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Museum Analysis, and Educational Initiatives
I am an internationally recognized specialist in prehistoric and early historic leather, with a PhD in leather analysis and over 30 years of practical experience with tanning and construction/reconstruction of leather objects.
REPLICAS
I specialise in replicating artefacts made from primary and secondary animal by-products such as skin, bone, sinew, internal organs, horn, antler, and fur for museum exhibitions or educational programs.
I also offer the initial micro and macroscopic analysis and academic-quality reports to complement the reconstruction. In the case of complex multi-component artefacts requiring elements outside my expertise, I can consult with an extensive network of qualified crafts experts built over 25 years to produce the needed components.I provide strict replicas of archaeological or ethnographic items and non-evidence-based items such as contemporary clothing made using traditional materials.
ARTIFACTS
With over 15 years of experience in public demonstration work, my mission is to bring the past to life with accurate demonstrations of traditional technologies based on archaeological evidence and ethnographic parallels.
I aim to give a voice to the level of technological sophistication of early time periods, often lost in the morass of misunderstandings surrounding human prehistory. My area of expertise lies in traditional tanning technologies, animal processing, and the use of primary and secondary animal by-products such as bone, sinew, horn, internal organs, antler, and fur. I also have extensive experience in a wide variety of skills relevant to prehistory.
Demonstrations are always tailored to fit the individual needs of each venue.
MUSEUMS
I am an experienced analyst of prehistoric and early historic leather artefacts holding a PhD in this speciality field from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom. I also have over 15 years experience in public demonstration work in open air museums and educational programmes and provide replication services for exhibitions.
My mission is to bring the past to life with accurate demonstrations of traditional technologies based on archaeological evidence and ethnographic parallels. I wish to give a voice to the level of technological sophistication which is often lost in the morass of misunderstandings surrounding early time periods in human prehistory.
I also specialise in the replication of artefacts made from primary and secondary animal by-products such as skin, bone, sinew, internal organs, horn, antler and fur.
My museum work includes:
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Analysis of leather artefacts for museums, private collections, and research projects
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Demonstrations of traditional tanning technologies, animal processing, and use of primary animal by-products for open-air museums and educational groups
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Artefact replication for museum exhibitions and educational collections
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1-5 day courses tailored for conservators and researchers in understanding pre-industrial leather as a material
Please contact me directly to discuss the needs of your group or research projects.
ARTIFACT ANALYSIS
My expertise is in determining tannage technology, construction sequence, and object biographies based on macro and microscopic visual and behavioural characteristics. I can also offer species identification based on leather and hair characteristics.
Selection of Past and Current Analyses:
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State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, Scythian Leather Collections- March 2020- ongoing
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Quay Branly Ethnographic Museum, Paris, North American Leather Collections- Feb 2020- ongoing
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National Museum of Denmark, Mammen and Hvilehøj Leather Objects- February 2019- ongoing
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Israel Museum, Shrine of the Book, Dead Sea Scrolls, March 2019
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Israel Museum, Dry Site Leather Objects, March 2019
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HUJI Hebrew University Jerusalem, Roman Era Leather Shoe- March 2018-2019
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Ashmoleon Museum Oxford, Contact Period Leather ‘Cape’- November 2017
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Anasazi Heritage Centre, Dry Site Leather Artefacts- 2014
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History Colorado, Dry Site Leather Artefacts 2014
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National Museum of Norway, Glacial Site Leather Shoe- 2014
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National Museum of Denmark- Bog Site Leather Artefacts (Sheep Skin Capes)- 2014
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MSC Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Leather Artefacts and Ethnographic Material- 2014
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Assen, Bog Site Leather Artefacts- 2014
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Canton of Bern Switzerland, Schnidejoch Pass Leather Artefacts- 2014
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Swinden Centre for Conservation, White Horse Hill Material- 2014
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MY BOOK
My book, "Determining Prehistoric Skin Processing Technologies", is available from Sidestone Press and combines extensive archaeological research with over 25 years of personal tanning experience.
The importance of skin processing technologies in human history and expansion can't be overstated, yet these technologies can be challenging to identify in the archaeological record.
This research outlines the development of a systematic, non-destructive method for identifying the tanning technologies used to produce prehistoric skin artefacts.
The method is a valuable analytical tool for those involved in conservation, curation, or analysis of archaeological or ethnographic skin products. It provides a consolidated source of information for artisans working with traditional tanning, or re-enactors interested in the history or science of skin products. Finally, it serves as an example of the targeted use of experimental archaeology in a large-scale research project, and will be beneficial to anyone involved in experimental or experiential archaeology.
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