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The Royal Scottish Society of Arts
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4th Meeting of the 191st Session (2011-2012)

Heritage Science: Putting the X in Museums

Dr Jim Tate
Head of Conservation & Analytical Research
National Museums Collection Centre

In the Augustine United Church
41 George IV Bridge
Edinburgh, EH1 1EL
On Monday 16th January 2012, at 7pm

The use of X-rays to investigate Egyptian mummies has been known for many years, but what are the latest methods that have been used to investigate the Egyptian collections in Edinburgh? How can we know what the inside of the early medieval harps on display in the Museum of Scotland look like without taking them apart? What colour were the Lewis chessmen? It is not often realized how much work goes on behind the scenes in museums, preparing objects for exhibition and displays, or investigating their history, authenticity and technology. This lecture will illustrate some recent scientific work on which has been undertaken on the artifact collections of the National Museums Scotland. It will be given by Dr Jim Tate, Head of the Department of Conservation & Analytical Research. After a first degree and doctorate in Physics Jim undertook a two year post-doctorial project at Paisley College before moving to the research laboratory of the National Museum of Scotland, and then to his current position when the museums in Edinburgh amalgamated in 1996.

Location of meeting


Members of the Public are welcome to attend

Jane Ridder-Patrick, Secretary
secretary@rssa.org.uk


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