reading objects...
the scientific and analytical analysis...
The scientific and analytical analysis, of the typically small metal finds, will take place in the
Archaeological Artefacts Forensic Analysis Centre, an equipment centre
located in the Materials Analysis Laboratory (D242) of the Dawson Building, the Department of Archaeology, Durham University. If archaeology is
ultimately the study of people, their actions, organisations and relationships through the material evidence recovered, then our objects are well
placed to help us re-write Durham's history. We use three different methods and approaches to study our objects - cultural, scientific and technical -
we term it 'investigating objects'.
help fund the scientific and analytical analysis by clicking on one of the images below...
the materials analysis laboratory...
The Materials Analysis Laboratory is essentially an equipment centre built up to facilitate the study of archaeological artefacts and materials:
it houses a number of analytical facilities which we can use to investigate the small finds, it includes:
- Hitachi TM3000 SEM, with Oxford instruments EDAX
- Bruker tracer 5i Portable XRF
- Perkin Elmer Spectrum 2 FTIR
- Camspec 17330 UV-Vis Spectrometer
- Konica Minolta 2600d Spectrophotometer
- Leitz Laborlux research microscope
- Leitz 12 polarising microscope with reflected light capability
- Wild M5 Stereomicroscope
- Faxitron cabinet X-ray unit
- Panalytical Aeris XRD copper tube
- Lulzbot filament 3D printer
- Z Corp colour powder-deposition 3D printer
- GE or equivalent industrial CR x-ray plate reader (for use with the Faxitron in particular)
- Konica Minolta or equivalent DR x-ray plate reader (for use with the GE medical x ray unit in particular)