Janet Ambers
Museum Scientist
Radiography, Raman spectrometry
Department: Conservation and Scientific
Research
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7323 8332
Email: jambers @ thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
Janet Ambers currently works mostly on the
imaging of museum related materials, with a specific interest in
radiography, and on the analysis of museum objects using various
techniques but with an emphasis on Raman spectrometry. Her
particular interests include pigment analysis with particular
emphasis on the palette of Ancient Egypt, the identification of
gemstones, jades and geological materials by Raman spectroscopy and
the radiography of ceramics and other similar materials
Previously she ran the British Museum
radiocarbon laboratory until its closure in 2000 and has an
interest in all forms of archaeological dating. She has also
worked on the analysis of stable isotopes in bone.
Current British Museum projects
Radiographic imaging of ceramics with
particular regard to manufacturing methods
Analysis of jade
Scientific examination of icons
Scientific examination of the Gayer-Anderson
cat
Scientific examination of the pigments used on
John White watercolours
Scientific examination of Ancient Egyptian
pigments, particularly on the Nebamun wallpaintings and on pre Middle Kingdom
objects
Previous British Museum projects
Radiography of material from The Royal
cemetery of Ur
Radiocarbon and other dating of numerous
archaeological sites
Analysis of stable isotope levels in human and
animal bone with reference to dietary intakes.
External fellowships/ honorary positions/ membership of professional bodies
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Publications
Most recent publications
J. Ambers, "Assessment of the radiocarbon dates" in Sutton
Hoo; a seventh-century princely burial ground and its context,
Martin Carver (London, British Museum Press, 2006), 54-6.
J. Ambers, "Identification of anatase in
archaeological materials by Raman spectroscopy: implications and
interpretation" , with A. P. Middleton, H.G.M. Edwards and P.S.
Middleton, Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 36 (2005), pp.
984-7
J. Ambers, "A Roman mosaic glass bowl from the
Wadi Dura in Yemen" with I.C. Freestone, St John Simpson and
Muhannad as-Sayyani, Journal of Glass Studies, 47 (2005),
pp. 69-75
J. Ambers, "Radiography of animal remains" in
J. Lang and A. Middleton (eds.), Radiography of Cultural
Material, (Oxford, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann,
2005), pp. 150-4
J. Ambers, "Introduction" with I.C. Freestone,
in H.G.M. Edwards and J. M. Chalmers (eds.) Raman Spectroscopy
in archaeology and art history (London, Royal Society of
Chemistry, 2005), pp. 3-16