Photograph, of conservator using a scanning electron microscope to examine objects from hoard

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This photograph shows a conservator using a scanning electron microscope to examine bronze rings with textile fragments found in a hoard at St Andrews in Fife. The hoard contained over 200 tools, weapons and ornaments as well as seven amber beads and three cannel coal bangles. It was buried between 950 and 750 BC.

Although the St Andrews hoard had been completely disturbed, archaeologists were quickly called in. Prompt examination of the area led to the recovery of many small fragments of textiles, leather, yarn, string, wood and tusk. This is the largest such group of textile, plant and leather remains of this date to have been found in Britain.

The presence of both corroding metal and fragile textiles required difficult and delicate conservation and analysis. The scanning electron microscope allowed conservators to identify the organic material such as textile fragments and yarns.

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• Online ID: 000-180-000-898-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
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• Ref: National Museums Scotland  
• Date: 1990s; date of hoard: between 950 and 750 BC
  
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  • Cowie, Trevor, O'Connor, Brendan and Proudfoot, Edwina. A Late Bronze Age hoard from St Andrews, Fife, Scotland: a preliminary report. In: Chevillot, C. and Coffin, A (eds). Le Bronze Atlantique, Actes du premier colloque, Beynac 1990, Beynac, 1991, pp 49 
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