Centre for Chemical Characterisation in Heritage Science (C3HS)

Description

The Centre for Chemical Characterisation in Heritage Science (C3HS) is a heritage science analytical facility at the University of Bristol, led by Professor Lucy Cramp. It consolidates and upgrades major mass spectrometry instrumentation to provide advanced molecular and single-compound isotopic analysis, together with high-precision radiocarbon dating of organic artefacts, applied to heritage materials such as organic residues in archaeological pottery, dietary signals in skeletal remains, climatic signals in historic parchments, and pigments and binders in artworks. By determining the composition, origin and age of heritage objects and materials, the Centre supports conservation strategies and new understanding of the past.

C3HS draws together expertise and infrastructure spanning three Schools and two Faculties at Bristol: the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology in the School of Arts, the Organic Geochemistry Unit in the School of Chemistry, and the Bristol Isotope Group in the School of Earth Sciences. It builds on the Bristol Radiocarbon Accelerator Mass Spectrometry facility (BRAMS), established in 2016. The Centre aims to give the wider heritage community easy access to these facilities along with dedicated support, expertise and training, and works with Historic England on guidance and training.

C3HS is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) through the UK Research and Innovation RICHeS programme (Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science), announced in October 2024. It is in its set-up phase, procuring and installing instrumentation, and expects to open access to UK researchers from 2026. Access to its services is listed through the Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS) catalogue.

Currently active

Yes

Offers funding

No, this infrastructure does not provide funding.

Founding year

2024

Contact details

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Categorisation

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University affiliation(s)

University of Bristol
Bristol

Partner Infrastructures

Historic England

Historic England is the public body that works with people and organisations across England to discover, protect, and bring new life to the shared historic environment. It provides advice, knowledge,… read more about Historic England

Swindon