Scientific Techniques

 Scientific techniques are increasingly vital to discovering more about our past and helping to safeguard its future.  For instance, scientific dating tells us when events took place and helps us understand the pace of cultural change, while geophysical methods allow us to see beneath the soil, giving a detailed picture of buried archaeological remains prior to their excavation or preservation.  Once retrieved, fragile artefacts can be minutely investigated to reveal how they were made and used, whilst the study of how they have altered during burial can inform us about the preservation of sites for the future.  Physical and chemical analyses of objects and the residues of their manufacture can identify technological processes and develop our understanding of industrial history.  The study of soils and sediments, and the information they contain, such as plant and animal remains, are key to understanding past human impact on the environment as well as providing information on peoples’ everyday lives, especially what they eat and how they used the land around them.  The study of human remains themselves is also revealing a wealth of information about our ancestors, especially past human health and diet.

The Archaeological Science Teams at English Heritage, mostly based at Fort Cumberland, Portsmouth, include specialists in all these areas, providing research, advice and training in support of broadening the understanding, enjoyment, and protection of the historic environment.  They work in partnership with university departments and other groups, and in close liaison with English Heritage’s Regional Science Advisors based in each of our nine regions.