A comparative study of conservation methods for waterlogged wood - a review of the 'Cutaway' project
Creators
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1.
LEIZA - Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie
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2.
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
- 3. Karlsruher Institut für Technology (KIT)
- 4. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
Description
Wood degrades during the storage in the ground. Depending on its state of preservation and species, archaeological wood will deform, collapse and shrink after excavation. This paper reviews conservation methods used to preserve waterlogged archaeological wood. In the short history of conservation science, various methods have been established. At the Leibniz-Zenturm für Archäologie, a reference collection has been built up considering conservation methods such as alcohol-ether resin, melamine formaldehyde (Kauramin 800®), lactitol/trehalose, polyethylene glycol impregnation with different molecular size followed by freeze-drying, saccharose and silicone oil. The project “Cutaway – Conservation and wood analyses” aimed to compare the treaments and therefore, samples of the reference collection were analysed using structured-light 3D sanning, X-ray and synchrotron micro-computed tomography, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The paper discusses the ability of these methods to prevent shrinkage, collapse and cracking. In addition, the interaction of the consolidant within the microstructure of the wood and the condition of the cell walls is assessed.
Files
Stelzner et al_2023_conservation_Cutaway project_Actas RIE Mazarron 2_pp. 280-302.pdf
Files
(5.8 MB)
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Additional details
Funding
- Swiss National Science Foundation
- CuTAWAY- Konservierungs- und Materialanalyse von archäologischem Holz 183684
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Cutaway - Konservierungs- und Materialanalyse von archäologischem Holz 416877131