The RICHeS team recently visited Durham University to meet with the team delivering the North East Material Culture Analytical Suite (NEMCAS) Phase II investment, led by Professor Lisa-Marie Shillito. This facility will offer advanced imaging and analysis capabilities in thin section micromorphology and computed tomography (CT) imaging tailored for heritage science. In addition to the RICHeS investment, NEMCAS is supported by Durham University’s Strategic Research Fund, and RICHeS are delighted to see the institutional support for conservation and heritage science.
Building an integrated 2D and 3D heritage science facility
NEMCAS will specialise in XR-CT (X-ray computed tomography), a non-destructive method provides 3D visualisations of the internal structure of objects. The AHRC Capability for Collections (CapCo) funded SkyScan 1273 micro-CT is suitable for objects up to the size of a human skull. The RICHeS-funded Poseidon X4 will soon also be available and will offer a slightly smaller chamber with better resolution, offering further detail at a cellular level. This facility can scan a variety of materials including teeth, bones, ceramics and plant tissues, and is optimised for heritage materials. The team at Durham have already been engaged in interdisciplinary work with the biosciences, supporting a UKRI-BBSRC funded project by scanning barley stems at the cellular level.
Next year, another laboratory within the Department of Archaeology will be undergoing refurbishment to offer a state-of-the-art thin section micromorphology facility. This will create 2D thin sections of soils, sediments and artefacts that can be analysed under a microscope, revealing composition and structure. NEMCAS will offer these key integrated 2D and 3D services together for heritage science users.
Demonstrating heritage science capabilities across Durham University
In the afternoon, a public showcase event highlighted the heritage science capabilities that have been delivered through RICHeS, NEMCAS and complementary services across Durham University.
The programme began with introductions to RICHeS and NEMCAS, followed by Professor Lisa-Marie Shilitto presenting a series of engaging heritage science case studies. These included the discovery of a fingerprint in an ancient ceramic, the imaging used to analyse insect damage on a medieval book and the ongoing Team Pigment research at Durham University.
Attendees were then offered tours of the associated facilities, including the digital visualisation laboratory within the Department of Archaeology and the X-Ray CT facility in the Department of Engineering. Together these services contribute to Durham’s strategic development as a UK hub for CT research.
The event concluded with a visit to the Museum and Special Collections at Palace Green Library. The recently extended Shakespeare Recovered exhibit (pictured above) tells the story of the stolen and later rediscovered Durham First Folio. Within the exhibit visitors can see heritage science in action by exploring the work undertaken by the conservation team to make this First Folio accessible again. The Special collections team outlined a range of emerging research questions that may be addressed through heritage science, including new approaches to understanding and conservation medieval book bindings.
If you are interested in accession NEMCAS or the wider RICHeS distributed infrastructure, you are encouraged to apply to the RICHeS Access Fund.
Professor Lisa-Marie Shillito shares:
“We were thrilled to welcome the RICHeS team to Durham and showcase the brilliant heritage science research across our Faculties of Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and Science. Heritage is a key strategic priority for us, and we are proud to be part of RICHeS in building this vital infrastructure for the UK.”