Jerrod Heath Seifert

2025   Seifert, J., Lingle, A., Wolfhagen, J., Corton, T., Duffy, P.R., Parkinson, W.A., Ridge, W.P., Riebe, D.J., and Gyucha, A. Linking pedological and atmospheric environments for the conservation and management of earthen archaeological sites: Development of a novel technique. The European Physical Journal Plus 140, 433 doi:10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06342-9

2025   Seifert, J., Watkinson, D., & Emmerson, N. ‘Hydrogen reduction of archaeological iron: A reappraisal,’ in: Neff, D. et al., eds. Bridging the Gap: Corrosion Science for Heritage Contexts. European Federation of Corrosion Vol. 73. London: Woodhead Publishing, pp. 33-52. doi:10.1016/B978-0-443-18690-5.00018-5

2025   Gyucha, A., Lingle, A., Seifert, J., Duffy, P.R., Ridge, W.P., Parkinson, W.A., & Riebe, D.J. 'Saving the past for the future: Archaeological conservation and exhibition efforts at the tell site of Vésztő-Mágor. Hungarian Archaeology 13(4), pp. 1–9.

2025   Duffy P. R., Grömer, K., Saunderson, K., Schroedter, Schroeder, T., Parkinson, W. A., Ridge, W., Lingle, A., Seifert, J., Riebe, D., Tsartsidou, G., Karkanas, P., & Gyucha, A.  ‘Bronze Age matting from the heights of Vésztő-Mágor, Hungary.’ Cambridge Archaeological Journal, pp. 1–15. doi:10.1017/S0959774325100176

2024   de Gruchy, Y. A., Faillace, K.E., Van de Vijver, K., Schotsmans, E., Seifert, J., Bricking, A., Nederbragt, A.J., and Madgwick, R. ‘Bone of contention: Intra-element variability in remodelling of human femora based on histomorphometric and isotope analyses.’ PloS ONE 19(6): e0305089. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0305089

2024   Lingle, A. and Seifert, J. ‘Stratagems and Back Spoils: Utilizing Backdirt in the Management of Archaeological Earthen Heritage’. Journal of Field Archaeology, 49(3), pp. 192–203. doi:10.1080/00934690.2024.2318533

2022   Emmerson, N., Watkinson, D., Roche, K., Seifert, J. and Thunberg, J. ‘The effect of βFeOOH synthesis routes on its ability to corrode iron’. Metal 2022 Helsinki, Finland. Interim meeting of the ICOM-CC Metal Working Group.

2022   Lingle, A., Seifert, J., Baranski, M., Betz, B., Bucacca, G., Haddow, S., Issavi, J., Tung, B., Vasic, M., & Wolfhagen, J. 'Integrating conservation in practice at Çatalhöyük: an inter-team perspective', in: Hodder, I. and Tsoraki, C. eds. Communities at Work: The Making of Çatalhöyük. Çatalhöyük Research Project Series Vol. 15. London: British Institute at Ankara, pp. 71-87.

2021   Emmerson, N., Seifert, J., & Watkinson, D. 'Refining the use of oxygen consumption as a proxy corrosion rate measure for archaeological and historic iron'. European Physics Journal Plus 136, 546. doi:10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-01478-w

2016    Watkinson, D., Emmerson, N., & Seifert, J. 'Corrosion rates of archaeological cast iron from marine contexts as a function of relative humidity and treatment method'. Metal 2016 New Delhi, India. Interim meeting of the ICOM-CC Metal Working Group.

• Seifert, Jerrod Heath; Watkinson, David & Emmerson, Nicola (2025). Hydrogen reduction of archeological iron: a reappraisal. In Neff, Delphine; Grassini, Sabrina; Watkinson, David & Emmerson, Nicola (Ed.), Bridging the Gap: Corrosion Science For Heritage Contexts. Elsevier. ISSN 9780443186905. p. 33–52. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-443-18690-5.00018-5. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Bridging the Gap: Corrosion Science For Heritage Contexts explores the decision-making processes for preserving heritage metals while also examining the collaborative, interdisciplinary relationships that underpin them. Through themed chapters, the book is designed to develop and strengthen collaboration between these three groups of professionals, creating a synergy that benefits research and practice for the preservation of heritage metals. It builds an overview of metals conservation across a broad range of heritage contexts, from indoor museum displays to fixed outdoor structures and moving objects. Researchers and practitioners provide critical insights into corrosion problems within heritage, current corrosion mitigation procedures, and the evidence supporting best practice guidance. The book will be a valuable reference resource for corrosion and corrosion protection scientists, heritage preservation scientists, conservation practitioners, and students studying preservation of cultural objects.

• Duffy, Paul R.; Grömer, Karina; Saunderson, Kayleigh; Schroedter, Tim; Parkinson, William A. & Ridge, William P. [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2025). Bronze Age Matting from the Heights of Vésztő-Mágor, Hungary. Cambridge Archaeological Journal. ISSN 0959-7743. p. 1–15. doi: 10.1017/s0959774325100176. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Tell settlements often provide a unique window into prehistoric lifeways due to remarkable preservation and safeguarding from modern disturbances. Vésztő-Mágor in Hungary is one such tell with stratigraphy, features and finds that reflect thousands of years of prehistoric settlement. In 2021, the Vésztő-Mágor Conservation and Exhibition Program began the work of stabilizing, documenting and preserving prehistoric deposits, features and artefacts exposed in an in situ exhibition trench at Vésztő-Mágor. In the process, an exceptionally well-preserved carbonized item was discovered embedded in a series of Middle Bronze Age house floors. We describe the object and context of discovery, and interpret it as matting inside a wattle-and-daub house. We expand our discussion to similar contexts known from Vésztő-Mágor, in the Carpathian Basin, and beyond, to highlight the technologies involving organic materials used at prehistoric tell sites and their significance for understanding lifeways at these settlements.

• Seifert, Jerrod Heath; Lingle, Ashley; Wolfhagen, Jesse; Corton, Therese; Duffy, Paul & Parkinson, William [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2025). Linking pedological and atmospheric environments for the conservation and management of earthen archaeological sites: development of a novel technique. The European Physical Journal Plus. 140(5). doi: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06342-9. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Exposed in-situ earthen archaeological structures are extremely prone to accelerated deterioration. Environmental cycles that cause swelling, salt efflorescence, and biological decay are but a few ways this breakdown is exacerbated, resulting in earthen archaeological remains rapidly losing coherence, shape, and ultimately cultural value. Several invasive methods have been attempted to cessate this process, to varying effectiveness. However, only recently has quantified site deterioration been correlated with environmental data. Results from these reports showed that the soil moisture of walls and profiles could potentially be used as an indicator of earthen archaeology deterioration rates. Determining any link between the soil moisture content surrounding an archaeological site and its exposed atmosphere could be beneficial when developing site management plans to mitigate deterioration. To determine if such a link exists, four soil moisture profile probes were installed at Vésztő-Mágor, a sheltered, prehistoric earthen archaeological site located in modern-day Hungary. The shelter induces severe microclimatic fluctuations whilst removing several external factors that impact deterioration, such as wind and sun exposure, providing a scenario that is advantageous for detecting any link. The novel horizontal installation of the probes in a vertical column captured moisture data within unexcavated archaeological horizons. This data was then compared to relative humidity data acquired around excavated archaeological profiles. Through the application of a Bayesian autoregressive AR(1) logistic model, the data suggests that a link between these two environments exists. Furthermore, moisture probe data confirms that the excavation of archaeological profiles at Vésztő-Mágor impacts unexcavated archaeological horizons at least 30 cm inward. This paper discusses the implementation of this method, the statistical analysis of the data, and its implications for managing earthen archaeological sites.

• Lingle, Ashley & Seifert, Jerrod Heath (2024). Stratagems and Back Spoils: Utilizing Backdirt in the Management of Archaeological Earthen Heritage. Journal of Field Archaeology. ISSN 0093-4690. doi: 10.1080/00934690.2024.2318533. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Preservation strategies at earthen archaeological sites are challenging to develop and maintain in the long term. Environmental fluctuations, anthropogenic interference, and pedological composition are only a few factors that can impact deterioration pathways. Owing to these complexities, there will never be a one-size-fits-all strategy for preserving earthen sites. However, archaeological spoil—or backdirt—can be employed to mitigate many of these challenges. Utilizing illustrative case studies at the earthen sites of Çatalhöyük, Turkey, and Vésztő-Mágor, Hungary, the authors present the use of backdirt as a sustainable, structurally supportive, contextually sympathetic, and visually congruent material for earthen site conservation. Matters of authenticity, ethical mandates, and social benefits of its use are also considered, as are its limitations.

• Gyucha, Attila; Lingle, Ashley; Seifert, Jerrod Heath; Duffy, Paul; Ridge, William & Parkinson, William [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). SAVING THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE: Archaeological Conservation and Exhibition Efforts at the Tell Site of Vésztő-Mágor. Hungarian Archaeology E-Journal. ISSN 2416-0296. 13(4), p. 1–9. doi: 10.36338/mr.2024.4.3. Full text in Research Archive
• Gruchy, Yasmine de; Faillace, Katie; Vijver, Katrien Van de; Schotsmans, Eline; Seifert, Jerrod Heath & Bricking, Adelle [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2024). Bone of contention: Intra-element variability in remodelling of human femora based on histomorphometric and isotope analyses. PLOS ONE. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305089. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The volume of human carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope data produced in archaeological research has increased markedly in recent years. However, knowledge of bone remodelling, its impact on isotope variation, and the temporal resolution of isotope data remains poorly understood. Varied remodelling rates mean different elements (e.g., femur and rib) produce different temporal signals but little research has examined intra-element variability. This study investigates human bone remodelling using osteon population density and the relationship with carbon and nitrogen isotope data at a high resolution, focusing on variation through femoral cross-sections, from periosteal to endosteal surfaces. Results demonstrate considerable differences in isotope values between cross-sectional segments of a single fragment, by up to 1.3‰ for carbon and 1.8‰ for nitrogen, illustrating the need for standardised sampling strategies. Remodelling also varies between bone sections, occurring predominantly within the endosteal portion, followed by the midcortical and periosteal. Therefore, the endosteal portion likely reflects a shorter period of life closer to the time of death, consistent with expectations. By contrast, the periosteal surface provides a longer average, though there were exceptions to this. Results revealed a weak negative correlation between osteon population density and δ15N or δ13C, confirming that remodelling has an effect on isotope values but is not the principal driver. However, a consistent elevation of δ15N and δ13C (0.5‰ average) was found between the endosteal and periosteal regions, which requires further investigation. These findings suggest that, with further research, there is potential for single bone fragments to reconstruct in-life dietary change and mobility, thus reducing destructive sampling.

• Emmerson, Nicola; Seifert, Jerrod Heath & Watkinson, David (2021). Refining the use of oxygen consumption as a proxy corrosion rate measure for archaeological and historic iron. The European Physical Journal Plus. doi: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-01478-w. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA

• Emmerson, Nicola; Watkinson, David; Seifert, Jerrod Heath; Thunberg, Johanna & Roche, Kimberly (2022). The Effect of Synthesis Routes on the Ability of Akaganeite to Corrode Iron. International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC). ISBN 9782491997618. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA