APETHORPE HALL, APETHORPE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE THE

RESEARCH REPORT SERIES no. 3-2013
APETHORPE HALL,
APETHORPE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
THE CONSERVATION AND INVESTIGATION OF
COPPER ALLOY AND IRON OBJECTS
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSERVATION REPORT
Diana McCormack
INTERVENTION
AND ANALYSIS
Research Report Series 3-2013
Apethorpe Hall, Apethorpe, Northamptonshire
The conservation and investigation of
copper alloy and iron objects
Diana McCormack
NGR: TL 023 954
© English Heritage
ISSN 2046-9799 (Print)
ISSN 2046-9802 (Online)
The Research Report Series incorporates reports by the expert teams within the Investigation &
Analysis Division of the Heritage Protection Department of English Heritage, alongside
contributions from other parts of the organisation. It replaces the former Centre for Archaeology
Reports Series, the Archaeological Investigation Report Series, the Architectural Investigation
Report Series, and the Research Department Report Series.
Many of the Research Reports are of an interim nature and serve to make available the results of
specialist investigations in advance of full publication. They are not usually subject to external
refereeing, and their conclusions may sometimes have to be modified in the light of information
not available at the time of the investigation. Where no final project report is available, readers
must consult the author before citing these reports in any publication. Opinions expressed in
Research Reports are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of English Heritage.
Requests for further hard copies, after the initial print run, can be made by emailing:
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© ENGLISH HERITAGE
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SUMMARY
This report deals with the investigative conservation of copper alloy and iron objects
recovered from excavations at Apethorpe Hall, Northamptonshire. X-radiography was
used to aid identification, followed by selective cleaning of the finds, and X-ray
fluorescence to investigate metal coatings on some of the objects.
CONTRIBUTORS
Initial conservation assessment and recommendations were carried out by Angela
Middleton, Fort Cumberland, who also provided comments on the text.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
XRF analysis and interpretation was carried out with the assistance of, and under
supervision of, David Dungworth and Sarah Paynter, Fort Cumberland.
ARCHIVE LOCATION
The project archive is currently stored at Fort Cumberland. Following completion of the
project the archive will be deposited with the English Heritage East Territory collections.
DATE OF CONSERVATION
2012
CONTACT DETAILS
English Heritage, Fort Cumberland, Fort Cumberland Road, Portsmouth, PO4 9LD
Diana McCormack, 023 92 856778, [email protected]
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CONTENTS
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1
Assessment........................................................................................................................................ 1
Investigation and Conservation .................................................................................................... 2
SF200746018 ...............................................................................................................................................................3
SF200746030 ...............................................................................................................................................................3
SF200746034 ...............................................................................................................................................................5
SF200746038 ...............................................................................................................................................................7
SF200746046 .............................................................................................................................................................10
SF200746055 .............................................................................................................................................................13
SF200746006 .............................................................................................................................................................13
SF200746049 .............................................................................................................................................................15
SF200746060 .............................................................................................................................................................17
SF200746062 .............................................................................................................................................................18
SF200746064 .............................................................................................................................................................21
SF200746106 .............................................................................................................................................................22
Conclusion and Recommendations ........................................................................................... 24
References....................................................................................................................................... 25
Online Sources ............................................................................................................................... 26
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INTRODUCTION
An archaeological investigation took place at Apethorpe Hall during the month of
September 2007. The excavation was aimed at studying the building and its history specifically the development of the house and archaeological survival - in order to
understand the fabric and help guide conservation decisions (English Heritage
forthcoming,).
Four trenches were opened and the material that is the subject of this report originates
from trenches A and B. Trench A revealed several layers of rainwater drains and a sumplike structure incorporating a wall structure that pre-dated the late 15th-century buildings.
Trench B was targeted at a geophysical anomaly and produced a 17th-century stone drain
cutting an earlier wall foundation that had been partly robbed out. It was hoped that this
might provide evidence relating to an early East Range pre-dating the construction of the
State apartments and the extant East Range, dated 1623 (English Heritage forthcoming).
Objects selected for conservation and/or investigation include six copper alloy pins, a
copper alloy stud, and six iron objects. The iron objects are obscured by layers of
corrosion and required X-radiography for initial identification.
ASSESSMENT
Objects were assessed visually, with the aid of a low-powered microscope, and with Xradiography in order to select those that would benefit from further investigation. Several
of the iron objects appeared to be composite, while the copper alloy objects appeared to
have metallic coatings and in some cases decorated heads on the pins (Karsten 2008, 23).
Clarification of the detail of the heads of pins may help with the dating of these objects
and their contexts. Similarly, revealing the nature and materials present within the
corroded ironwork will aid with their identification and dating. This will also supplement
the spot-dates for the context record which have so far been generated from the pottery
assemblage (Jennings 2008).
A summary of the findings and questions raised from the initial assessment is presented in
the following table.
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Table 1: Summary of the initial assessment.
Object
Material
SF200746018
SF200746030
Iron
Iron
SF200746034
Iron
SF200746038
Iron
SF200746046
Iron
SF200746055
Iron
SF200746049
Copper alloy
SF200746006
SF200746060
SF200746062
SF200746064
SF200746106
Copper alloy
Copper alloy
Copper alloy
Copper alloy
Copper alloy
Assessment from Xradiograph/visual
Inconclusive
Shows two small dense features,
possibly rivets
Appears to be a nail with a second
artefact joined by corrosion
Shows buckle with possible
decorated surface and two dense
rivets
Fragments of an iron sheet/plate;
two fragments show circular dense
features, possibly rivets
No positive identification but one
possible rivet or dense spot
Pin with traces of a silver-coloured
coating near head
Pin with possible decorated head
Pin with possible decorated head
Pin with possible decorated head
Pin with possible decorated head
Square decorative stud with traces
of a gold-coloured coating
Task required
Re X-ray
Limited removal of corrosion
products to reveal these areas
Re X-ray and reveal this second
artefact by removal of corrosion
Removal of corrosion products to
reveal the surface and determine
any other materials present
Limited removal of corrosion in
areas around these features to
determine their material
Limited removal of corrosion to
reveal this possible rivet and
identify
Reveal and identify the metal
coating
Reveal head form by cleaning
Reveal head form
Reveal head form
Reveal head form
Reveal and identify metal coating
INVESTIGATION AND CONSERVATION
All the finds were in a stable condition. They retained soil and corrosion products. The
only interventive method planned was therefore removal of the adhering soil and
corrosion products as far as necessary to achieve the aims stated above. Iron objects
were cleaned using a scalpel under magnification, and by air abrasion. Copper alloys were
swabbed with a solution of 50/50 IMS in distilled water. In one case it was necessary to
make a small repair to stabilise the object; this was a copper alloy pin head
(SF200746064), to which HMG Paraloid B72 was applied, as described in the next
section.
All the copper alloy pins were tested with XRF and found to be of a similar copper-zinc
alloy. In each case the head was tested separately from the shaft in order to confirm that
both components of any one pin were made from the same raw material, which they
were in each case.
Some spot-dates have been attached to certain contexts by the finds specialist (Jennings
2008) and these are mentioned where relevant below. These dates are based on the
pottery assemblage but it should be noted that a significant amount of the material from
Trench B may be residual, with sherds from one vessel occurring in several contexts.
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There was not as much material recovered from Trench A and, consequently, dates for
this trench are less secure.
Each small find is now described in turn with details of the conservation work carried out.
SF200746018
This object (Figure 1) was retrieved from context 2008 in Trench B; this layer was given a
preliminary date of late 15th/early 16th century.
The object could not be identified from the existing X-radiograph, so it was digitally Xrayed to obtain another image (Figure 2). When tested with a magnet the object was
shown to contain metallic iron, but no clear form could be distinguished from the
radiographs, which showed only an amorphous lump. This may be a lump of waste metal
and, based on the radiograph, it was decided not to clean the object or undertake any
further work.
Figure 1: Showing the object SF200746018
(no treatment)
Figure 2: X-radiograph image of the object
(P3862; 150kV, 1.0min)
SF200746030
This object (Figure 3-4) was retrieved from context 1029 in Trench A; there are no spotdates attached to this context.
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When examined under the microscope this object was found to have mineral-preserved
organic material (MPO) near to the surface. Soil and iron corrosion products were
carefully removed with a scalpel under magnification to define the extent and nature of
these MPOs (Figure 5), which resembled strands of woody plant material. The object
appeared to have a relatively flat or sheet-like component of which only a small fragment
survived. This may be a small fragment of something larger, such as a hinge fitting.
However, the object could not be positively identified and so it was not possible to
conclude whether the MPO material was related to the original function of the piece or
whether it was attached as a result of burial conditions.
Figure 3: Showing the object SF200746030
before cleaning
© ENGLISH HERITAGE
Figure 4: Showing the object SF200746030
before cleaning – side view showing attached
stone
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Figure 5: Showing close-up of mineral-preserved organic material
Cleaning in the areas of the two dense spots shown on the X-radiograph failed to identify
any features or rivets. These may have been the result of accidental contamination by lead
or some other dense material.
SF200746034
This object was retrieved from context 1029 in Trench A; there are no spot-dates
attached to this context.
A digital X-radiograph was produced of the object which clearly identified the primary
object as a nail, but failed to identify the secondary object corroded to the central part of
the nail (Figure 6). Air abrasion was employed to remove the soil and corrosion products
in this area to try to reveal the nature of this object.
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Figure 6: Showing X-radiograph image of the nail with secondary artefact around the
centre (P3874; 150kV, 1.0mins) SF200746034
The secondary object appeared to be of a twisted cylindrical form, with a possible
threaded end, such as a screw (Figure 8). Unfortunately, it was too badly corroded to be
conclusive.
Figure 7: Showing object SF200746034 before
cleaning
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Figure 8: Showing secondary object as
exposed
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SF200746038
This object (Figure 9-10) was retrieved from context 2010 in Trench B; a spot date of
late 15th/16th century was attached to this context, derived from the pottery assemblage.
X-radiographs showed a buckle of single-loop rectangular frame with a folded sheet plate
construction, held by two rivets that appeared to be of a denser metal. The surface of the
plate was decorated, consisting of a series of parallel lines on the upper surface only,
which appeared to be denser than the rest of the plate. The pin appeared very faintly on
the radiograph, indicating that it has not survived well (Figure 11).
Figure 9: Showing the object SF200746038
before treatment (front)
© ENGLISH HERITAGE
Figure 10: Showing the object
SF200746038 before treatment (back)
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Figure 11: Showing X-radiograph image of the object SF200746038 (P3873; 150kV,
1.0mins)
The object was cleaned of soil and corrosion products by air abrasion, to reveal the black
magnetite layer of the iron plate. This revealed the grooved surface as seen in the
radiographs (Figure 13), but did not show any inlaid materials. The surface of the rivets
was revealed as these were thought to be of a different material, and a small area on the
frame was also exposed. These areas were all tested by XRF to identify the materials
present.
The plate of the buckle was found to be iron, with tin surviving very poorly in some areas
(Figure 12-13), mainly within the grooves, as hinted at by the X-radiographs. The grooved
surface relief was also revealed, which is present on the upper side of the plate only. The
rivets were identified as a copper-zinc alloy; the frame and pin (where they could be
tested) were also of a tinned iron, like the plate.
The frame of this buckle is not particularly distinctive, but is a similar size and shape to
one documented by Egan & Pritchard (1991, 95) dating from c.1350-c.1400. Iron buckles
are more common in horse equipment than clothing and the plain rectangular-framed
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ones tend to be categorised as harness equipment (Egan & Pritchard 1991, 50-3), but this
buckle is relatively small when compared to this type, as it would accommodate a strap of
no more than 20mm width. The decorated/tinned surface and copper alloy pins also
demonstrate that the aesthetics of the object have been enhanced, suggesting this is not a
purely functional item. Rectangular iron frames were also used for men’s and women’s
girdles, armour and sword belts, and on bags and other items. It is also noted that they
are scarce in the archaeological record before the mid-13th century, when copper alloy
frames were more common (Egan & Pritchard 1991, 153). This suggests a broad date
range for this object of 13th to 15th century based on excavated examples.
Figure 12: Showing traces of tinned
surface under corrosion layer on the
frame
Figure 13: Showing grooved upper surface of
plate during cleaning with small traces of
tinning
Location
of Figure
12 above
Location
of Figure
13 above
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Figure 14: Showing object SF200746038
after treatment (front)
Figure 15: Showing object SF200746038
after treatment (reverse)
SF200746046
This object was retrieved from context 1001 in Trench A. This was a ceramic drain that
probably dates to the 20th century and, consequently, this object is most likely of 20th
century origin. It comprises several fragments of flat, corroded iron sheet, some of which
can be re-fit together. Some fragments have straight edges and one or two have
upturned edges, but all are covered in corrosion products (Figure 16).
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Figure 16: Showing all fragments before treatment; the two largest were cleaned.
Two fragments of this iron sheet (selected after X-radiography) were cleaned of soil and
corrosion by air abrasion and examined under magnification. These two fragments could
be re-fitted in to one larger piece, demonstrating that they definitely derive from the same
object (Figure 17).
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Figure 17: Showing two largest fragments after partial cleaning, demonstrating re-fit; red
arrows indicate position of rivets
The areas where the dense spots were seen on the X-radiograph contained rivets, three
out of four were revealed (the last appeared to survive less well and was obscured by a
large mass of corrosion – it was decided that nothing was to be gained by continuing
work here). One side of the fragments showed the rivet heads, while the other had a
small protruding piece of the rivet and the remains of lenticular washers (Figure 18).
Figure 18: Showing one of the circular rivet heads with
remains of lenticular washer
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The rivets and washers appeared to be made from iron, similar to the plate object, and
this was confirmed with XRF. No other materials were identified as being present.
SF200746055
This object was retrieved from context 1056 in Trench A; there are no spot-dates
attached to this context.
The object itself could not be identified and was covered with iron-based corrosion
products. In one corner a small lump of white-ish corrosion corresponded to the area
identified for investigation on the X-radiograph. The corrosion was removed with a
scalpel under magnification and revealed a small circular node of a white-coloured
material, suspected to be lead (Figure 19-20). This was confirmed by XRF.
Figure 19: Showing object with feature at lower left
Figure 20: Showing lead feature under
magnification
The lead may have been accidentally deposited on this iron object; from the X-radiograph
it does not appear to penetrates the object as, for example, a rivet might. No further
conservation was undertaken on this item.
SF200746006
This pin (Figure 21) was retrieved from context 2008 in Trench B; sherds of pottery from
this context are inconclusive in terms of date, placing it only somewhere from the 15th to
17th century.
When examined under the microscope, this pin appeared to have a roughly spherical
head comprised of twists of wire. The head and shaft had copper-based corrosion
products obscuring much of the surface. A digital x-radiograph of the object was
produced and the image manipulated to reveal as much of the head structure as possible.
A sketch was made based on this x-radiograph, shown below (Figure 22).
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Figure 21: Showing object
SF200746006 before treatment
Figure 22: Showing sketch of head based on xradiograph
The object was cleaned using a small cotton swab and a solution of IMS in distilled water
in a 1:1 ratio. Very light use of a scalpel was also required to define the head (Figure 23).
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Figure 23: Showing the head after cleaning, under
magnification
Figure 24: Showing the
object SF200746006 after
cleaning
This is a wound-wire-headed pin, wherein the head has been created from one piece of
wire wound tightly, and stamped into a spherical shape onto the shaft. The number of
turns in the wire can be estimated as 2.8 – this was done for all pins discussed below by
visual comparison with a grading chart presented in Caple (1986, 140).
SF200746049
This pin (Figure 25) was retrieved from context 1056 in trench A; there are no spot-dates
attached to this context.
When examined under the microscope, this pin appeared to have a roughly spherical
head comprised of twists of wire, which appeared distorted by a small mass of corrosion
on one side. The head and shaft had copper-based corrosion products obscuring much of
the surface. A digital X-radiograph of the object was produced and the image manipulated
to reveal as much of the head structure as possible. A sketch was made based on this Xradiograph, shown below (Figure 26).
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Figure 25: Showing the object
SF200746049 before cleaning
Figure 26: Sketch based on x-radiograph
The object was cleaned using a small cotton swab and a solution of IMS in distilled water
in a 1:1 ratio, and also a scalpel to remove the mass of corrosion on the head. This is also
a wound-wire-headed pin. Where the shaft begins to protrude from the head, it appears
to have a slightly flattened top. This is probably due to corrosion rather than the
manufacturing process. The number of turns in the wire can be estimated as 2.1.
Traces of a silver-coloured coating were present on the shaft in the area below the head
(Figure 27). This area was tested by XRF, showing a copper-zinc alloy with traces of tin.
The elemental signal did not appear strong enough to say definitively that this pin had
been tinned, but it can be said that, when targeted with the XRF beam, the area where
coating survived showed traces of tin while the uncoated part of the pin did not.
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Traces of tin
coating on neck
Figure 27: Showing traces of coating tested by XRF and detail of head
after cleaning SF200746049
SF200746060
This pin (Figure 28) was retrieved from context 2033 in Trench B. A spot-date of mid15th to early/mid-16th century is attached to this context.
When examined under the microscope, this pin appeared to have a slightly squared head,
comprised of twists of wire that were more loosely coiled than in other pins described
here. This may be because the head was simply stuck onto the shaft rather than stamped
or crimped (illustrated by Caple 1986, Fig 2:78) or it may be that the wire has sprung out
of shape as the copper alloy has corroded. The head and shaft were covered with
copper-based corrosion products and there was soil in the recesses between the sprung
wire coil. A digital X-radiograph of the object was produced and the image manipulated
to reveal as much of the head structure as possible. A sketch was made based on this xradiograph, shown below (Figure 29).
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Figure 28: Showing object SF200746060 before treatment
Figure 29: Sketch based on x-radiograph
Figure 30: Showing detail of head after cleaning
SF200746060
The object was partially cleaned using a small cotton swab and a solution of IMS in
distilled water in a 1:1 ratio, along with a scalpel to remove soil from recessed areas.
Cleaning was stopped at a point when the form of head was clear, as the object was very
fragile and there was no clear benefit from full cleaning which might have put it at
unnecessary risk.
This is also a wound-wire-headed pin, the number of turns on the wire can be estimated
as 2.1.
SF200746062
This pin was retrieved from context 2042 in Trench B. A spot-date of mid-15th-mid-16th
century is attached to this context.
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When examined under the microscope, this pin appeared to have a spherical head
comprised of twisted wire, with a pinched ‘neck’. A silver-coloured coating survived along
most of the shaft and head, with some soil and copper-based corrosion products at the
surface. A digital X-radiograph of the object was produced and the image manipulated to
reveal as much of the head structure as possible. A sketch was made based on this Xradiograph, shown below (Figure 32).
Figure 31: Showing object
SF200746062 before cleaning
Figure 32: Sketch based on x-radiograph
The object was cleaned using a small cotton swab and a solution of IMS in distilled water
in a 1:1 ratio. Very light use of a scalpel was also required to define the neck. This is also a
wound-wire-headed pin, wherein the head has been stamped into a spherical shape. The
narrow neck of the pin was created as the head was crimped onto the shaft, probably
due to protrusions in the head stamping die (Caple 1986, 150-2). The number of turns in
the wire can be estimated as 1.9.
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Figure 33: Showing the object SF200746062 after treatment
The silver-coloured coating was present on the shaft and head (Figure 33), and was tested
by XRF, and showed traces of tin in the copper-zinc alloy (Figure 34). While the
proportion of tin appeared to be relatively low, it is still significant as this trace did not
appear when testing the area of the pin without the silvery coating. There is therefore a
suggestion that the pin was tinned, but this cannot be definitively stated from the XRF
evidence alone. Caple states that tin coatings can often be ephemeral and suggests that
tinning was a common process in the pinning industry in general (1986 Ch. 2 & 7).
Peak representing tin (Sn)
Figure 34: Showing XRF spectrum identifying trace of tin coating on the copper alloy
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SF200746064
This pin was retrieved from context 2047 in Trench B, to which a spot-date of late-15thearly-16th century is attached.
This pin had a broken shaft, but both pieces fit together with no missing parts. No
attempt was made to rejoin the two pieces; it was felt that this was unnecessary as it
would not reveal any further information, and may put the object at risk of further
breakage in future. When examined under the microscope, this pin appeared to have a
circular lenticular head but was covered in copper-based corrosion products and soil,
obscuring much of the detail. A digital X-radiograph of the object was produced and the
image manipulated to reveal as much of the head structure as possible. A sketch was
made based on this X-radiograph, shown below (Figure 36).
Figure 35: Showing object
SF200746064 before
treatment
Figure 36: Sketch based on x-radiograph
The object was cleaned using a small cotton swab and a solution of IMS in distilled water
in a 1:1 ratio, but a small fragment broke away from the head during cleaning. This was reattached with HMG Paraloid B72 applied to the head, and the fragment re-positioned and
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held in place for several seconds. As the fragment was too small to be safely handled with
tweezers, it was lifted with a small amount of wax on the end of a cocktail stick, working
under magnification. The exposed inner surface of the head showed that the copper alloy
was extensively corroded and so no further cleaning was undertaken once this repair had
been made to stabilise the object (Figure 38).
Figure 37: Showing inner surface of head in
fresh break
Figure 38: Showing fragment re-attached
This is also a wound-wire-headed pin that is more severely corroded than others
described in this report, producing a smaller, misshapen head. The number of turns of
wire in the head can be estimated as 2.1.
SF200746106
This object was retrieved from context 2047 in Trench B, to which a spot date of late
15th-16th century is attached.
This object is a small, copper-alloy stud or mount, square in shape with a central hole, and
eight radial flutes creating a simple decorative relief form (Figure 39-40). The object
resembles several ocotfoil mounts with holes for separate rivets dating to c.1270-c.1400,
as described by Egan & Pritchard (1991, 194), and one sexfoil stud recorded on the
Portable Antiquities Scheme database dated broadly to c.1325-c.1700 (ID SOM-3F5713).
This type of object was commonly attached to clothing, straps, girdles, purses, shoes etc,
and is purely decorative (Egan & Pritchard 1991, 162). It was probably attached via a rivet
through the central hole. Traces of a gold-coloured coating were clearly seen under the
microscope, though the object was covered with soil and copper-based corrosion
products.
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The object was cleaned using a small cotton swab and a solution of IMS in distilled water
in a 1:1 ratio, and light use of a scalpel in recessed areas where necessary.
Figure 39: Showing object SF200746106 before cleaning
Figure 40: Showing object SF200746106 after cleaning
The coating was tested with XRF and confirmed as gold, with mercury also present
(Figure 41). This indicates that the gold coating was produced by fire-gilding the object,
wherein the gold is applied to the object as an amalgam with mercury and the mercury is
then driven off by heating to leave a well-bonded layer of gold (Oddy 1993, 177).
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Figure 41: Showing XRF spectrum identifying gold and mercury on the copper alloy
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The majority of iron objects investigated could not be positively identified and so did not
add any information to the study of this site. The most interesting item was a composite
decorative buckle, probably a dress accessory, that is comparable to some 15th century
examples.
All the copper alloy pins investigated were found to be wound-wire-headed pins. While
there are too few objects to make any meaningful comments on the group, their
dimensions are summarised in Table 2. These generally have around two turns of wire
comprising the head, following the proposal that there was a uniformity of length for head
wire in the pinning industry (Caple 1986, 140-3).
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Table 2: Summarising surviving pin dimensions
Small find
SF200746006
SF200746049
SF200746060
SF200746062
SF200746064
Surviving length (mm)
25
24.5
36.5
24.5
51
Head diameter (mm)
2.5
2.6
3.0
2.6
2.8
No. head wire turns
2.8
2.1
2.1
1.9
2.1
From surviving traces on some of the objects, it is likely that the pins were tinned, which
was a common process in their manufacture. The variable survival of this coating may be
due to wear from use of the pins as well as burial in archaeological contexts. It is notable
that the only pin which has a coating that could be described as well-preserved
(SF200746062) is also straight, with an intact head, and shows no signs of use that might
have degraded this coating.
Pins of this size and form were reportedly used for purposes such as fastening veils and
headdresses in the 14th and 15th centuries, rather than as decorative items in fastening
thick outer garments (Egan & Pritchard 1991, 297). This can be inferred from their smaller
size, length and lack of decorated head, as was common from around the 14th century
onward. The small stud or mount is also a decorative item that would seem to fit the
15th/16th century date attached to the context in which it was found, based on
comparative artefacts.
All but one of the copper alloy objects, as well as the decorated buckle, ie the majority of
the dress accessories, were recovered from Trench B, while the unidentified iron objects
come mainly from Trench A. The objects from Trench B also appear to be related to the
earlier activity in this trench, pre-dating the 17th century drain.
The iron objects have been packed in pierced bags and placed in a Stewart box with a
silica gel dessicant and a humidity indicator strip. They should be stored in this manner
with periodic checks to renew the dessicant and maintain a relative humidity level not
above 30%. The copper alloys are also packed in bags or crystal boxes depending on their
fragility and these are all contained in a Stewart box, also with a silica gel dessicant. Acidfree tissue has been used as a support/padding material where appropriate. Handling of
these objects should be kept to a minimum, and nitrile gloves should be worn when
handling is necessary.
REFERENCES
Caple, C 1986 An analytical appraisal of copper alloy pin production: 400-1600 AD.
Unpublished PhD thesis
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English Heritage forthcoming Apethorpe Hall, Northamptonshire: site archive completion
report. English Heritage Research Report Series
Egan, G & Pritchard, F 1991 Dress Accessories c.1150-c.1450: Medieval finds from
excavations in London. London: HMSO
Jennings, S 2008 Apethorpe 2007 – pottery spot dates. Internal report
Karsten, A 2008 Conservation Assessment: Apethorpe Hall, site code 4839. Internal
report.
Oddy, A 1993 Gilding of metals in the Old World, in La Niece, S & Craddock, P (eds)
Metal Plating and Patination: cultural, technical and historical developments. Butterworth
Heinemann Oxford pp171-181
ONLINE SOURCES
www.finds.org.uk Portable Antiquities Scheme database, consulted December 2012
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ENGLISH HERITAGE RESEARCH AND THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT
English Heritage undertakes and commissions research into the historic
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