Characterising terpenic plant resins, wood tars and pitches in heritage science: analytical methods and applications

This review examines natural plant resins, wood tars and pitches in heritage science, focusing on their historical uses, chemical composition and analytical characterisation. Particular attention is given to diterpenoid and triterpenoid resins and to chemical transformations induced by ageing, degradation and thermal processing. The identification of diagnostic molecular markers supports the determination of botanical origins and technological practices, while an overview of complementary analytical methods highlights current challenges and perspectives.