The results of the work of a pluridsciplinary research team (IPANEMA, C2RMF, PréTech, TRACES, SOLEIL synchrotron, ArScAn and the National museum of Asian arts–Guimet) on the production process of a 6000 year-old amulet from Indus Basin manufactured by lost-wax casting has just been published in the journal Nature Communications.

Following this publication, the research team was invited on 25 November 2016 to present its findings at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the live press briefing of the Ministry, Loïc Bertrand showcased the innovative methods implemented by the research team to study the lost-wax casting amulet from Mehrgarh, thus revealing the outstanding technical control of the craftsmen of that period. He also underlined that the lost wax technique is still of a greatest relevance today, as it is used for fine manufacturing of art objects and in the aeronautic and health sectors.

Few days before the Abu Dhabi international conference on heritage at risk, this presentation underlined the importance of joint actions to maintained scientific research and to preserve endangered heritage in conflicts areas. Such activities could be envisioned in the frame of the European infrastructure E-RIHS with, for instance, the support of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).

The video The Mystery of the Amulet, by Renaud Chabrier (direction, drawings, animation) and Thierry Bertomeu (sound design) and produced by Nova Pista, was screened at the end of the presentation.
This video is available here.

Furthermore, a video interview of Loïc Bertrand was realized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.