will inevitably end up with unsatisfactory
solutions and waste some of your money.

I'd suggest that you get a person with a proven track record in the
field as a consultant to guide you in the recruitment process.

Kilian Anheuser
Head scientist
FAEI - Fine Arts Expert Institute
Geneva, Switzerland


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