Heritage sciences are experiencing a resurgence at UNamur. This field of research—which involves applying techniques and expertise from the exact sciences (physics, chemistry, biology) to study ancient heritage objects—is reinventing itself thanks to the PHOENIX project, led by seven researchers from the Faculties of Science (Department of Physics) and Philosophy and Letters (Departments of History and Classical Languages and Literatures). 

“PHOENIX emerged from the collaboration of several researchers from different backgrounds, yet all driven by the same desire to study the materiality of heritage objects. One notable figure is Julien Colaux, whose predecessor had led the first heritage science projects at UNamur’s Laboratory of Analysis by Nuclear Reactions (LARN). It’s a sort of return to our roots,” recalls Nicolas Ruffini-Ronzani, a researcher in the Department of History, president of the PaTHs Institute, and one of the project’s leaders. 

With PHOENIX, researchers aim to “make” two types of objects speak: ancient coins and medieval parchments (see box). More specifically, their research is guided by three objectives:

• To understand the composition of the artifacts being studied. For the parchments, to identify the animal species (sheep, goat, or calf); and for the coins, to characterize the metal alloy.
• Gain a better understanding of the production and processing workflow. For example, determine which parts of the animal were used in the production of a parchment.
• To propose the most precise dating possible. 

It is in this last objective that the main challenge lies. “We won’t be able to date these objects to within a year,” warns Olivier Deparis, a professor in the Department of Physics and a member of the NISM research institute. “The idea is to provide a time frame that is as precise, if not more so, than that already provided by paleography (the study of ancient scripts) or textual analysis. If we can narrow it down to a quarter-century, that will already be a significant step forward.”

To achieve this, the PHOENIX team uses various non-invasive techniques, in particular infrared and Raman spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and ion beam analysis (IBA). These approaches—which utilize UNamur’s state-of-the-art tools such as the ALTAÏS particle accelerator (see Omalius #36)—provide detailed information on the physicochemical composition of materials, such as the animal origin and ink formulations for parchments or the type of metal alloy for coins. “The use of the exact sciences will enrich our studies and thus allow us to better understand how these objects were produced in the past,” explains Nicolas Ruffini-Ronzani. “Contrary to what one might think, collaboration between the humanities and the exact sciences has a long history, dating back to the 19^th century, and even much earlier in the case of coins.”

These tools will make it possible to examine parchments and coins down to the finest detail, at the pixel level. These in-depth analyses therefore generate a colossal volume of raw data to process. This is where artificial intelligence comes into play to speed up the processing and reveal the information “hidden” in the data, identifying major trends invisible to the naked eye. 

Above all, it will provide a boost in meeting the challenge of dating the objects under study. Dated documents, such as charters, will thus be used as references to test the model’s robustness by comparing the results obtained with already known dates. “If the results are convincing, the technique could be applied to undated documents,” says Nicolas Ruffini-Ronzani. This would represent a significant breakthrough in historical research.

“The use of machine learning methods is not a panacea,” Olivier Deparis qualifies, however. “We wanted to explore it as an open-ended question to assess its benefits.”

PHOENIX could thus herald a new era for heritage sciences, where artificial intelligence—much like the phoenix after which the project is named—opens up new ways to analyze and understand materials from the past.

• Francesca Cecchet (Department of Physics – NISM and NARILIS Institutes)
• Lucas Baseil (Department of Physics – NISM Institute)
• Julien Colaux (Department of Physics – NISM and PaTHs Institutes)
• Olivier Deparis (Department of Physics – NISM, naXys, and PaTHs Institutes)
• Christophe Flament (Department of Classical Languages and Literatures – PaTHs Institute)
• Louise Fauchier (Department of Classical Languages and Literature – PaTHs Institute)
• Laurent Houssiau (Department of Physics – NISM Institute)
• Alexandre Mayer (Department of Physics – NISM and naXys Institutes)
• Giulia Morabito (Department of Physics – NISM and PaTHs Institutes)
• Nicolas Ruffini-Ronzani (Department of History – PaTHs Institute)
• Nicolas Gros (Department of Physics – NISM and PaTHs Institutes)
• Manon Bart (Department of Physics – NISM and naXys Institutes)

The PHOENIX project is funded by the Concerted Research Action (ARC) program from September 2024 to August 2029. It is a continuation of the interdisciplinary Pergamenum21 project, launched in 2014 by the Moretus Plantin University Library (BUMP) under the leadership of Professor Olivier Deparis and dedicated to the scientific study of parchment with a view to improving conservation practices.

Young people from Rochefort showcased the PHOENIX project at the international First Lego League competition, a robotics contest open to students aged 10 to 16. To align with the annual theme focused on new technologies in the field of archaeology, this team from the Rochefort Youth and Culture Center drew inspiration from IBA technology to develop a research game designed to identify the origin of Ancient Greek coins modeled using a 3D printer. Their project caught the jury’s eye and earned them a spot in the national finals, which took place last March. Beyond the competition, this original game will be presented during Family Day at the Malagne Archaeological Park (Rochefort). 

With a beekeeping tradition dating back several centuries, Wallonia boasts a unique network of beekeepers, educational apiaries, and local chapters that preserve a true living heritage. It is largely thanks to this strong connection between the product and its terroir that Walloon honey has joined the prestigious list of Walloon products bearing the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) label. 

“Starting in the early 20th century, the sector became more professional and dynamic, largely thanks to improvements in apiary management and honey quality,” explains Natacha Aucuit, a food history researcher who contributed to this recognition of Walloon honey.

This method, now widely used in Wallonia, produces a spreadable, creamy, uniform honey that retains its natural properties.

“What struck me as I traced the history of this product was its deeply human aspect: knowledge is passed down within beekeeping communities, from master beekeepers to apprentices, embodying the strength of a regional tradition,” notes Natacha Aucuit.

This white sausage has deep roots in the city of Liège, but it is produced throughout the province. It is at the heart of Liège’s folk traditions: “This product is usually eaten cold, sliced. It is sometimes included in the drèssêye, a typical Liège assortment of cold cuts,” explains Natacha Aucuit. 

In addition to Walloon Honey PGI and Liège White Sausage PGI, other Walloon products are the focus of the Agrilabel unit, which is responsible for the recognition process. Currently, two applications are in progress: 

• The revision of the specifications for Ardennes Ham PGI
• The Wépion Strawberry

• Florenville IGP Sausage
• Ardennes Sausage IGP
• Ardenne Collier IGP
• Ardennes Pipe IGP
• Chimay Escavèche PGI
• Gaume Sausage PGI

Founded in 2011 at the initiative of the Wallonia Public Service and supported by the Office of the Walloon Minister of Agriculture, AgriLabel assists producers in obtaining European quality labels (PDO, PGI, and TSG) or regional labels (Label Qualité Plus). This work is based on a partnership between the University of Liège – Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech and UNamur.

In this context, the University of Liège-Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech focuses primarily on product characterization and producers’ expertise, as well as the delineation of the geographical production area. For its part, UNamur is responsible for demonstrating the socio-historical link between the product and its terroir, the designation’s historical recognition, and its reputation—essential elements for the recognition of a designation as a PDO or PGI.

Natacha Aucuit, a researcher specializing in food history at UNamur and a member of ILEE and Transitions, makes a key contribution to the AgriLabel unit under the supervision of Professor Isabelle Parmentier. Since 2013, she has been working on drafting applications for the registration of designations or modifications for products such as the Wépion Strawberry or the Ardennes Ham PGI. Her role consists primarily of establishing a documented historical link between the product and its terroir, based on rigorous research and a scientific approach.

This article is taken from the "Issues" section of Omalius magazine #40 (March 2026).

“August 6, 1945, was Day Zero. The day it was demonstrated that universal history might not continue, that we are in any case capable of severing its thread—that day ushered in a new age in world history,” wrote Günter Anders, considered the first “philosopher of the bomb,” in *Hiroshima Is Everywhere* (1982). 

For many thinkers, the invention of the atomic bomb and its use against Japan by the United States constitute a turning point in the destiny of humanity. The Chernobyl accident in 1986—40 years ago this April—and the Fukushima disaster in 2011, whose 15th anniversary was recently marked, are two other landmark events, serving as a reminder of the potential dangers of nuclear energy. 

“Günter Anders also speaks of ‘globocide,’ that is, the possibility that emerged with nuclear technology to ‘make everything disappear,’” explains Danielle Leenaerts, a researcher in art history at UNamur.  “He also emphasizes the impossibility of separating the risks of military nuclear power from those of civilian nuclear power, since radioactive fallout is a possibility in both areas.” 

Today, however, nuclear energy is ubiquitous in our lives. Every day, for example, many workers are exposed to ionizing radiation. In Belgium, anyone professionally exposed to such radiation must wear a dosimeter at chest level (Article 30.6 of the Royal Decree of July 20, 2001). This data is then centralized, analyzed, and archived monthly by the AFCN (Federal Agency for Nuclear Control). An epidemiologist, researcher at the Faculty of Medicine, and member of the Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS) at UNamur, Médéa Locquet is also a member of the Belgian delegation to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), whose mission is to assess the levels and effects of exposure to ionizing radiation on human health and the environment. In this context, she studies in particular the effects of occupational exposure—whether among airline pilots exposed to cosmic rays, uranium mine workers, or healthcare personnel—as well as environmental exposure, and notably the impact of radon, 

“a naturally occurring radioactive gas emitted by the soil that can accumulate in buildings, and which is now the second leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco,” she notes. 

As part of her collaboration with UNSCEAR, Médéa Locquet is participating with her colleagues in Japan in the “Lifespan Study,” which investigates the consequences of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on irradiated survivors and their descendants. While the dangers of acute exposure to ionizing radiation (so-called “deterministic” effects) are well understood, the effects of low-dose exposure (“stochastic effects”) remain more complex to understand and assess. 

“Generally, in medicine, we move from basic research to applied research. Here, it’s the opposite: by observing an application of military nuclear technology, we directly study the effects on human beings to establish radiation protection standards and confirm certain mechanisms of action of ionizing radiation by returning to experimental research,” explains the researcher. 

Cancer cells are, in fact, characterized by their ability to proliferate continuously. 

Radiotherapy traditionally uses an X-ray beam to target the tumor, but today, researchers are increasingly turning their attention to protons. 

“UNamur has the only proton irradiator in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, which allows us to study their advantages over X-rays,” notes Carine Michiels. 

Read our previous article on this topic: ALTAïS – Penetrating the depths of matter to address current challenges

“Protons have a ballistic advantage,” explains Anne-Catherine Heuskin. “When you target a tumor with X-rays, some of the radiation is absorbed and some passes through to the other side. By irradiating upstream, you also affect the downstream area. But the goal is to spare healthy tissue as much as possible: in breast cancer, for example, we try to avoid irradiating the heart.” 

Because they interact differently with matter, protons deposit a small amount of energy continuously as they travel. 

“On the other hand, when they have only a few centimeters or millimeters left to travel, they release all their energy at once,” continues Anne-Catherine Heuskin. “Whatever lies downstream is then spared.” 

Proton therapy is particularly promising for treating pediatric cancers—that is, for patients who still have a very long life expectancy and are therefore at greater risk of experiencing the long-term effects of radiation on their healthy tissues. 

In addition to these external radiation therapy techniques, it is also possible to treat tumors using internal radiation therapy, 

“by attaching a radioactive atom to a ‘carrier,’ such as gold nanoparticles, which will transport this atom to the tumor via the bloodstream,” explains Carine Michiels. 

This technique maximizes the effect on cancer cells while sparing normal cells as much as possible. 

“Over the past 5 to 10 years, the major breakthrough in cancer treatment has been immunotherapy,” she continues. “But we still don’t understand why some patients respond to it and others don’t. One hypothesis is that we need to boost the cancer cells so that they are recognized by the immune system. And this is where radiation therapy has a huge role to play, because by damaging the cancer cells, it helps boost the immune response. The combination of radiation therapy and immunotherapy is therefore set to play a leading role.” 

Today, the scientific community is increasingly concerned about the long-term risks (cancer, leukemia, etc.) associated with medical exposure to radiation. 

“Several recent studies highlight an increased risk of brain cancers and leukemias in patients who underwent repeated CT scans during childhood,” explains Médéa Locquet. “During childhood, the high rate of cell proliferation and differentiation makes cells more radiosensitive, which increases the risk of late effects, particularly in adulthood.” 

Similarly, radiation therapy treatment can increase the risk of certain diseases, even though these risks are now well understood and generally well managed. 

“My research hypothesis,” says Médéa Locquet, “is that the effects of exposure to ionizing radiation mimic the aging process, since what we will find are mainly complications such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, as well as endocrine or neurodegenerative disorders—that is, diseases that appear in the general population with advancing age. Confirming this hypothesis would allow us to optimize doses to prevent this accelerated aging and the onset of treatment-related late effects. We could also try to prevent it by using senomorphs (editor’s note: agents that block the harmful effects of senescent cells), as well as through physical activity and nutrition programs in post-cancer care.”

What is nuclear energy?

Nuclear energy is a form of energy released by the nucleus of atoms, which is composed of protons and neutrons. It can be produced by fission (the splitting of an atomic nucleus into several parts) or by the fusion of several nuclei. The nuclear energy used today to generate electricity comes from nuclear fission. Energy production through fusion (as occurs in the cores of the sun and stars) is still in the research and development phase.

How does nuclear fission work?

In nuclear fission, an atom’s nucleus splits into several smaller nuclei, thereby releasing energy through a chain reaction. For example, when a neutron strikes the nucleus of a uranium-235 atom, it splits into two smaller nuclei and two or three neutrons. These neutrons then strike other uranium-235 atoms, which in turn split, producing more neutrons, with a multiplier effect that releases energy in the form of heat and radiation. 

What are the applications of nuclear energy?

Since the discovery of radioactivity, the properties of nuclear energy have been used in numerous applications, notably in nuclear weapons, as well as in military ships and submarines. But nuclear energy also has numerous applications in research, medicine, industry, the food industry (combating insect pests and pathogenic microorganisms), and even archaeology and museology (dating and authenticating certain artifacts).

This is particularly evident in the work of Belgian artist Cécile Massart, who explores landfills as sites of memory, and that of photographer Jacqueline Salmon, who documented the decommissioning of the Superphenix power plant (Isère), “offering a form of knowledge” that is distinct from and complementary to that of scientists. Both are featured in the exhibition curated by Danielle Leenaerts at the Delta, *(Faire) face au nucléaire*, and in her eponymous book (published by La Lettre Volée).

This is a thread that Jean-François Nieus has been pursuing for some twenty years, as part of research into the uses of writing, which elevates documents to objects of history in their own right. This approach, developed over several decades, sheds light on medieval society in all its dimensions: cultural, of course, but also social, political, economic, and religious. "Writing was rare in the early Middle Ages. It gradually gained importance in social practices, with a clear shift in the 12th and ^13th centuries—i.e., during the High Middle Ages—when people began to write much more and diversify the formats and functions of writing," he explains. 

Jean-François Nieus is particularly interested in documentary productions associated with the exercise of princely power and seigneurial management, within an area stretching from the Anglo-Norman world to the Southern Netherlands. Princely and noble archives are essential for understanding the relationships of domination in the so-called "feudal" age, that of territorial principalities and seigneurial lordship, but also issues of family identity and lineage, which were central concerns of the aristocracy. "After the mid^-12th century, most noble families began to keep archives, initially consisting of a few received charters, but soon enriched with their own administrative productions. Although the majority of these secular collections have now disappeared, there is evidence of their existence," he explains. The vicissitudes of the history of the great families and the French Revolution contributed to the loss of these fragile documents, so that today only a handful of archives from ^the 12th and 1^3th centuries remain.

Those studied by Jean-François Nieus nevertheless cover a wide range of types: they include "chartriers" (collections of original charters), "cartulaires" (collections of copies of charters), "formulaires " (collections of model charters and letters), "censiers" (descriptions of the property and income belonging to a seigneury), lists of vassals and fiefs, accounts, etc.

Jean-François Nieus also carries out critical editing work. He will soon publish the archives of the Béthune family (now Pas-de-Calais), as well as those of a small abbey linked to these lords, Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Chocques, whose collection, destroyed during the French Revolution, he is reconstructing.

This patient and meticulous work of discovery, deciphering, studying, and publishing sources that are sometimes very scattered helps to restore the memory of an era and enrich the documentation available to researchers.

In addition to administrative writings, Jean-François Nieus is also passionate about an auxiliary science of history: "sigillography," the study of seals. These small wax discs attached to official documents provide a unique window into the cultural representations of the time. In particular, they show how, after 1066, under the influence of William the Conqueror, a new image emerged: that of a knight on his galloping horse, weapon in hand. This motif, which was completely new at the time, quickly spread among princes and nobles, becoming a powerful symbol of chivalry.

Following this evolution, Jean-François Nieus also traces the spread of coats of arms—heraldry—which he sees emerging in the early ^12th century in northern France and the Anglo-Norman region. Equestrian seals, heraldic signs, and chivalric rites such as tournaments thus formed a cultural community that invented and asserted itself in this area.

If the Middle Ages fascinate Jean-François Nieus so much, it is undoubtedly because of their strangeness: a world very distant from our own, often distorted by stereotypes. "It's a difficult period to popularize because it's so different from our own, even though, in reality, we owe it a great deal. What's more, perceptions of it are marred by numerous clichés, and the general public still views it very negatively, as reflected in everyday language by the sinister adjective 'medieval,'" observes the researcher.

What are the reasons for this negative view? The perspective of intellectuals in subsequent eras, who saw it as the origin of all the archaisms they wanted to combat. Nineteenth-century historians, who gave the discipline its scientific foundation, also passed on erroneous interpretations, which contemporary research is gradually correcting. 

Jean-François Nieus appeared in episode 1 of season 3 of the documentary series "Batailles de légende" (Legendary Battles), which focused on the great battle of Bouvines between King Philip II Augustus of France and a coalition led by King John of England (1214).