A Geology of the Crown Jewels

The British Crown Jewels are one of the most famous collections of regalia in the world and, unlike others in Europe, are still a working set of jewels, with a large part being used in the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

We will explore the origin of the royal regalia through the geological origins of its materials, from gold, silver and platinum to the jewels themselves, including two of the largest diamonds in the world

We will look at how these precious metals and stones are sourced, starting with some of the oldest regalia in Europe, such as the Sutton Hoo treasure at the British Museum, to other notable Crown Jewels of Europe, such as those of Denmark and the Honours of Scotland.

This lecture combines the history of these objects and the science behind how these materials are formed.

THE ARTS SOCIETY ACCREDITED LECTURER

Dr Aaron Hunter

I am a professional scientist and researcher with the University of Cambridge and a prize-winning London Blue Badge Guide, a Green Badge Guide for the City of London and Oxford, and a City of Bath Mayor's Guide. As a palaeontologist, I am an expert on fossils and prehistoric life from the first animals to appear on our planet to the evolution of early humans. I have published research on the origin of marine animals 480 million years to the Jurassic World. After degrees in Geology & Palaeobiology, I gained my PhD from the University of London and went on to pursue an academic career working first as a research fellow in France, Germany and Japan and then as a Senior Lecturer in Malaysia and Western Australia. I have a passion for archaeology, history, architecture and the history of art. I give lectures that encompass these subjects looking at the interface between the arts and sciences.