Contact Dr Thomas Delbey
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 758124
- Email: Thomas.Delbey@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
- Google Scholar
- ResearchGate
Background
I'm a heritage scientist and Lecturer in Analytical and Archaeological Sciences at Cranfield University, using physical, chemical, and mineralogical characterisation to investigate the provenance, production, and degradation of heritage materials. My areas of interest span from ancient ceramics and sculpture to pigment, enamel and modern porcelain. I have built collaborations with curators and conservators internationally in the UK, Denmark and the USA which led to numerous peer-reviewed publications. Alongside my research, I provide the scientific and technical oversight of a multi-instrument analytical platform for material characterisation, serving as radiation protection supervisor and managing instrumentation, performance standards, and training. I teach analytical strategies to master's students and supervise PhD and MSc research, and I've attracted funding through research grants and developed a portfolio of commercial contracts across the heritage, art market and industrial sectors.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Huwiler C, Delbey T & Petiti N. (2026). Widespread skeletal pathology in a 19th-century UK soldier: Combining macroscopic, radiographic, and micro-CT analysis. Bulletins et mémoires de la société d'anthropologie de Paris, 38((s))
- Goemaere É, Delbey T, Goovaerts T & Leduc T. (2026). Étude archéométrique des céramiques de la Basse Époque à l’époque romaine d’Elkab (Haute Égypte). Bulletin de liaison de la céramique égyptienne, 34
- Rasmussen KL, Bertelsen T, Cantisani E, Fratini F, Franceschini MMN, .... (2025). Testing a hypothesis of technology transfer in the 1100’s between Italy and Denmark. npj Heritage Science, 13(1)
- Rasmussen KL, Rasmussen BB, Delbey T, Bonaduce I, Kjeldsen F, .... (2024). Analyses of the brown stain on the Parthenon Centaur head in Denmark. Heritage Science, 12(1)
- Delbey T, Norris D, Douglas D & Shortland AJ. (2024). Self-seal laser ablation open cell for trace elements analysis of full-size archaeological artefacts: application on Famille Rose enamel. Microchemical Journal, 207
- Kemp V, Delbey T & Shortland AJ. (2023). The dating and provenance of glass fragments from the site of Serabit el-Khâdim, Sinai. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 49(June)
- Goemaere E, Vanmontfort B, Bonjean D, Bosquet D, Bostyn F, .... (2023). Middle Neolithic fluorites in Northern France and Belgium: characterization, sourcing and methodological limitations. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 49(June)
- Norris D & Delbey T. (2023). The influence of Qing glass technology on Qianlong and Jiaqing painted enamel copperwares. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 61(May - June)
- Torres J, Toftgaard CJ, Delbey T, Brewer D, Farchette III J, .... (2023). Thermoluminescence and radiocarbon dating of pre-colonial ceramics and organic midden material from the US Virgin Islands: outline for a revised chronology. Heritage Science, 11(1)
- Rasmussen KL, van der Plicht J, Degano I, Modugno F, Colombini MP, .... (2022). Defining multiple inhabitations of a cave environment using interdisciplinary archaeometry: the ‘Christmas Cave’ of the Wadi en-Nar/Nahal Qidron, west of the Dead Sea. Heritage Science, 10(1)
- Goemaere E, Challe S, de Longueville S, Delbey T & Demaiffe D. (2022). Tracking the source of lead of medieval glazed pottery of the Meuse valley (Belgium) through lead isotope analyses. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 42(April)
- Bourdin V, Delbey T, Rasmussen KL & Charlier P. (2022). Do you dig your grave with your teeth? Potential interest of the elementary analysis of ancient ceramics regarding public health (Pre-Columbian era, Ecuador). Ethics, Medicine and Public Health, 23(August)
- Rasmussen KL, Delbey T, Jørgensen B, Høegh Jensen K, Poulsen B, .... (2022). Materials and technology of mosaics from the House of Charidemos at Halikarnassos (Bodrum, Turkey). Heritage Science, 10(1)
- Giosa A, Delbey T, Menbrivès C, Rasmussen KL, Elliott M, .... (2022). Indurated soil nodules: a vestige of ancient agricultural practices?. Geoarchaeology, 37(6)
- Delbey T, Harrison Hall J, Sheaf C & Shortland AJ. (2022). Characterising Chinese Ru ware in the Sir Percival David collection at the British Museum using handheld XRF analysis. Advances in Archaeomaterials, 3(2)
- Rasmussen KL, van der Plicht J, La Nasa J, Ribercini E, Colombini MP, .... (2021). Investigations of the relics and altar materials relating to the apostles St James and St Philip at the Basilica dei Santi XII Apostoli in Rome. Heritage Science, 9(1)
- Goemaere É, Hanut F, Bosquet D, Delbey T, De Waele É, .... (2021). Étude archéométrique et recherche de l’origine de la matière première des poteries produites dans l’agglomération gallo-romaine de Tourinnes-Saint-Lambert (Walhain, Belgique). Revue du Nord, Tome 102(5)
- Rasmussen KL, van der Plicht J, La Nasa J, Ribechini E, Colombini MP, .... (2021). Correction to: Investigations of the relics and altar materials relating to the apostles St James and St Philip at the Basilica dei Santi XII Apostoli in Rome. Heritage Science, 9(1)
- Rasmussen KL, Delbey T, Skytte L, La Nasa J, Colombini MP, .... (2021). In the darkest hour: Analyses of a black spot on the last page of the diary of polar explorer Jørgen Brønlund (d. 1907). Archaeometry, 63(4)
- Goemaere É, Hanut F, Bosquet D, Delbey T, De Waele É, .... (2021). Archaeometric study and sourcing of the raw material of the pottery produced in the Gallo-Roman settlement at Tourinnes-Saint-Lambert (Brabant Wallon, Belgium). Revue Du Nord, 439(1)
- Rasmussen KL, Milner GR, Delbey T, Jensen LKI, Witte F, .... (2020). Release of lead from Renaissance lead-glazed ceramics from southern Denmark and northern Germany: Implications from acetic acid etching. Heritage Science, 10(1)
- Rasmussen KL, Milner GR, Delbey T, Skytte L, Lynnerup N, .... (2020). Trace element distribution in human cortical bone microstructure: the potential for unravelling diet and social status in archaeological bones. Heritage Science, 8(1)
- Rasmussen KL, Delbey T, d’Imporzano P, Skytte L, Schiavone S, .... (2020). Comparison of trace element chemistry in human bones interred in two private chapels attached to Franciscan friaries in Italy and Denmark: an investigation of social stratification in two medieval and post-medieval societies. Heritage Science, 8(1)
- Rasmussen KL, Milner GR, Delbey T, Skytte L, Søvsø M, .... (2020). Copper exposure in medieval and post-medieval Denmark and northern Germany: its relationship to residence location and social position. Heritage Science, 8(1)
- Delbey T, Holck JP, Jørgensen B, Alvis A, Smith VH, .... (2019). Poisonous books: analyses of four sixteenth and seventeenth century book bindings covered with arsenic rich green paint. Heritage Science, 7(1)
- Hedegaard SB, Delbey T, Brøns C & Rasmussen KL. (2019). Painting the Palace of Apries II: ancient pigments of the reliefs from the Palace of Apries, Lower Egypt. Heritage Science, 7(1)
- Delbey T, Quevedo A & Laubenheimer F. (2015). Amphores vinaires Gauloise 4 de Narbonnaise (France) exportées à Carthagène (Espagne) ? Analyse statistique exploratoire multidimensionnelle de données géochimiques. ArchéoSciences, 39(39)
- Goemaere E, Henrotay D, Collette O, Golitko M, Delbey T, .... (2014). Caractérisation de la céramique médiévale d’Autelbas (Arlon, Belgique) et identification de la source de la matière première. ArchéoSciences, 38(1)
- Hodos T, Waite S, Parkin A, van Asperen E, Boschloos V, .... Multi-scale pigment analysis of an Etruscan ostrich egg: from on-site portable methods to synchrotron radiation. npj Heritage Science
- Kemp V, Schmidt K, Delbey T & Braekmans D. New Compositional Insights into the Levantine Iron Age from Rare Glazed Ceramics of Tall Zarʿa. npj Heritage Science