Professor Damien Gore (School of Natural Sciences) and Dr Thomas J. Derrick (Department of History and Archaeology) use XRF spectrometry to unlock the mysteries of ancient glass in the MUHM collection

Have you ever wondered what stories might lie hidden within ancient artefacts? This curiosity drives the exciting collaboration between Professor Damien Gore from the School of Natural Sciences and Dr Thomas J. Derrick from the Department of History and Archaeology, who are using XRF spectrometry to unlock the mysteries of ancient glass housed in the MUHM.

[Image: Small blown Roman bowl or acetabulum (for vinegar) with rim decorations in blue-green glass (MU0329). Photo: Effy Alexakis, PhotoWrite]

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry uses X-ray radiation to dislodge electrons in the measured object; these electrons are then received by the handheld unit, which can then be analysed to suggest the elements within the object. In this case, XRF spectrometry will enable us to ascertain the composition of the glass which will help reveal information about the techniques and location of its manufacture, which will in turn help provenance the Ancient Glass collection.

While the Ancient Glass collection is among the most aesthetic of the MUHM’s Ancient Cultures collection, it also provides key insights into the nature of technological development, cultural exchange, and the lived experience of those in the ancient world.

[Image: Core-formed glass alabastron – Eastern Mediterranean 6th-4th Centuries BCE (MU4707). Photo: Effy Alexakis, PhotoWrite]

XRF spectrometry is a non-destructive and powerful tool for increasing our knowledge about these objects and the people who made and owned them. For instance, variations in glass composition can indicate the production period and geographical origins of an object, or how they were coloured.

This project is a great example of cross departmental research synergies at Macquarie and is a potent reminder of the power of science to help us better understand the lived experience of museum objects.

[Image: Small blown Roman unguentarium in lilac glass (MU4649). Photo: Effy Alexakis, PhotoWrite]

Contact: MUHM Museum

Phone: 0298509263

Email: muhm@mq.edu.au