This week-long course is designed to introduce or further develop knowledge of the microstructure of ancient metals and the practical application of metallography. Using prepared samples from the most extensive collection of mounted ancient metals in the world, course participants will learn how to sample, mount, polish, etch and interpret microstructural features. The course will run from about 9.45am to 4.55 pm each day for five days.

The geographical spread of metals studied during the course encompasses: ancient Greece, Rome, European Bronze Age, Bronze Age China (Warring States to Tang in fact), Africa, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, England and Ireland. Lectures on a variety of case studies are included. Students may bring their own PREPARED and MOUNTED samples to display to others on the course if they wish. Space on the course has to be STRICTLY LIMITED. Let me apologize in advance if too many people have already signed up and you miss out. For some metallographic images, see the Instagram site Davidscottmetals.

The location of the course is in the centrally located Hastings campus of East Sussex Coast College. Hastings is a popular seaside destination with many cultural attractions including the Hastings Contemporary Gallery, The Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, and various other Museums and historic sites.

The fee for the course is 450 pounds sterling or 600 dollars US. Early booking is advisable due to the holiday trade in the summer months. There are many Airbnb, bed-and-breakfast choices and hotels in the area.

Booking: for booking up the course in 2023 please send an e-mail to: dascott@ucla.edu.

Instructor: Distinguished Professor Emeritus, David A. Scott, is the former head of the Museum Research Laboratory, J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu. Professor in the Department of Art History, UCLA, and Founding Director of the UCLA/Getty Conservation Programme. His 2002 book, Copper and Bronze in Art: Corrosion, Conservation, Colourants, won the award for the best Art/Scholarly book published in the USA in 2002. Now available as an e-book on the Getty website. His latest book is Art: Authenticity, Restoration, Forgery, published in 2016. Professor Scott is the author of over 150 peer-reviewed papers and eight books.