British Museum Technical Research Bulletin Volume 2

Abstract

• This second volume of the British Museum Technical Research Bulletin contains articles that address the assessment, examination, treatment and analysis of objects from across the Museum’s collections and beyond, reflecting the diverse role that conservation and scientific activities play within some of the Museum’s wider programmes. The articles focus not only on objects conserved and examined as part of gallery refurbishment programmes and temporary exhibitions, but also on the results of longer-term studies of the collection. The Museum’s international activity is reflected in the assessment of Neanderthal skeletal remains in Krapina, Croatia, while an article about a small Egyptian glass scarab demonstrates how studies that begin with a particular (perhaps narrow) focus frequently expand to consider different aspects of the preservation and interpretation of objects. Contents: A new look at an old cat: a technical investigation of the Gayer-Anderson cat (Janet Ambers, Duncan Hook, Neal Spencer, Fleur Shearman, Susan La Niece, Rebecca Stacey and Caroline Cartwright) A musical instrument fit for a queen: the metamorphosis of a Medieval citole (Philip Kevin, James Robinson, Susan La Niece, Caroline Cartwright and Chris Egerton) The manufacture and decoration of Parthian glazed 'slipper coffins' from Warka (Andrew Middleton, St John Simpson and Antony P. Simpson) Conservation assessment of the Neanderthal human remains from Krapina, Croatia and its implications for the debate on the display and loan of human fossils (Jill Cook and Clare Ward) Analysis and conservation of a weeping glass scarab (Philip J. Fletcher, Ian Freestone and Rainer Geschke) The photo-ageing behaviour of selected watercolour paints under anoxic conditions (Capucine Korenberg) Scientific aspects of ancient faces: mummy portraits from Egypt (Caroline Cartwright and Andrew Middleton) A Spanish Medieval altar 'set': new investigation and assessment of its date and manufacture (Maickel van Bellegem, Stefan Röhrs and Bet McLeod) Wooden Egyptian archery bows in the collections of the British Museum (Caroline Cartwright and John H. Taylor)