Durham University has received £500,000 from the Wolfson Foundation to expand technology that allows to investigate historic objects while causing less damage to them.
The will enhance the North East Material Culture Analytical Suite, a £2 million facility used by universities, museums, galleries, libraries and industry partners.
New specialist imaging equipment will help researchers examine the internal structure of archaeological objects non-invasively and identify remains at risk from climate change.
The technology will also support into ancient diets and plant materials, including how people adapted to environmental change in the past. Researchers hope those insights could contribute to crops better suited to future dry conditions.
The investment links preservation of the past with questions that matter to the future.