This curricular unit is intended to impart knowledge on stone materials, mortars and ceramics as components of cultural objects, specifically approaching the following topics:

• Composition, physical-chemical properties and alterability of the materials as components of cultural objects.
• Artistic production technologies.
• Behaviour of the materials facing degradation agents.
• Main degradation mechanisms affecting the materials.

At the end of the curricular unit, the students who complete it should be able to:

1. Identify and generally characterise stone, mortars and ceramic materials as supports of cultural objects.
2. Gain a global understanding of the main technologies of artistic production using the different materials.
3. Understand and identify the main degradation mechanisms affecting stone, mortars and ceramics, as well as their consequent degradation phenomena, and diagnosis requirements.
4. Recognise the different degradation mechanisms and the material-agent-process articulation.
5. Understand how to assay the different materials for characterisation and/or conservation treatment assessment.