Cannonry, garnets and nails

Most of the research into archaeological and historical utilitarian objects described below was conducted at the request of external parties and hence, strictly speaking, falls outside the Research Agenda.

Cyanoacrylate as a finish layer results in lustre and crystal formation on archaeological bronze. Optical microscope photograph.

Due to the interesting overlap with the PhD research of Janneke Nienhuis into archaeological bronze, which was carried out under the Agenda, it was nevertheless decided to include these projects in this publication.

Three clusters

The sub-projects involving archaeological or historical utilitarian objets are directly or indirectly associated with each other, for example, through the investigated materials (bronze, garnets, textiles and ceramics) or through their fabrication period. There are three distinct clusters:

• Archaeological metal: the previously mentioned doctoral research into the influence of conservation treatments on the material properties of archaeological bronze; the disadvantages of coatings applied later in the restoration of archaeological bronze objects; a research into iron nails from three Roman shipwrecks;
• Early Middle Ages: origin of coloured textiles and red garnets from a graveyard in Rhenen and elsewhere;
• 17th century: fabrication and origin of the cargo of the Aanloop Molengat wreck at Texel; investigation into the cause of the discolouration of 17th century bronze cannons; research into the composition of white faience from Delft.

Read all information about the individual clusters using the links to the right of this page >>