In one of our laboratories we have access to the TM4000III scanning electron microscope. It is the perfect instrument to take a closer look at artefacts, not only a scanning electron microscope but can also conduct elemental analysis – EDX. The system has 4 acceleration voltages, 5, 10, 15 and 20kV, viewing to 10× – 100,000× (Photographic magnification) and 25× – 250,000× (monitor display magnification).
We have recently been investigating collagen in archaeological leather..the image below shows the bundles of collagen strands seen in a modern leather sample.
