Reading Between the Fibres: Heritage Science, Conservation and the Exeter Declaration

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Guest authors: Dr. Marc Vermeulen and Giorgia Genco.

In this month’s blog post, Dr. Marc Vermeulen (Head of Heritage Science and Conservation Research) and Giorgia Genco (Senior Conservation Manager) at The National Archives share the heritage science underpinning the most exciting archival discovery of the year: a rare 1776 printing of the US Declaration of Independence, just in time for the 250-year anniversary of its creation.

The recent discovery of an Exeter Declaration at The National Archives (Fig. 1a) has attracted international attention. As one of only eleven known surviving copies of this rare July 1776 printing of the United States Declaration of Independence, it is an exceptional historical find. Yet from a heritage science and conservation perspective, some of the most fascinating stories are found not in the text itself, but in the material object that has survived 250 years.  

Unlocking a Hidden Document 

Before detailed examination could begin, the declaration first had to be separated from the volume in which it had been mounted for many years. Using controlled humidification, conservators carefully released the sheet from the binding without compromising the integrity of the original volume. The document also required local repair to a long tear, which was stabilised using fine Japanese paper and wheat starch paste. 

This conservation treatment transformed access to the document. Previously, many of its physical characteristics remained concealed within the bound volume. As a separate object, it can now be studied in far greater detail and, importantly, can be safely mounted and displayed in future exhibitions.

What the Paper Reveals 

Microscopic examination quickly demonstrated that the declaration was printed on a relatively modest paper. Numerous blue fibres and smaller numbers of red fibres are visible throughout the sheet (Fig. 1b). These coloured fibres originate from recycled textiles, reflecting the rag-based papermaking practices of the eighteenth century. 

The paper also contains a significant number of yellowish woody inclusions, similar to fragments that might be expected from hemp stems or other incompletely processed plant materials (Fig. 1c). Together, these inclusions suggest a paper produced from mixed and only partially refined raw materials. 

The sheet itself is remarkably thin, measuring approximately 130 microns (0.13 mm) in thickness. When examined using transmitted light, its chain lines and laid lines become clearly visible, revealing the imprint of the handmade papermaking mould used in its production. No watermark could be identified. Taken together, the thinness of the sheet, the abundance of coloured fibres and the presence of woody inclusions point towards a comparatively inexpensive paper. This is perhaps unsurprising for a document intended for rapid distribution rather than permanent preservation.

Figure 1a. A visible light image of the Exeter Declaration of Independence
Figure 1b. A close-up microphotograph of the paper highlighting the blue fibres.
Figure 1c. Close up microphotograph highlighting the presence of yellow woody materials.

Figure 1. a) Visible light image of the Exeter Declaration of Independence; b) Close up microphotograph of the paper highlighting the blue fibres; c) Close up microphotograph highlighting the presence of yellow woody materials. Images courtesy of The National Archives.

Following the Folds 

One of the most revealing aspects of the study came from raking light photography (Fig. 2a). By illuminating the surface at a very shallow angle, it was possible to reveal a network of historic folds that are difficult to detect under normal lighting conditions. 

To better understand these features, the conservation team created a mock-up of the Declaration using handmade paper of a similar thickness, reconstructing how the document was originally folded. The video below shows the step-by-step process:

Video: Mock-up reconstructing how the document was originally folded. Via The National Archives.

These folds provide important evidence of how the document was used. They show that the declaration was once folded into a compact format suitable for transport and handling, preserving physical traces of its journey long before it entered an archive. Such features remind us that this was once a working document, designed to circulate information rather than become a museum object.

Figure 2a. Transmitted light image highlighting the chain and laid lines from the paper.
Fig. 2a. Transmitted light image highlighting the chain and laid lines from the paper. Via The National Archives.
Figure 2b. Racking light image revealing the historic folding lines.
Fig. 2b. Raking light image revealing the historic folding lines. Via The National Archives.

A Record of Changing Conservation Practices 

The declaration also tells a story about its custodians. Most strikingly, one corner of the sheet had been cut away in the past to allow it to fit within a bound volume (Fig. 1a). While such an intervention would be unacceptable today, it reflects earlier approaches to archival storage and access, when practical considerations often took precedence over preserving every part of an original document. 

Rather than detracting from the object, this alteration has become part of its history. It provides a tangible reminder that conservation practices, like the collections themselves, evolve over time.

More Than a Printed Declaration 

The Exeter Declaration is undoubtedly an important historical document, but its significance extends far beyond the words printed on its surface. Its fibres, inclusions, paper structure, folds and past interventions all contribute to its story. 

Through conservation and heritage science, a previously hidden archival enclosure has become an accessible object of study. In doing so, it reminds us that documents are more than sources of information. They are material witnesses to their own histories, carrying evidence of how they were made, used, preserved and rediscovered. 

Further Reading

Read the initial announcement of the discovery here. Dive deeper in a feature from the Collections Blog here. Learn about the American privateer Dalton who carried the document here.

Visit the Revolution 250: America’s Independence Story 1763-1783 exhibition at The National Archives, Kew, until 29 November 2026.

Find out more about the National Heritage Science Forum and our mission here.  Sign up to our newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn and Bluesky to keep up with the latest heritage science updates from across the UK.

Stories from the Amphitheatre: The Role of Science in Exploring Chester’s Artefacts 

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Guest authors: Karla Graham and Francesca Gherardi (Fort Cumberland Laboratories, Historic England).

In this month’s blog post, Karla Graham (Senior Archaeological Conservator at Historic England) and Francesca Gherardi (Senior Materials Scientist at Historic England) share the fascinating science behind the excavation and analysis of one of the most significant sites in Chester – the Amphitheatre. Learn about investigating their favourite finds and explore how heritage science was incorporated into an exhibition at the Grosvenor Museum.

The Chester Amphitheatre Project was undertaken by Historic England and Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) to understand the Roman amphitheatre and its environs and to inform the conservation and management of the site. It involved excavation at the site in 2004 to 2006 and a significant programme of post-excavation work to analyse all the finds, funded by Historic England and Chester City Council. This work has been undertaken by Conservators, Materials Scientists and Environmental Scientists at Historic England’s Fort Cumberland Laboratories in Portsmouth using a range of scientific equipment and techniques.

The Roman Amphitheatre of Chester, Volume 1 (2018) reports on the prehistory and Roman archaeology (Willmot and Gardner 2018) and Volume 2 covering the post-Roman is in preparation. A recent exhibition at the Grosvenor Museum from 14 February – 12 July 2026, titled Chester Amphitheatre – an 8000 year story told the story revealed by the excavations, showing evidence of site use from prehistory to modern times.

Photo of a golden ring in a museum display case. It is surrounded by close-up photographs from the excavation and analysis.
Figure 1. One of the rings studied and 3D microscopy images showcased in the Chester Amphitheatre – an 8000 year story exhibition (©Karla Graham, Historic England). 

For this exhibition, several metal objects were examined using 3D microscopy and analysed by micro X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy to determine the composition of the alloys, including silver, brass and bronze. Some of the artefacts were also found to be tin-plated. The analysis also allowed researchers to investigate the materials used in the gems and enamels of several rings, identifying their main components, colourants and opacifiers, as well as assessing their state of preservation (Figure 1). 

Another highlight of the exhibition was the recovery of a 16th-century owl cup made of tin-glazed pottery, believed to have been used for ceremonial or commemorative purposes. The object was X-rayed to investigate its manufacturing techniques, and the resulting radiographic images were displayed as part of the exhibition (Figure 2). 

Photograph of a blue and white Tudor owl vase in a museum display case, with two black-and-white scan images from the front and side.
Figure 2. The 16th century owl cup recovered during the excavation and x-radiography images of the cup showcased in the Chester Amphitheatre – an 8000 year story exhibition (©Karla Graham, Historic England). 

For conservation, one of most the intriguing groups of finds from the main excavation has been the Roman armour. Unlike the earlier excavation of the amphitheatre, the latest one included soil sieving, leading to the recovery of 102 individual chain mail links (lorica hamata). Without sieving, mail links are usually found as indistinct lumps of corrosion which can go unrecognised unless some links are exposed or the lump has been X-rayed.   

Conservation and analysis focused on understanding how the mail armour was manufactured and on dating it. The key was to determine whether they were plain, solid links which had been punched or stamped from a sheet, or whether they were riveted, welded or butted. 

Conservators used Computed Radiography (CR) at different intensities and angles to record and look for evidence of the type of link. Measurements taken from calibrated digital X-rays and cleaned surfaces were compared with published studies of Roman chain mail (Sim 1998). The investigation identified a mixture of link types, including butted links that may indicate rapid repairs. 

Photographs and X-rays of three types of Roman chainmail links.
Figure 3: Chain mail link X-rays showing solid, riveted and welded links (©Karla Graham, Historic England). 

Some fragments of Roman plate armour (lorica segmentata) were also recovered, and they stood out because they exhibited significantly less corrosion than other iron objects from the same context. Conservation aimed to establish whether manufacturing techniques or surface treatments contributed to their unusual preservation. After X-radiography, cleaning and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy analysis, some pieces revealed silver-grey or black surfaces, but no evidence for metallic coatings such as tin or silver was found. While the results did not confirm a specific protective treatment, the armour remains an important subject for future research.  Further investigation using more invasive analytical techniques that require sampling—such as scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) and micro–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (µ-FTIR)—could provide additional insights. 

Acknowledgements 

Julie Edwards (Cheshire West and Chester Council) and Quita Mould (Barbican Research Associates) for their Finds Specialist work. 

The 3D digital microscope used in this study was purchased thanks to AHRC Award AH/V011758/1. 

Learn More

Discover the Chester Roman Amphitheatre here (English Heritage).

Explore the collections and view upcoming exhibitions at the Grosvenor Museum here.

Learn about the ‘Chester Amphitheatre – an 8000 year story‘ exhibition here (West Cheshire Museums).

Find out more about the National Heritage Science Forum and our mission here.  Sign up to our newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn and Bluesky to keep up with the latest heritage science updates from across the UK.  

References 

Sim, D 1998 Chain-mail: 4.8 Experiments to reproduce the techniques of manufacture in D Sim (ed I Ridge) Beyond the Bloom: Bloom refining and iron artefact production in the Roman World. BAR International Series 725, 72-80 

Wilmott, T and Garner, D 2018 The Roman Amphitheatre of Chester, Volume 1: the prehistoric and Roman archaeology. Oxbow books.  https://www.oxbowbooks.com/9781785707445/the-roman-amphitheatre-of-chester-volume-1/

Introducing the HSDS Small Grants Programme

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In this month’s blog post, Annie Lane introduces the Heritage Science Data Service Small Grants Programme, including success stories from NHSF members in Round 1 and a guide to getting involved in Round 2. 

If you’ve been following us on social media, you may have seen some buzz over the latest funding stream to open up in 2026: the HSDS Small Grants Programme Round 2.  The Heritage Science Data Service provides core digital research services as part of the Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS).  It is a hub for researchers to find and access the resources they need, including datasets, software, and equipment.  For example, the HSDS Catalogue of Services is a directory of heritage science facilities, which you can filter by tools and techniques. 

Example of a search in the HSDS Catalogue of Services. 

In March 2026, Round 1 of the Small Grants Programme awarded over £550,000 to 27 projects across different areas of UK heritage science research, supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council via RICHeS.  Many of our member organisations were among the successful applicants.  This month, we’re highlighting two of these projects and how they contribute to the future of UK heritage science. 

National Galleries Scotland (NGS) 

‘Creating a catalogue of heritage science data held by the National Galleries of Scotland: Widening Access and Making Art Work for Everyone.’ 

(Lesley Stevenson, Kirsten Dunne and Ailsa Roberts)

The Conservation Department at National Galleries Scotland holds a wealth of technical data related to its collections, including microscopic paint samples used for material and chemical analysis.  This helps to answer questions such as: What is it made of?  How was it applied?  How has it changed over time?  How will it react to different conservation treatments?  Looking for such answers shapes our understanding­ of an artwork and allows us to better protect it for the future.  However, much of this data is currently handwritten and stored in different sites across the department.  This project will organise and digitise the data to make it easier to use and share.   

By opening up its heritage science data in this way, NGS will increase access to its collections for a variety of audiences.  Researchers will be able to use data on paintings of national significance (such as Vincent van Gogh’s Olive Trees), leading to richer and more collaborative research.  Widening access to heritage science is a key goal of the Community strand of the Strategic Framework for Heritage Science 2024-2027 and fits with NGS’s own strategic priorities around access.  Learn more about the Strategic Framework here.

“The Conservation Department at the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh is thrilled to be one of the inaugural recipients of the HSDS Small Grants Programme. This award is a gamechanger for us as we strive to share our important collections in the widest sense. By providing access to our scientific data for the very first time, the grant will help reveal the fascinating world of technical art history to a range of new audiences.  Broadening access our collections is an important strategic priority for NGS and this grant will make that possible.”

Lesley Stevenson (Senior Paintings Conservator, National Galleries Scotland)

Kirsten Dunne analyses a painting in a laboratory.
Microfading of ‘Olive Trees’ by Vincent van Gogh – National Galleries Scotland, via the Heritage Science Data Service.

Science Museum Group (SMG)

‘Understanding Medicine Chests’

(Thomas Smith)

The Science Museum Group collections contain thousands of objects relating to the history of medicine, including many medicine chests (such as one used on by the crew of Captain Robert Falcon Scott on the 1910 British Antarctic Expedition).  These are a treasure trove of information on historical healthcare. 

However, these chests are often fragile and contain potentially toxic chemical mixtures, making them difficult and dangerous to work with.  Each medicine chest will be catalogued carefully, with hazard records to keep track of any toxic substances.  This will be shared on the SMG Collections Online portal and through the HSDS Data Catalogue.  This unlocks more medical heritage science data for research and makes these items safer to work with in future. 

For more on the risks of certain materials in cultural heritage collections, read our feature from the British Library on the Hazards in Collections project. 

“Medicine chests are hugely complex and interesting objects. They will often have been present at key moments in recent history. They are complex in multiple ways: complex in their material nature, often containing controlled drugs or hazardous materials, and physically complex, often comprising lots of small bottles of unknown materials stored in a small space. 

These items can give us insight into the medical and social history of a set place or time – which makes this project so exciting. It will catalogue 100 medicine chests, trying to work out how to deal with some of the complexities identified above. This grant has given us a great opportunity to develop processes and practices at scale and then pass these findings onto the wider sector.”

Thomas Smith (Group Documentation Manager, Science Museum Group)

Photograph of the outside of a medicine chest, labelled 'British Antarctic Expedition 1910'.

The inside of a medicine chest, containing several small bottles of chemicals, including one labelled 'Iron and Arsenic Compound'.
Captain Scott’s medicine chest for the British Antarctic Expedition 1910, Object number 1981-1007.

Small Grants Programme Round 2

Round 2 of funding applications is now open.  The scheme offers £500-£25,000 for innovative heritage science research projects across two strands. 

Theme 1: Generate Datasets – Enable or Enhance Access to Heritage Science and Conservation Resources. 

Theme 2: Work with STFC Hartree Centre’s Software Engineering and Technical Teams to Develop Tailored Virtual Research Environment Applications and Workflows. 

It’s not just for major museums or higher education institutions; smaller organisations are also encouraged to apply.  The funding covers 100% of economic costs and is open to UK universities, museums, archives, galleries, community partners, and UKRI Independent Research Organisations.  The HSDS encourages applicants to state simply what they want to do and why – no need for elegant prose. 

If you have questions about the programme, your eligibility, or the application process, the HSDS will be uploading a recording of their recent Grant Information Sessions on their website.  You can also contact the team via applications@hsds.ac.uk. 

The application deadline is 30th September 2026.  Read more and apply here. 

Find out more about the National Heritage Science Forum and our mission here.  Sign up to our newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn and Bluesky to keep up with the latest heritage science updates from across the UK.  

Building Connections – Heritage Science at CIfA2026 

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In this month’s blog post, Annie Lane shares reflections on the NHSF panel at the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ CIfA2026 conference. 

Dr Owen Humphreys presenting at the heritage science panel of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists CIfA2026 conference.

This year, the theme at the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ annual conference was ‘Building Connections’.  As an inherently interdisciplinary, collaborative field, heritage science certainly fit the bill! 

The National Heritage Science Forum was represented by a panel on the second day (Wednesday 29th April), titled ‘Heritage Science: connecting scientific domains through heritage’.  The session was chaired by Dr Lore Troalen (National Museums Scotland) and brought together panellists from the academic, heritage, and commercial sectors to ‘explore how heritage science connects different communities of scientific practice to deliver social benefit.’ 

Speakers 

Dr Frédéric Bosché (Historic Environment Scotland): Towards Digital Heritage Building Logbooks: Building Fabric Monitoring using Remote Sensing, Digital Twins and AI. 

Dr Maria Maclennan (The University of Edinburgh) and John A Lawson (City of Edinburgh Council Archaeology Service): Edinburgh’s First Burghers: Revealing the Lives and Hidden Faces of Edinburgh’s Medieval Citizens through Innovative Technologies and Interdisciplinary Approaches. 

Dr Owen Humphreys (University of Reading): (Re)Making the 1st Millennium: Linking the heritage sector through metal chemistry. 

Firstly, Dr Bosché’s talk discussed a collaborative project between Historic Environment Scotland, the CyberBuild Lab at the University of Edinburgh, and the Building Conservation and Materials Science Lab at Heriot-Watt University.  The research focused on evaluating and monitoring masonry walls and the traditional slated roof, which are familiar features of traditional Scottish architecture (70% of properties in the care of Historic Environment Scotland are masonry-built).   

The project used technological innovation and digital twins to blend heritage, construction, materials science, information management, and technical imaging techniques (photogrammetry, laser scanning) – in keeping with the theme, the focus was very much on inter- and multi-disciplinarity. 

Dr Bosché commented:  

“I personally felt invigorated by the session’s rich learning and the cross-pollination of ideas that I am not yet fully conscious of, but whose seeds are now germinating in me.”

Secondly, Dr Maria Maclennan’s talk explored heritage science connections by bridging art, archaeology, forensic imaging, and the life sciences. Edinburgh’s First Burghers combined 3D scanning, haptic touch, and artificial intelligence to create informed facial reconstructions of some of the 115 twelfth-century burials from the St Giles’ Cathedral foundations. 

This work was timed to meet the 900th anniversary of the Cathedral and the City of Edinburgh, and was central to a 2025 exhibition of the same name.  The popularity and profile of this exhibition shows that when technology and storytelling collide, heritage science can be a powerful tool for public engagement with history. 

Dr Owen Humphreys presenting at the heritage science panel of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists CIfA2026 conference.

Last but certainly not least, Dr Owen Humphreys’ talk covered REMADE (Roman and Early Medieval Alloys Defined), which is a project expanding our understanding of ancient life by creating the first UK-wide chemical framework for copper alloys in the 1st millennium AD.  REMADE has collaboration at its core, involving national and regional museums, commercial units, local trusts, and the Portable Antiquities Scheme.  Its use of material science and chemistry to improve resources for the study of metallurgy in Iron Age, Roman, and early medieval Britain demonstrates how heritage science can unlock whole new aspects of history and material culture. 

Audience engagement was a key part of the session, and contributors pointed out the range of perspectives on offer.  As always, AI was a hot topic, and there were productive conversations on public engagement with heritage science as well as data treatment & storage.    

In lieu of a conclusion, the experience can be best summed up by Dr Maclennan, who stated:  

“Our presentations and discussions covered a fascinating spectrum of research and practice at the intersection of Heritage Science, Archaeology, Art, Engineering, and Materials Science. A particular focus was on the theme(s) of preservation and reconstruction: across artefacts, buildings, people, cities, culture, knowledge, and storytelling. What spoke to me personally, was the power of collaborative working in connecting the diverse disciplinary domains that are intricately and intrinsically linked with Heritage Science, and the need for cross-field and cross-sector partnership working in ensuring appropriate knowledge and skills are preserved and maintained into the future.”

Learn more about the CIfA conference here. Find out more about the National Heritage Science Forum and our mission here.  Sign up to our newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn and Bluesky to keep up with the latest heritage science updates from across the UK. 

Keep an eye out for an upcoming podcast featuring Dr Maclennan on the Archaeology Podcast Network. 

What is Heritage Science? – Reflections on British Science Week 2026

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This month at NHSF, Annie Lane takes a look at the Discovering Heritage Science webinar series and reflects on its potential to introduce heritage science to a wider audience.

British Science Week 2026 brought some wonderful opportunities for heritage science engagement.  This year’s theme is ‘Curiosity: What’s Your Question?”, encouraging exploration and discovery in STEM. The National Trust and Icon collaborated on a webinar series, aptly titled Discovering Heritage Science: What It Is and Why It Matters, supported by British Science Week, RICHeS, and AHRC. 

The webinars were split up by material. Each one contains an introduction, two talks, and a Q&A:  

Heritage science professionals at a range of organisations came together to share their expertise and introduce their projects from around the world and throughout time, from The Courtauld Institute’s study of pigments in a sixth-century grotto along the Silk Road (the extraordinary Mogao Caves at Dunhuang) to film preservation and restoration at the British Film Institute. 

As a reflection on the stories shared in these webinars, some key quotes can help shape our answers to the questions: what is heritage science, and why does it matter? 

Heritage Science as Collaboration 

“Heritage science helps us make informed choices towards sustainable approaches to painting care.” Sybilla Tringham, The Courtauld Institute, The Role of Heritage Science in Caring for our Wall Paintings (Day 2)

By far the clearest, most consistent thread through every presentation is the idea of heritage science as collaboration.   It pops up in conservation, archaeology, material science, chemistry, art history, and more.  Research happens across teams, across borders, and across disciplines.  This makes it remarkably flexible and versatile (although, ironically, quite difficult to define…)

Heritage Science as Storytelling 

“What we are trying to do as technical art historians and heritage scientists is disentangle the hundreds of decisions made by painters.” – Erma Hermes, Hamilton Kerr Institute (Fitzwilliam Museum), Painted Surfaces: the material stories hiding in plain sight (Day 3)

Erma Hermes and Lisa Oestricher (Architectural Paint Research; day 2) highlight heritage science as the use of technical analysis and imaging techniques (such as Macro-XRF) to uncover hidden layers of an object’s story.  Close analysis of pigments and materials helps to build up a fuller narrative or timeline of how an object was made, used, and preserved over time, including previous conservation interventions. For example, Lore Troalen (Analysis of the Fettercairn Jewel and Comparative Scottish Renaissance Jewellery; day 5) explains how different imaging and chemical analysis techniques were used to answer key questions about the origins and use of a 16th-century pendant locket.

Heritage Science as Past, Present and Future 

“New technologies are constantly evolving, and they help transform heritage science.” – Sophie Barton, ACR Conservator, What Lies Beneath: Analysis and the Conservation of Woodwork and Furniture (Day 4) 

Technical analysis allows us to look into an object’s past, but each talk had a unique way of examining the field as a site of innovation for the future.  Phillipa McDonnell (The Weird and the Wonderful: How the Ingredients of Historic Paint Tell Stories; day 3) shows how pigment analysis can help us track changes in paint production technology over time. Kieron Webb (Moving Images: the new frontier in heritage science; day 1) discusses the ongoing preservation of digital media in the age of streaming, while Sybilla Tringham (The role of heritage science in caring for our wall paintings; day 2) highlights a recent research project involving the use of modified bacteria as a solvent-free and potentially more sustainable alternative for removing non-original materials and coatings. 

Heritage science can also help protect collections in the present. Kristie Short-Traxler (Illuminating Heritage Lighting Decisions; day 5) explores how microfading can inform lighting decisions to reduce damage and colour loss in collections on display, while Sarah Coggins (Conservation Science and the Mary Rose; day 4) demonstrates the use of heritage science to test different conservation treatments for the hull of one of our most famous historic ships. As well as the objects themselves, heritage science analysis can also protect the people working with them!  The British Library’s Hazards in Collections project identified dangerous compounds (such as arsenic) in the pigments in book covers and manuscripts.

Conclusions 

It is in the spirit of heritage science to look closely without losing sight of the bigger picture.  This webinar series helps us to draw out some of the core ideas and principles behind the field, and shines a light on some of the fascinating projects at the forefront of today’s research. 

All five webinars are available to view on Icon’s YouTube channel, and you can learn more about the Heritage Science Group here. 

Find out more about the National Heritage Science Forum and our mission here.  Sign up to our newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn and Bluesky to keep up with the latest heritage science updates from across the UK. 

Rethinking Hazards in Collections at the British Library

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Guest author: Dr. Margaret-Ashley Veall.

In this blog post, Dr Margaret-Ashley Veall, Hazards in Collections project manager at the British Library, explores how heritage science can help to understand hazards within heritage collections and how to manage them.

Heritage organisations are incredibly diverse: in size, budget, collections, staffing and public audience. Yet across this variety, one shared reality is often overlooked: collections can contain hazards. The UK heritage sector has renewed its focus on hazardous materials in collections. Initiatives such as the Science Museum Group’s Empowering Safety: Hazardous Materials Awareness, Identification and Management and Museum Development South West’s Reducing the Risks: Hazards in Collections reflect this growing awareness.

As the national library of the UK, the British Library houses over 170 million items, expanding by approximately three million items every year. Our Yorkshire and London sites hold not only millions of books, but everything from newspapers to sound recordings, patents, stamps, prints and drawings, maps, and manuscripts, alongside an array of artwork, furniture, electrical equipment, and textiles.

A book cover with an overlaid XRF graph indicating the presence of copper and arsenic.
Photo 1: XRF analysis of the decorative overlay from the cover of A Winter Wreath of Summer Flowers (C.183.a.20.). The XRF spectrum at the top highlights the presence of copper (Cu) and arsenic (As), characteristic of emerald green (copper acetoarsenite) or Scheele’s green (copper arsenite) pigments. Image copyright: The British Library Board.

The British Library is undertaking a review of hazards within its collections through the Hazards in Collections project. The work focuses on raising awareness, providing practical guidance and reviewing how hazards are managed across the organisation. This includes the development of in-person training, slide decks and bite-sized e-learning modules to introduce staff to common hazards. A guidance pack is also being developed to provide hazard-specific information and safe working practices that can be incorporated into risk assessments and existing procedures. This project brings together perspectives from conservation science, collections care, health and safety, with those in curation, cataloguing, legal deposit, goods inwards, operations, metadata, loans and exhibitions. 

The Conservation Science team supports the identification of hazards within collections through scientific analysis (Photo 1) using in-house techniques such as portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and fibre optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS). Results can inform decision-making about access and care. While impossible to analyse every item across collections, targeted analysis alongside asking questions about provenance and past treatments can begin the process of flagging and restricting items. The aim of restricting an item is not to remove it from use permanently but instead create a natural pause to enable discussions about the nature of the hazard and safer ways of working.  

Following the Poison Book Project and early survey and mitigation efforts by Baldwin et al. (2025), ongoing research into our catalogues to identify and restrict printed books containing arsenic-based pigments has also created opportunities to rethink how activities take place. When the green cloth binding of Rustic adornments for homes of taste (1857) was confirmed to contain arsenic, the volume was restricted. A request from staff to include a poison book in a donor event centred on Agatha Christie and the dangers found in domestic settings of the time prompted us to reconsider the British Library’s Show-and-Tell activity and the controls that could enable safe access. We designed a step-by-step workflow that included control measures, signage, labels and appropriate PPE for use throughout the event. This structure gave staff confidence in their actions on the day and enabled the safe display of an item that contains a hazard. Safe to say the book (Photo 2) generated significant interest among attendees and was very well received. 

A green book. It has been bagged and displayed under a hood for safety.
Photo 2: Shirley Hibberd’s Rustic adornments for homes of taste: and recreations for town folk, published in 1857 (1608/3947) was identified by XRF as having an arsenic-based pigment incorporated into the bookcloth. Here it is on display for an event showcased under a hood, bagged and accompanied with a label. Image courtesy of the British Library.

For questions or to find out more about conservation science at the British Library, contact us at ConservationScience@bl.uk.

A Year of Collaboration: Updates on the Strategic Framework for Heritage Science in the UK

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Caroline Peach highlights work by the National Heritage Science Forum (NHSF), its members, and the wider heritage science community that addresses the opportunities and challenges presented in the Strategic Framework for Heritage Science in the UK.

A year ago, NHSF published the 2024-2027 Strategic Framework for Heritage Science in the UK. The framework is a tool to support collaboration by the heritage science community in three areas of research, community and public value.

We hope it will inspire you to connect to the initiatives listed here and encourage you to show how your work also contributes to the framework, by adding a short description and URL to our three online noticeboards.

Strategic Framework for Heritage Science in the UK, 2024-2027

Research

The framework envisions excellent interdisciplinary heritage science research flourishing through diversified funding streams that bridge arts and sciences, enhanced access to specialised equipment and expertise, strengthened collaboration networks, and improved pathways for translating research into practice. These developments are seen as the key to unlocking the potential of heritage science to generate new knowledge and innovation.

In the last year…

  • RICHeS (Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science) has launched. This is an £80 million commitment by UK Research and Innovation to creating a distributed infrastructure of 30 funded centres for heritage science equipment, services and reference collections, connected by the Heritage Science Data Service which will provide digital catalogues, a data repository and virtual research environment. Find out more about the RICHeS programme and the Heritage Science Data Service.
  • The European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science (E-RIHS) has been officially established as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium. The UK connects to these cutting-edge laboratories, tools, data and training opportunities through the RICHeS IHQ (Infrastructure Headquarters), which acts as the national coordinator for the UK node of E-RIHS. Find out more.
  • NHSF Task Group on Research Priorities – NHSF members are collaborating to crowd-source information on published heritage science research to identify thematic strengths, where there are gaps in research, and priorities for future research investment or collaboration. Find out more.

Add information on interdisciplinary funding opportunities, access to research capability, collaboration on research priorities, research translation and innovation to the Research Noticeboard.

Community

The framework advocates that an inclusive, skilled, and diverse heritage science workforce can be achieved through better understanding of capacity and skills needs, varied training and career progression pathways, reduced barriers to recruitment and retention, and increased visibility of heritage science careers. Building this confident, outward-looking community will ensure the field attracts and retains the talent needed to thrive.

In the last year…

  • NHSF’s Workforce Task Group has focused on the need for comprehensive research into the capacity and capability of the heritage science workforce, combined with an understanding of its current and future skills needs. The group’s members have gathered intelligence on studies from the historic environment, archaeology and conservation sectors to establish what is known and where further research is needed.
  • The Skills Investment Plan for the Historic Environment in Scotland has published its year one report which captures key findings from extensive consultation, including priorities and actions for the thematic area of Heritage Science. Find out more.
  • Historic Environment Scotland is using Modern Apprenticeships and Fellowships in heritage science as new way of developing skills, knowledge and experience.
  • AHRC-funded Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Studentships and UKRI’s early career fellowships in cultural and heritage institutions provide support for people looking to build a career that spans the arts and sciences.

Add information on workforce research and data, training and CPD opportunities, and initiatives that support an inclusive, confident heritage science community to the Community Noticeboard.

Public Value

The framework identifies key opportunities to amplify heritage science’s societal contribution: developing shared approaches to measuring impact, creating robust knowledge-exchange mechanisms, expanding public engagement, and forging stronger connections between research, industry, and policy. Realising these priorities will make heritage science’s benefits to society more visible and tangible.

In the last year…

  • DCMS published Embedding a Culture and Heritage Capital Approach – an update on its work to develop a framework to help the sector articulate its value and make a stronger case for investment in culture and heritage assets. Find out more.
  • Projects funded under the Culture and Heritage Capital programme continue to explore aspects of value including ITHACA-Integrating Lifetimes in Heritage Capital (UCL) and ACH (Arts, Culture and Heritage) Taxonomies (Historic England).
  • Historic England portal on Culture and Heritage Capital – captures work by Historic England with DCMS and other Arm’s Length Bodies to establish an agreed economic approach for valuing cultural heritage assets and the benefits they provide to people and businesses. Find out more.
  • NHSF ran its first Trends in Heritage Science conference which explored the role of heritage science research and innovation in addressing global challenges. Find out more.

Add information on stakeholders for heritage science research, measurement of public value, public engagement with heritage science, connecting heritage science research to societal challenges, links with industry, and links between heritage science and public policy to the Public Value Noticeboard.

To find out more about the Strategic Framework for Heritage Science in the UK, and NHSF’s work to encourage collaboration by the heritage science community, visit the NHSF website.

Reflections on One Year of RICHeS

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Guest author: Professor Meggen Gondek, Head of the Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) Infrastructure Headquarters (IHQ).

It is hard to believe RICHeS is one year old, both in the sense of how quickly the time has flown and how much we have achieved in just 12 months!

When we launched in October 2024, our team was just three members strong, all relatively new to this major programme of investment by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Today, we have grown into an incredible team of seven, all dedicated to delivering our programme objectives and supporting the heritage sector.

The three key aims of RICHeS focus on building collaboration in our infrastructure and across the wider heritage sector to support new and effective ways of working, investing in capability and innovation and enabling access to heritage science, ensuring our expertise drives tangible impact.

Our launch marked the beginning of ambitious investments across 30 different facilities and collections across the UK, alongside the creation of an accessible digital repository and catalogue of heritage science services in the Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS).  One year on and pilots of both the HSDS Data Catalogue and the HSDS Catalogue of Services are live and ready to support the sector. Meanwhile, our other investments are in the process of acquiring high demand equipment, building and extending storage and laboratory spaces and preparing to offer increased access to their expertise.

In just our first year, RICHeS has already created 82 jobs in the heritage science sector and has engaged over 3,500 participants through workshops, webinars, events and meetings. This is just the beginning, as we continue to build the infrastructure to support long-term growth.

Some personal highlights from me as Head of the RICHeS Infrastructure Headquarters over this past year include:

  • Regional networking events: We have held three so far, with our fourth coming up on 4 November in Cardiff. These events have brought together our distributed infrastructure but also provided important bridges of conversation and partnership to local organisations and stakeholders. We have seen new partnerships develop and have been able to learn more about key issues in the sector.
Snapshot of the RICHeS Regional Workshop at The National Archives in London.
  • Showcasing RICHeS to diverse audiences:  From UKRI senior executives to research leaders at higher education institutions, independent research organisations, other research councils and the broader heritage sector, we have had the opportunity to advocate for RICHeS far and wide. A particular highlight was having the new CEO of UKRI, Sir Ian Chapman, officially open our new RICHeS award-winning sustainable office at Daresbury.
Professor Sir Ian Chapman with Dr Ben Edwards demonstrating RICHeS invested portable capabilities at the RICHeS IHQ opening event.
  • Seeing the impact of AHRCs investment:  Reading and sharing the stories of how heritage science funding is making a difference for heritage organisations has been incredibly rewarding. Many of these stories are featured on our website. We are excited to see the full impact once our investments go live in 2026 for local and regional organisations, for heritage science research and innovation, and for the sector as a whole.
  • Launching the Access Fund: This is the first ‘at scale’ funding scheme specifically designed to widen access to heritage science expertise and technologies for smaller organisations and charities. If you or an organisation you work with think you might have an eligible project that would benefit, please do check out the application and guidance on our website.

Reflecting on this first year, it is clear how much can be achieved with a shared vision, dedicated people and strong collaboration. We cannot wait to see what the next year brings for RICHeS, our infrastructure and the heritage sector as a whole.

NHSF Conference ‘Trends in Heritage Science’: Reflection #04

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Guest author: Sam Matthews, Archaeological Science Fellow at The Engine Shed (Historic Environment Scotland).

Image credit: PaulT (Gunther Tschuch), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

NHSF’s very first conference, ‘Trends in Heritage Science’ took place on 10 July 2025. We awarded four bursaries for the event, and the recipients have each contributed a blog post reflecting on their experiences and learnings from the day. To finish off our series, we’re pleased to share Sam Matthews’ blog post, which focuses particularly on his experience of presenting a poster.

I am Sam Matthews and I was fortunate to attend the 2025 NHSF Conference: Trends in Heritage Science with the support of a bursary for NHSF members. I have worked for Historic Environment Scotland (HES) since February 2024 as an Archaeological Science Fellow. This is a hands-on training position, with the aim of taking knowledge and experience from an academic background and transferring these skills to the workplace. As part of my fellowship, I have undertaken a great variety of work over the last year and a half – research into archaeological and heritage sites, investigating objects of various materials, placements with teams within HES and other partner organisations. Preparing for and attending this conference was another aspect of this training programme, and one I greatly enjoyed. 

Poster by Sam Matthews – ‘The Dumbarton Cross Pendant: Uncovering the Mysteries of an Early Medieval Object’.


On the preparation front, I submitted, designed, and presented a poster for the conference – my first experience of doing so. It was based on a piece of work I did over the winter, investigating a small ceramic cross pendant that was found at Dumbarton Castle. Creating a poster from the report I had previously prepared was an enjoyable challenge – ensuring I struck the right balance between conveying accurate scientific information and keeping the poster brief and digestible. At the conference, I really enjoyed discussing my work with the delegates. It was excellent to be given the opportunity to share with a wider audience and gain vital experience in preparing similar posters in the future.

I really valued the chance at the conference to network with a range of professionals in the heritage science sector. As well as conversations during breaks throughout the day, this was facilitated excellently at the early career mentoring session in the afternoon. My fellowship is a temporary position that comes to an end in February 2026, so I am in the early stages of planning my next steps. I was able to discuss some of my thoughts and concerns about a career in heritage science: for example, the insecurity of short-term contracts, how the few professional opportunities are very competitive, and whether it was necessary to do further education or a PhD. In turn, I received helpful advice from the mentors – some specific contacts to reach out to, pointers towards emphasising transferable skills in a CV, a reminder that I could be flexible and non-linear with my career path. As someone who perhaps considers themselves primarily an archaeological scientist, it was good to reflect that I had options in the field of traditional archaeology that other heritage scientists may not. I also enjoyed meeting the other mentees – they too had lots of great advice. 

Of the presentations, I particularly enjoyed those towards the end of the day, on the theme of digital innovation in heritage science. This is a little outside the work I do, but I found the projects and discussion points raised very interesting. Specifically, two points have stayed with me: the importance of interdisciplinary and cross-organisational teams in maximising the benefits of projects in heritage science, and a call to think beyond our standard processes and outputs to innovate. I went away thinking how I could apply this to my own work – perhaps by trying to work more closely with other teams in HES or people outside the organisation, or thinking about what more I can do with my scientific output beyond just writing a report. 

In conclusion, I greatly enjoyed attending the NHSF conference this year! Hopefully, this will be the first of many I will be able to attend, as I continue my career as a heritage scientist. 

If you would like to find out more about the NHSF Conference, you can find the web page here.