A START-up company at the Daresbury Laboratory near Warrington is about to introduce “speed dating” for archaeologists.
Artemis Analytical, a spin-out of the University of Manchester, is poised to introduce game-changing technology which will enable archaeologists to vastly speed-up carbon dating processes.
It could also be used for other activities such as forensics and identifying counterfeit whisky, wine and art.
Carbon dating is the “gold standard” technique applied by archaeologists worldwide to date objects made from organic materials from over the past 50,000 years. However, this can be a very costly process and archaeologists can wait months for samples to be analysed, a timescale that can disrupt research programmes and cause frustration all round.
Artemis Analytical is about to change all that, developing technology from the heart of CERN – the European Organisation for Nuclear Research – to reduce the waiting time and cost of carbon dating, with results in days rather than months.
Dr Kieran Flanagan, a Reader of Physics at the University of Manchester, said: “Our mission is to provide archaeologists with a fast and affordable dating service that will enable them to date their research materials in days. Our technique builds on years of research carried out at CERN by researchers from the University of Manchester, and we’re really excited to be taking this to next stage.”
The STFC CERN BIC supports SMEs that are using technologies originally developed for use in high energy physics research to develop new products and services. It provides valuable access to STFC and CERN intellectual property, technologies and expertise,? combined with collaboration opportunities and up to £40k in funding.
Further information and advice about getting involved with the STFC CERN BIC can be found at the STFC CERN BIC website.
Speed dating for archaeologists at Daresbury
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