The Technology Team use a range of scientific and archaeological techniques to investigate crafts and industries that range in date from Bronze Age to Industrial. Most of these technologies such as blacksmithing, involved the application of high temperatures. They mostly study waste products but occasionally examine tools and finished artefacts when they can. Scientific analysis can provide information on such topics as craft skills, the economic status of archaeological sites and their trade links.
The equipment used during this placement includes a range of microcopes, a hardness tester, digital cameras, Scanning Electron Microcope with Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS), X-Ray Flourescence (XRF) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) systems, which between them can answer queries such as the method of manufacture, origins of raw materials and the decay processes that have affected an object or structure. Advice as to appropriate methods of scientific investigation of archaeological and historical materials is provided to those within and outside English Heritage.
As the placement student I was given full training on the equipment in the lab and the various different materials brought into the lab. I was given projects to complete these projects often included a variety of different techniques of analysis and types of residues. During the placement I was given the opportunity to handle Iron Age, Roman, Early Medieval, Medieval and experimental iron slag. I have also worked on copper alloy waste products and mould fragments from a cauldron and skillet foundry, crucibles used to melt copper alloys, glass working waste, copper alloy and enamel Roman brooches, lead objects, cupels and porcelain.
I also had the opportunity to take part in an experiment investigating the production of hammerscale during smithing. This included using a high speed camera to record spherical hammerscale forming during the welding process. Together with Roger Wilkes I managed to work out how to use the camera.