The archaeology of alchemy and chemistry in the early modern world

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The bulk of the history of alchemy and chemistry relies on treatises, correspondence and other writings, aided by the study of paintings, woodcuts and emblems. While accepting the value of such sources and the many studies based on them, it may be argued that they have led to a bias towards theoretical speculations that tends to downplay the practical side of these disciplines. The many references to actual materials and experiments present in alchemical treatises have been largely overlooked or sidelined, partly because they appeared muddled in confusing language or because, transposing present ideas to the past, historians have assumed that alchemy had more to do with magic or philosophy than with real science. As a result, early modern 'alchemy' and 'chemistry' have often been artificially segregated, and some scholarly work has perpetuated the popular image of the alchemical laboratory as an unruly space for magic and obscure arts. Little work has been carried out to investigate the relationships between the adepts seeking metal transmutation and the philosopher's stone, and seemingly more rigorous craftspeople exploiting the mineral wealth of systematically investigating the secrets of nature.Recent studies have started to use laboratory notebooks and a more rigorous textual exegesis to reconstruct the practical dimensions of early alchemy. These approaches, together with my own archaeological work, are increasingly emphasising that theoretical formulations were based on actual laboratory experiments, that chrysopoeia or goldmaking was but one within a wider repertoire of practical endavours, and that alchemy cannot be studied in isolation from traditionally disparate fields such as mining, metallurgy and medicine. The main objective of this fellowship is to complete an academic monograph entitled The archaeology of alchemy and chemistry in the early modern world, which will substantiate the above ideas and present a range of case studies on the most famous early modern archaeological laboratories excavated in Europe and America. These include a small secluded laboratory in a rural context in Kapfenberg (Austria), the exceptionally well preserved laboratory from the Oberstockstall chapel (Austria), the assaying remains from Jamestown and Quebec, respectively the first British and French colonies in North America, and the Old Ashmolean laboratory in Oxford - internationally renowned as the Temple of Solomon.The scientific analysis of archaeological laboratories opens a new area for archaeological enquiry and provides a useful approach to redress the anachronism, undue generalisation and theoretical biases of some historical work. By analysing the origins and quality of the laboratory instruments, as well as the residues that inform about the experiments carried out with them, it is possible to access the practical dimension of the laboratory, the technical knowledge of the practitioners and the underlying understanding of nature. Importantly, the understanding of scientific laws and of the properties of materials that we can infer from archaeological data reveals that many scientific achievements were made in alchemical laboratories, and much earlier than apparent from historical sources. Furthermore, the material remains illustrate a great array of experiments in addition to goldmaking, such as processes with zinc, mercury and glass, which will prompt historians of science and technology to diversify their research foci.The book will be aimed primarily at both archaeologists and historians of science, but it will be thoroughly illustrated and written in a style accessible to any educated reader. Capitalising on the popularity of both alchemy and archaeology, the publication will be used as a springboard to increase ongoing public engagement through media interaction and further popular dissemination. The work will also feed directly into the exhibition of these archeological materials in their respective museums.