Research in CHART
Cultural Heritage and archaeometric research deal with investigations of samples originating from all sorts of culturally important artefacts: those procured by archaeologists in excavations, medieval buildings, handmade artefacts of all kinds, pieces of art, written materials. Only, the objects have to have survived and be preserved today to some tangible degree. The study of cultural heritage is not exclusively for the humanities. In the last four or five decades natural sciences have been increasingly involved in untangling the events of the past by studying cultural heritage objects to an ever increasing degree of complexity.
In CHART we take up the challenge of investigating cultural heritage objects on an international level using chemistry and physics. We aim at making a difference on the international scene by inventing new analytical methodologies, investigating objects of national and international interest, and by always securing collaboration between natural science and the humanities. We do not claim to produce final or stand-alone answers; instead we strive to achieve solutions together with colleagues from the humanities. In our research laboratories we daily cross the line between natural science and the humanities.
Topical areas of research in CHART
- Trace elements in medieval human bones
- Studies of interesting single medieval and renaissance individuals
- Analyses of soil in proximity to human remnants
- Thermoluminescence dating of red brick and ceramics
- Provenancing red bricks and ceramics by TL, magnetic susceptibility and XRF
- Determination of maximum firing temperature for ceramics
- Colour measurements of ceramic materials
- Analyses of paint and other soft materials such as parchment
- Air chemistry in showcases and indoor environments
- Outreach towards educational institutions and the public
Research collaboration in CHART
CHART has conducted research projects in collaboration with a range of national and international museums, antiquity authorities, and university research groups. Our major collaborative projects have been/are: Bones4Culture, OPHELIA, TheCityDwellers and presently The Danish Lombardian Connection.
