Andrew Middleton
Museum Scientist
Technical examination of ceramics
and stone
Department: Conservation and Scientific
Research
Andrew Middleton’s main areas of interest are
in the technical examination of ceramics and stone. In
collaboration with colleagues, he uses the results from several
analytical techniques, including optical microscopy, scanning
electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and
Raman microscopy to interpret the raw materials, methods of
manufacture and provenance (i.e. source/place of manufacture) of
ceramics and stone.
Andrew has examined ceramic materials used to
make crucibles, furnace linings, etc used in the extraction of
metals from their ores. He also has an interest in the use of
X-radiography to investigate methods of forming pottery
vessels.
His initial training was as a geologist and in
previous jobs, he applied geological and mineralogical techniques
to the analysis of geological materials in the context of their
effects on human health, as industrial raw materials.
Current British Museum projects
Use of variscite in antiquity
Ain Ghazal plaster statues: technical
examination
Faience from Polledrara tomb
Previous British Museum projects
Turquoise mosaics from Mexico
Radiography of cultural materials
Geology of the Rosetta Stone
Ceramic petrography
External fellowships/ honorary positions/ membership of professional bodies
Member of Mineralogical Society of Great
Britain
Fellow of Society of Antiquaries
Member of Prehistoric Ceramic Research Group
(PCRG)
Member of Study Group for Roman Pottery
(SGRP)
Member of Ceramic Petrology Group
Publications
Most recent publications
A. Middleton, 'Jade – Geology and mineralogy', in M.
O’Donoghue (ed.) Gems. (Oxford, Elsevier), pp. 332-354
(2006).
C. McEwan, A. P. Middleton, C. R. Cartwright
and R. Stacey Turquoise mosaics from Mexico
(London, British Museum Press) (2006).
A. P. Middleton, H. G. M. Edwards, P. S.
Middleton and J. Ambers, 'Identification of anatase in
archaeological materials by Raman spectroscopy: implications and
interpretation', Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 36 (2005)
pp. 984-7
A. Middleton and J. Ambers, 'Analysis of
nephrite jade using Raman microscopy and X-ray fluorescence
spectroscopy', in H. G. M. Edwards and J. M. Chalmers (eds),
Raman spectroscopy in archaeology and art history (London,
Royal Society of Chemistry, 2005) pp. 403-11
J. Lang and A. Middleton (eds.)
Radiography of cultural material, Second edition (Oxford,
Elsevier, 2005)