X-ray analysis of artefacts from Henry VIII’s warship, the Mary Rose, sheds new light on their construction and conservation

• Surface chemistry of chainmail links from the wrecked warship Mary Rose analysed using state-of-the-art X-ray facility
• Team led by Universities of Warwick and Ghent reveals composition of the armour and extent of corrosion since recovery from the seabed
• Traces of lead and gold hint at further history to be unearthed
• Research confirms the effectiveness of the conservation techniques used

21st century X-ray technology has allowed University of Warwick scientists to peer back through time at the production of the armour worn by the crew of Henry VIII’s favoured warship, the Mary Rose.

Three artefacts believed to be remains of chainmail recovered from the recovered hull have been analysed by an international team of scientists led by the Universities of Warwick and Ghent using a state-of-the-art X-ray facility called XMaS (X-ray Materials Science) beamline.

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