2020-Vision: Correlative Digital Microscopy for Heritage Research and Outreach

This collaboration between the University of Portsmouth, the Mary Rose Trust and the National Museum of the Royal Navy will provide new capabilities to study and care for some of the most important collections associated with UK maritime heritage. These include the unique Tudor warship the Mary Rose, Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar, HMS Victory, and Britain's first iron-hulled battleship, HMS Warrior. These collections also include a wide range of artifacts that can inform us about historical events and our cultural heritage. For example, the Mary Rose Museum has a tremendous diversity of materials; from large bronze cannons on wooden gun carriages, to leather boots, personal items, gold coins and other items depicting life on board this Tudor vessel. Improving our understanding of the historical and cultural significance of these artifacts often requires highly-detailed study at microscopic scales. In addition, and whilst in fantastic condition considering their age and the environment they have been subjected to, sadly some deterioration has occurred. The only way to keep abreast of this deterioration and prevent or slow down any further progression, is to fully understand the materials and how they have interacted with the environment.

By replacing ageing microscopes at the Mary Rose Museum and University of Portsmouth with a state-of-the-art digital microscope system, this project will allow conservation and curatorial experts to carry out detailed and wide-ranging analysis of artifacts in these collections. This is essential to fully understand their origin and significance, as well as ensure that they are fully preserved for future generations. A unique aspect of this project is that advanced microscopy capabilities will be seamlessly linked between the museum and the extensive materials characterization laboratories at the University. Samples will be able to be rapidly transferred to a wide-range of powerful instruments that are located just a few minutes walk from the museum, including electron and X-Ray microscopes; providing information about the structure and composition of artifacts that can reveal far more about their origins and required preservation treatments than observation alone.

This work is not only important for the collections of the Mary Rose Trust and National Museum of the Royal Navy, but also to other similar collections around the world that draw upon new knowledge that the University and Mary Rose share with the community. The new digital microscope system will also provide outstanding opportunities to connect the public to the origins, history and conservation of historic artifacts in a level of detail that cannot be readily captured by visual inspection alone. The digital microscope will be widely used for demonstrations at both in-person outreach events and remote online events for organizations and schools.