Early Medieval glass analysis by particle accelerator a scientific highlight of 2024
Published: 13 December 2024
A paper joint-authored by Archaeology's Dr Ewan Campbell
A paper joint-authored by Archaeology's Dr Ewan Campbell in the Journal of Physics: Photonics has been selected to feature as one of the scientific highlights of the year of work carried out at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, which runs the synchrotron at CERN, Geneva. An international group of specialists used the particle accelerator to study the deep structure of samples of 1600 year-old glass vessels from the important early medieval sites of Tintagel in Cornwall and Whithorn in southern Scotland. These fine drinking vessels had been imported from the Bordeaux region of France and had unusual optical qualities which could not be understood using conventional techniques. The study used X-ray absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) spectroscopy and other techniques to study the distribution of metallic elements through sections of the glass. The study showed that the colour of the vessels had been produced by adding small quantities of Roman purple glass to the melt and also that burial conditions had affected the surface producing a dichroic affect.
Gherardi, F., Hole, C., Campbell, E., Cotte, M., Tyson, R. & Paynter, S. 2024, "Unravelling the role of iron and manganese oxides in colouring Late Antique glass by micro-XANES and micro-XRF spectroscopies", J. Phys. Photonics 6 025001, DOI 10.1088/2515-7647/ad2259
First published: 13 December 2024
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