Studentship at Centre for Doctoral Training Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and Archaeology

Fully Funded Studentship:
"Characterising marine archaeological iron degradation and the
    efficacy of treatments to date: worth a shot?"
Centre for Doctoral Training Science and Engineering in Arts,
    Heritage and Archaeology (SEAHA)

Artefacts made of iron have a strong tendency to corrode, and where
they have survived in the archaeological record, their conservation
represents a major challenge.  The corrosion process is accelerated
by the presence of chloride ions and is also dependent upon the
burial environment and the initial composition of the iron.  This
inherent variability has made it difficult to obtain a suitably
controlled sample of corroded iron where the effects of different
conservation treatments may be studied.  Furthermore, the unique
character of much archaeological material frequently renders more
intrusive forms of analysis, involving the removal of samples,
undesirable.  This project overcomes some of these difficulties by
the analysis of material from Henry VIII's flagship Mary Rose, which
was excavated in 1982.  Among the vast collection of Tudor iron
artefacts recovered are approximately 900 examples of iron shot,
which have undergone various treatments to remove Cl ions, and have
also experienced varied storage conditions.  This project therefore
exploits a unique opportunity to analyse the corrosion processes,
products and treatment efficacy from a relatively uniform initial
set.  Aims and methodology:  The overall aim of this project is to
fully interrogate this set of shot as well as other iron from the
Mary Rose, for example that which has been preserved in contact with
wood.  It will build on this crucial information to determine a
future conservation strategy for the iron from the wreck.

The main research questions are:

    How does the iron shot degradation vary in terms of products and
    progression into the artefact, relative to their conservation
    treatment and storage environment?

    How do the corrosion rates of archaeological iron compare to
    modern day iron and what are the implications of this for
    conservation?

    How does iron corrosion develop as part of a component in a
    composite material (e.g. iron fixtures in wood) and how can this
    be remediated?

The research will build upon the very large body of expertise The
Mary Rose Trust has developed on archaeological iron from the marine
environment, as well as the expertise and instrumentation available
at Diamond Light Source.  Using techniques including scanning
electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction and X-ray
Absorption spectroscopy, the student will characterise the corrosion
products on Mary Rose iron, and quantify their relative proportions
and their short and long-range order.  A custom cell will be
designed and manufactured allowing direct measurement of the
corrosion rates of iron from the ship, under varying conditions and
in a range of media.    The student will be supported by a heritage
supervisor with strong familiarity with the Mary Rose (Dr Eleanor
Schofield, a materials scientist and conservation manager at Mary
Rose Trust), a supervisor from Diamond Light Source who will provide
training and support in synchrotron-based analytical methods (senior
beamline scientist Dr. Giannantonio Cibin), a second industrial
supervisor (Robert Turner of EURA Conservation Ltd) who will provide
guidance from an applied conservation perspective and an academic
supervisor (Prof Ian Freestone, University College London) who will
take overall responsibility for the project and coordinate training
in necessary scientific skills.

Academic entry criteria: We welcome students with any good physical
science or engineering undergraduate qualifications, including the
scientific side of earth or environmental science, or those with a
strong background in conservation or archaeological science.  Please
contact the academic supervisor Ian Freestone
<i.freestone<-at->ucl<.>ac<.>uk> if you have any queries about the project
and your suitability for it.

Further information: The project, which is funded by EPSRC and
co-funded by Diamond Light Source, is part of the EPSRC Centre for
Doctoral Training in Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and
Archaeology

    <URL:http://www.seaha-cdt.ac.uk>

SEAHA students are involved in activities ranging from residential
events and group projects, to conferences and careers events.  The
SEAHA Studentship will cover home fees and a stipend of up to
UKP16,726 per year (current rate) for eligible applicants

    <URL:http://www.seaha-cdt.ac.uk/opportunities/eligibility-criteria/>

and a substantial budget for research, travel, and cohort
activities.  The student will pursue the MRes SEAHA at UCL in year 1
and then the PhD for years 2-4 of the SEAHA scholarship.  It is
intended that 12 months in years 2-3 will be spent at Diamond Light
Source.  Specialist training will be provided in the generation and
analysis of data from synchrotron and more general laboratory
techniques.

How to apply: Your application should include:

    A covering letter clearly stating:

        Your motivation and how the course will contribute to your
        career development

        Your residency status and eligibility for funding according
        to the information provided or how you intend to sponsor
        your studies if not eligible for funding

    Your academic eligibility

    Names of two academic referees (or one academic and one
    professional if applicable)

    Proof of meeting the UCL English language proficiency
    requirements where necessary.  For SEAHA candidates, an advanced
    level certificate is normally required Details of English
    language proficiency requirements can be found at

        <URL:http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/apply/english-language/index>

    A short research proposal (maximum 2000 words) written by taking
    into consideration the above research questions

The award will be subject to a Grant Agreement between University
College London, The Mary Rose Trust, Diamond Light Source and EURA
Conservation Ltd.

Applications should be sent by email directly to:

    SEAHA Centre Manager
    UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage
    manager<-at->seaha-cdt<.>ac<.>uk

Application deadline: Midnight (GMT), Sunday 21 June 2015

Robert Turner ACR
Eura Conservation Ltd
+44 1952 680218
Fax: +44 1952 585044


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 29:2
                  Distributed: Saturday, May 30, 2015
                        Message Id: cdl-29-2-023
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