Studies in Archaeological Conservation

by Chris Caple (Editor), Vicky Garlick (Editor)

Overview

Studies in Archaeological Conservation features a range of case studies that explore the techniques and approaches used in current conservation practice around the world and, taken together, provide a picture of present practice in some of the world-leading museums and heritage organisations.

Archaeological excavations produce thousands of corroded and degraded fragments of metal, ceramic, and organic material that are transformed by archaeological conservators into the beautiful and informative objects that fill the cases of museums. The knowledge and expertise required to undertake this transformation is demonstrated within this book in a series of 26 fascinating case studies in archaeological conservation and artefact investigation, undertaken in laboratories around the world. These case studies are contextualised by a detailed introductory chapter, which explores the challenges presented by researching and conserving archaeological artefacts and details how the case studies illustrate the current state of the subject.

Studies in Archaeological Conservation is the first book for over a quarter of a century to show the range and diversity of archaeological conservation, in this case through a series of case studies. As a result, the book will be of great interest to practising conservators, conservation students, and archaeologists around the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367358433
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/15/2020
Pages:	290
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Chris Caple is Emeritus Reader in Conservation in the Department of Archaeology at Durham University, UK.

Vicky Garlick is an Assistant Teaching Fellow and Conservator in the Department of Archaeology at Durham University, UK.

Table of Contents

Figures xi

Contributors xvi

Preface xviii

Acknowledgements xxi

Part I Introduction 1

1 Introduction: the challenges of archaeological conservation Chris Caple 3

Part II Case studies: stone and plaster 29

2 The conservation of a Viking Age sculpture from York Bibi Beekman 31

3 A plaster cast of a Mesopotamian lioness in the Durham Oriental Museum Dipika Nadkarni 39

4 The conservation of an Egyptian rock crystal dish Lauren Piper 48

5 The conservation of a fossil suffering from pyrite decay Rhian Ward 56

Part III Ceramics and glass 65

6 Retreatment of an archaeological glass beaker Hana Bristow 67

7 Pierced Bronze Age ceramic vessel from Jericho Sara Gibson 76

8 Conservation of a late Parthian-early Sasanian vessel Tabatha Barton 85

9 Conservation of an Archaic cuneiform tablet from Babylonia Maja Bolle 94

10 Boat model masthead in faience Abigail Moore 104

Part IV Metals 113

11 Copper alloy objects suspected of bronze disease: the Burrell 'Bronzes' Bethan N. Bryan 115

12 Economy and decision making in the use of benzotriazole Erik Farrell 124

13 Button from the River Wear, Durham Fiona Jeffrey 133

14 Cleaning, consolidating, and reassembling a fragmentary copper alloy object Alastair Threlfall 140

15 A late-medieval pectoral cross pilgrim sign from the River Wear, Durham Gary Bankhead 147

16 Conservation of a pewter dish from the wreck of 'The Coronation' Charlotte E. Wilkinson 155

17 The conservation of three 16th-century archaeological iron keys Matt Walker 163

Part V Organics - wood, textiles, leather 171

18 Interventive conservation of a waterlogged wooden bucket Holly Marston 173

19 Re-treatment of a marine archaeological leather shoe Erik Farrell 182

20 The conservation of 38 Mesolithic birch bark rolls from Star Carr Bibi Beekman 191

21 Investigation of a charred wooden torso from Uruk Maja Bolle 198

22 Restorage of archaeological textiles at the Museum of London Katie Snow 207

23 Conservation and repackaging of a collection of Coptic textiles Susannah R. Bartindale 217

Part VI Bone, composites and display 227

24 Conservation project: the Stengade double grave, Langeland Museum, Denmark Jennifer Ellison 229

25 Conservation of two World War I rifles and a military equipment belt Cedeem Richardson 237

26 Conservation of a Roman skeleton Eleanor Nethaway 245

27 Treatment of a block-lifted chicken skeleton Ellie Rowley-Conwy 254

Index 263