Several studies have been performed so far for the effective recovery, detection and quantification of specific compounds and their degradation products in archaeological materials. According to the literature, lipid molecules are the most durable and widespread biomarkers in ancient pottery. Artificial ageing studies to simulate lipid alterations over time have been reported. In this review, specific lipid archaeological biomarkers and well-established sampling and extraction methodologies are discussed. Although suitable analytical techniques have unraveled archaeological questions, some issues remain open such as the need to introduce innovative and miniaturized protocols to avoid extractions with organic solvents, which are often laborious and non-environmentally friendly.

The potential of using poly(ionic liquid)s as a new family of hydrorepellent materials has been explored. Free-radical polymerization of a series of ionic liquids based on the polymerizable cation [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium and on the hydrophobic anions bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, nonafluoro-1-butanesulfonate and dodecylbenzenesulfonate led to the corresponding poly(ionic liquid)s that were characterized by TGA and DSC analysis, SEM, MALDI-TOF and XPS spectroscopy. Contact angle investigations show that the nature of the surface of the poly(ionic liquid)s based on the nonafluoro-1-butanesulfonate and dodecylbenzenesulfonate anions are featured by remarkable hydrophobic properties with advancing contact angles (θ_adv) lying in the range 113–118°, while to the polymer poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide is associated poor hydrorepellent activity (θ_adv = 76°). The tensiometric measurements also experience receding contact angles (θ_rec) lying in the range 16–20° and a consequent high hysteresis suggesting that, on the outermost layers of the polymers, very high and very low-energy surface portions are present.