Culture: the past gives up its secrets

CORDIScovery – unearthing the hottest topics in EU science, research and innovation

We see cultural artefacts, hear music composed centuries ago and, if we are lucky, get to handle pieces that were created by long-forgotten makers. But what about bringing to life the smell of a historic scene, or an object no longer made?

This episode looks at the novel ways researchers are analysing the artefacts left to us by our ancestors, and the new light that shines on how they lived. Come and hear what our guests have been exploring.

Inger Leemans, is a professor of Cultural History at VU Amsterdam and researcher at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is passionate about making her research on the smells of the past accessible to everyone.

Matthew Collins is a fellow of the Danish and Swedish Royal Academies, and chair of the Archaeology section of the British Academy. Collins explores the ways in which archaeology can borrow tools from biology to explore ancient artefacts and tissues, from shells and bone to parchment and pots.

Michela Rossi is a scientific project officer at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. She is interested in structural safety assessments of historic buildings and digital fabrication.

For more info on the featured projects, visit: https://europa.eu/!m7qVJd