Search
Close this search box.

Artefacts, including from the Rooswijk, to be X-rayed to reveal their secrets

By

Rooswijk
Advertisement

The X-ray and analysis of aretefacts, including those recovered from historic shipwrecks such as the Rooswijk, will take a major leap forward thanks to a £150,000 grant from The Wolfson Foundation.

The grant to Historic England for high-power and high-resolution X-ray equipment offers exceptional potential for analysing objects which are covered in thick concretions, or hard concrete-like matter, to a much-higher degree of detail.

The funds will enable Historic England to replace and upgrade equipment in a large, walk-in X-ray facility that is at the centre of Historic England’s archaeological assessment, analysis and conservation work.

Rooswijk

This can accommodate large objects and a moveable X-ray tube – much higher powered than typical systems – which allows X-rays to penetrate heavily corroded objects. It plays an essential assessment role, providing a complete, cost-effective diagnosis of condition, and informing the best possible treatment for each object by revealing details obscured by deposits or rust.

The equipment, to be based at Historic England’s scientific and archaeological analysis centre at Fort Cumberland in Portsmouth, will greatly contribute to both Historic England’s own research work and those of its partners.

 

This will include exciting projects such as the scanning and analysis of artefacts recovered from the excavations of the Dutch East India Company vessel, the Rooswijk, which is a protected wreck site. This project is a collaboration between RCE (The Cultural Heritage Agency of The Netherlands) and Historic England.

Rooswijk

The Rooswijk sank on the treacherous Goodwin Sands, off Kent, in January 1740 while outward bound for Batavia (modern-day Jakarta) with trade-goods including silver coins. Many objects are covered with concretions which could require the intensity of the new equipment.

It will also greatly improve the analysis of Roman artefacts as it can penetrate the build-up of dirt and debris around the object, without harming it.

Rooswijk

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England said: “This generous investment will place Historic England at the forefront of heritage X-radiography for many years to come. With this new technology, we will be able to analyse, conserve and better understand many more objects recovered from historic shipwrecks or excavated from archaeological sites.  We are very grateful to The Wolfson Foundation for their support to this vital grant.”

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of The Wolfson Foundation said: “We are excited to support this important piece of equipment – bringing together Wolfson's longstanding interests in science and heritage. The beauty of X-ray technology is the way in which it reveals hidden secrets of the past as well as helping with conservation. We are particularly delighted to be supporting the heritage sector at this challenging moment for us all.”

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!

Get a weekly roundup of all Scuba Diver news and articles
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.
Mark Evans
Mark Evans
Scuba Diver's Editorial Director Mark Evans has been in the diving industry for nearly 25 years, and has been diving since he was just 12 years old. nearly 40-odd years later and he is still addicted to the underwater world.
Latest Stories
Advertisement
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x