Services & Research

With 35 years of experience in Norway, Switzerland, Egypt and elsewhere, I work as a generalist in geoarchaeology and conservation science – in the study of monuments, lime mortar technology, rock art and old quarries. My work is research-based, and I closely follow the latest trends and discoveries relevant to the services I offer. From 2019 many of my domestic services are undertaken through FABRICA, a company I have established together with colleagues. We often work together with crafts people and other partners.

Presentations and courses

I keep presentations and field courses/workshops within all my fields of study, especially lime burning and lime mortar technology, as well as weathering and conservation – often together with colleagues.

Traditional lime mortars and lime burning

  • Characterization of lime mortars, especially by thin section polarizing microscopy
  • Aiding the design and building of small-scale, traditional lime kilns, also as experimental archaeology projects
  • Selection of raw materials and burning lime

Building archaeology, weathering and conservation

Weathering can be a pain! Medieval sculpture at Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim. Photo: Per Storemyr

Weathering can be a pain! Medieval sculpture at Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim. Photo: PS

  • Building history, archive studies, historical evolution of weathering and damages
  • Survey and mapping, also with the aid of open-source GIS (QGIS)
  • Characterisation of stones, mortars and other building materials (microscopy)
  • Salt weathering and analysis of salts (microscopy, microchemistry)
  • Indoor climate analysis, moisture examination
  • Risk assessment and conservation planning
  • Test fields for repointing, plastering and whitewashing
  • Monitoring for understanding damage evolution and maintenance requirements

Rock art sites

  • Site analysis, archive studies, historical evolution of damages
  • Rock characterisation (petrography, structure)
  • Weathering studies and risk analysis
  • Risk assessment and planning of conservation programmes

Historic and ancient quarries

Medieval marble quarry under the moss at Sparbu, Central Norway. Photo: Per Storemyr

Medieval marble quarry under the moss. Sparbu, Norway. Photo: PS

  • Site analysis, archive studies, historical site evolution
  • Survey and mapping, using GIS, Lidar, and geological and other maps
  • Interpretation of quarry design, extraction methods, transportation, waste disposal etc.
  • Risk assessment and planning of conservation programmes

Other studies, and publications

Over the years I have been involved in many other fields of study related to geoarchaeology, e.g. regional rock art surveys, ancient hunting practices, ancient road surveys, conservation of industrial archaeology and experimental archaeology in stone extraction. Since 2018 I also take an interest in tafoni weathering. I’m a contributor to book projects, I write journal articles and often work as a peer reviewer for international journals.

Clients

I have worked for all major universities and cultural historic museums in Norway, several abroad (UK, US, Belgium), National Trust of Norway, as well as national and regional cultural heritage authorities, church authorities and private companies in Norway and Switzerland.