## 1 Introduction  
The \"multidisciplinary approach\" has become very popular in several scientific fields in recent decades [1; 2; 3; 4; 5]. However, what do we mean by the term \"multidisciplinary\"? The definition means \"across several fields of study\" [6]. For our purposes, it can be applied to at least two different levels: The first one is when experts from various fields of disciplines are involved in studying a problem that can only be solved by their combined efforts. The second one is when an analytical problem can be solved only by applying different diagnostic techniques and combining the results in a typical, so-called multidisciplinary protocol. In many cases, those two approaches are strictly correlated. More generally, it is possible to assert that a multidisciplinary approach must be applied every time the object of study presents cross scientific peculiarities. For this reason, the interaction, crossing, and overlapping of scientific fields, apparently very far from each other, is not a surprise if the focus is on cultural heritage. An example of this concept is found in [PERSON] [7], where the authors demonstrated the importance of the multidisciplinary approach, combining biological knowledge and the methodology for aerosol particles characterization in relation to monitoring and conservingthe Palatina historical library in Parma. On the other hand, archaeometry shows an intrinsic, strong multidisciplinary characteristic, due to the typical overlapping of many analytical techniques required for this type of study. In [PERSON] [8] study of the mortars from the town of Ammaia (Lusitania, Portugal) has been performed by crossing information acquired by several analytical techniques: stereomicroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. By these cited experiences plus others [9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18], it is possible to highlight that cultural heritage conservation studies require multidisciplinary approaches to answer the interdisciplinary nature of the problems that must be solved. And what about the diagnostic issues? In this scenario, it is interesting to note that archaeometry, by [PERSON]'s (2007) [19] definition, designates the development and application of natural scientific methods in order to contribute to the solution of cultural-historical questions. By this acceptation, for [PERSON] and [PERSON] (2009) [20], archaeometry becomes the interface between natural and cultural heritage sciences. On the basis of these considerations, archaeometry shows an intrinsic and significant multidisciplinary component. In Figure 1, a scheme showing the interdisciplinary aspects of archaeometry for archaeological samples identification is reported. It is interesting to note that both levels of multidisciplinary approaches, namely multidisciplinary diagnostic protocols and interdisciplinary scientific competences, must be combined to solve identification and characterization issues in archaeometry. Indeed, not  
Figure 1: Archaeometry requires a multidisciplinary approach to characterize archaeological and cultural heritage samples. Gernstones, artefacts, ornaments, and objets d’art, with several exceptions, belong to archaeological and cultural heritage samples. To identify and characterize these type of samples, in an archaeometric context, the contributions of different expertise are required, including geologists, mineralologists, etc. Moreover, many analytical techniques are necessary. The acronyms correspond to: SEM-EDS: Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy; OM: Optical Microscopy; UV-Vis/NIR: Ultraviolet-Visible/Near-InfraRed spectroscopy; \(\mu\)-Raman: micro-Raman Spectroscopy; \(\mu\)-ATR/FTIR: micro-Attenuated Total Reflection/Fourier Transform InfraRed Spectroscopy; ED-XRF: Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence; LA-ICP-MS: Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry.