Saunders, Jill;
Charlton, Michael;
(2025)
A partnered approach to Anglo-Saxon grave finds: locating and protecting diverse values of archaeological iron by integrating conservation and archaeomaterials processes at UCL Institute of Archaeology.
In: Emmerson, Nicola and Thunberg, Johanna and Watkinson, David, (eds.)
Proceedings of METAL 2025 the International Conference on Metals Conservation.
Metal 2025: Cardiff, UK.
Preview |
Text
1635_517_PDFProof(2).pdf - Published Version Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
This paper illustrates that integrating archaeometallurgical sampling into the conservation process can facilitate collaborative research across specialisms in higher education (HE); safeguard the significance of archaeological iron; and provide optimal conservation training. Preparing postgraduate conservation students for professional practice is essential, yet critical learning experiences involving challenging stakeholder dialogue can be difficult to manifest authentically. Institutional policies such as engaging students with research, exposure to current developments, and fostering partnerships between staff and students add additional demands. Using the management of ferrous Anglo-Saxon grave finds at UCL Institute of Archaeology (IoA) as a case study, this paper demonstrates how collaborative research and ambitious learning objectives for conservation students can be facilitated within existing staff obligations and coursework loads, with beneficial outcomes for archaeological iron objects. Objects including a spearhead, knife, shield fittings, belt buckles, and brooches were excavated by the People of the Heath on Main Down (July 2023) and conserved by year 1 MSc students at the IoA. Conservation progressed in partnership with archaeological science colleagues to facilitate research exploring iron sources in the assemblage. This paper outlines the conservation treatments, analytical results, and insights gained from collaboration.
| Type: | Proceedings paper |
|---|---|
| Title: | A partnered approach to Anglo-Saxon grave finds: locating and protecting diverse values of archaeological iron by integrating conservation and archaeomaterials processes at UCL Institute of Archaeology |
| Event: | Metal 2025 |
| Location: | Cardiff |
| Dates: | 1 Sep 2025 - 5 Sep 2025 |
| ISBN-13: | 9781068195518 |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Publisher version: | https://www.lulu.com/shop/nicola-emmerson-and-joha... |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | archaeology, Anglo-Saxon, iron, conservation training, sampling, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology > Institute of Archaeology Gordon Square |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10213360 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
