Conservation of Waterlogged Finds (0110684)

Type: Optional Course Value: 2 Credit Hours. Duration: One Semester. Overview and objectives: This course aims to provide maritime archaeologists with an appreciation of the problems associated with waterlogged materials and the care and treatment of artefacts recovered from marine sites. The course will cover the theory and practice of conserving marine archaeological objects, and will evaluate specific aspects of conservation, such as in-situ preservation, lifting and transportation of objects, first aid for underwater finds, passive storage and collections management. Key skills to be promoted: Transferable skills seminar and small group discussion undertaking independent research including desk-based assessments writing up and synthesising seminar discussion Specific archaeological skills a basic understanding of marine archaeological conservation and the approach to be taken with regard to a range of material (both theoretical and practical) particularly relating to in-situ conservation and first aid treatment of finds Learning outcomes: By the end of this course the students should have acquired a broad understanding of the principles of passive and active conservation. They should be aware of the range of threats to waterlogged artefacts and the basic requirements for their stabilization. They should also be able to perform basic first aid techniques to archaeological finds from underwater environment.

Lecture Outline:
Week 1 Course overview Week 2 Principals and objectives of archaeological conservation Week 3 Characteristics of conservation in the field, the laboratory & the museum Week 4

The marine environment and its effect on archaeological materials Week 5 Field visit to archaeological sites Week 6 In-situ preservation and site monitoring Week 7 Field conservation and first aid treatment Week 8 Lifting, transporting and passive storage of waterlogged objects Week 9 Field visit to local conservation laboratories Week 10 The conservation of stone, pottery & glass objects Week 11 The conservation of metal objects Week 12 The conservation of organic materials Week 13 Stabilization and monitoring Week 14 Oral exam Week 15 Final exam

Assessment:
Method of Assessment: 30% of final mark will be for assignment during the semester, 20% for oral examination and 50% will be for the final exam. One assignment will be set. Assignment: Condition report. Students will be expected to produce an assessment report on the status and conservation requirement of one of the archaeological sites they visited during the course. 30% of final mark. Core Readings: Cronyn, J. M. 1990. The Elements of Archaeological Conservation. London. Gregory, D. 1998. Re-burial of timbers in the marine environment as a means of

their long-term storage: experimental studies in Lyns Sands, Denmark. IJNA 27. 4: 343-358 Hamilton, D. L. 1996. Basic Methods of Conserving Underwater Archaeological Material Culture. Washington. Horei, C. V. 1987. Materials for Conservation. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Muckelroy, K. W. 1980. Preservation: Past, Present, and Future, in Muckelroy (ed.) Archaeology Underwater. London. Pearson, C. (ed.) 1987. Conservation of marine archaeological objects. London. Pearson, C. 1977. The state of the art and science of conservation, in maritime archaeology. 1st Southern Hemisphere Conference on Maritime Archaeology. Scott, D. et al. 1994. Ancient and Historic Metals Conservation and Scientific Research. Getty. Thompson, G. 1993. The Museum Environment. London: Butterworths. Watkinson, D. (ed.) 1987. First Aid for Finds. Rescue/United Kingdom Institute for Conservation, Archaeology Section, London. ISBN 0-903789-13-2 Zabel, R. A. & Morrel, J. J. 1992. Wood microbiology, decay and its prevention. London: Academic Press.