Reimagining material dating

External reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ER-FTIR) spectroscopy offers a contactless, efficient, and cost-effective method for dating cultural heritage artefacts. This study investigated the application of ER-FTIR to historic manuscript binding materials, primarily leather, in order to establish a methodology for spectra collection to be used in molecular decay dating. A systematic measurement approach was developed to ensure reliable results through selecting the optimal parameters for data collection. The research revealed that minimizing visible damage and surface contaminants is crucial for obtaining clear spectra of leather book binding samples. Spectral variations were observed between different regions of artefacts, such as spines and covers. These findings highlight the potential of ER-FTIR in enhancing the preservation and analysis of cultural heritage materials. However, further research and refinement of ER-FTIR methodologies are necessary to fully realize their capabilities in dating and analyzing historic objects.