Frequently Asked Questions

  1. CONSERVATION – WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, AND HOW?
    1. What do conservators do?
    2. What do archaeological conservators do?
    3. What is the goal of archaeological conservation?
    4. Do all archaeological artifacts require conservation?
    5. How can I maximize the information of an assemblage?
    6. What can a conservator do to help maximize the information of a site’s artifacts?
    7. How do I find an archaeological conservator?
    8. Having located a conservator, are there specific questions I should ask?
    9. What does conservation treatment cost?
    10. Is funding available for conservation-related activities?
    11. What other web-based resources exist for conservation information?
  2. PREPARING FOR CONSERVATION ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS
    1. What is the archaeologists role in the conservation process?
    2. Do I need a conservator on site?
    3. When should I start talking to a conservator about an excavation project?
    4. How do I find a conservator to work on site?
    5. What conservation supplies do I need in the field?
    6. Where can I get conservation supplies?
    7. Isn’t conservation expensive?
    8. Where will the artifacts go after the fieldwork?
  3. HANDLING FRESHLY EXCAVATED ARTIFACTS ON SITE
    1. How do I stabilize freshly excavated materials?
    2. What kind of information about the artifacts should be recorded?
    3. How do I lift fragile objects during excavation?
    4. How can I tell what something is made of without cleaning it?
    5. How do I decide whether to dry something out or keep it damp?
    6. How do I store different types of excavated materials?
    7. How should I collect and store samples/artifacts in case I need to do analysis?
    8. How do I pack artifacts for transport to the conservation/curation facility?
  4. INITIAL PROCESSING OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIALS
    1. What issues are involved in cleaning artifacts?
      1. What are good techniques for cleaning excavated artifacts. (from terrestrial sites)
      2. What are good techniques for cleaning artifacts from waterlogged sites?
    2. What techniques are considered harmful for cleaning excavated artifacts?
    3. What are soluble and insoluble salts?
    4. Why is the presence of soluble salts important?
    5. Why and how should I check for the presence of soluble salts in artifacts?
    6. What is the difference between testing for chlorides and testing for soluble salts?
    7. What is desalinization?
    8. What techniques are used to measure the salt content of desalination baths?
    9. Can I clean most artifacts with water and dishwashing detergent?
    10. How should I store archaeological artifacts for curation?
    11. How do I create a desiccated microclimate for storage?
    12. What are “archival” storage materials?
    13. What are humidity indicator strips?
    14. What is a stable system for labeling artifacts?
    15. How do I mix Acryloid B-72 for labeling artifacts?
    16. Where can I buy Acryloid B-72?
  5. MATERIALS IDENTIFICATION AND CONDITION ASSESSMENT
    1. How do I determine whether an artifact is stable or deteriorating?
    2. I have an archaeological collection and I don’t know what its conservation needs are. Where should I start?
    3. How do I assess whether my storage site is good or bad for my collection?
  6. CONSERVATION TREATMENTS
    1. What criteria do conservators use to determine how and when to treat an artifact?
    2. Metals
      1. How do you assess a metal artifact and decide on its treatment?
      2. How do you assess an iron artifact and decide on its treatment?
      3. What is electrolytic reduction and what are its risks and benefits?
      4. Should I polish archaeological metals?
      5. What is a Corrosion Inhibitor?
      6. What is a Moisture Barrier?
    3. Ceramics
      1. How do you assess a ceramic artifact and decide on its treatment?
      2. What adhesive do you use to use to mend ceramics?
      3. What do you use to fill gaps in ceramics?
    4. Glass
      1. How do you preserve archaeological glass?
      2. What adhesive do you use to mend glass?
      3. What do you use to fill gaps in glass?
    5. Bone
      1. How do you assess bone, antler and ivory artifacts and decide on a treatment?
      2. What are the conservation issues involved with the recovery of human remains?
      3. How do you assess a shell artifact and decide on a conservation treatment?
    6. Wood
      1. How do you assess waterlogged wood and decide on a conservation treatment?
    7. Leather
      1. How do you assess archaeological leather and decide on a treatment?
    8. Horn, tortoiseshell, baleen
      1. How do you assess objects made of horn, tortoiseshell or baleen and decide on a conservation treatment?
    9. Rubber and plastics
      1. How do you assess archaeological objects made of rubber and plastic and decide upon a conservation treatment?
    10. Textiles, paper
      1. How do you assess archaeological textiles and decide on a treatment?
      2. How do you assess archaeological paper and decide on a treatment?
    11. Composite artifacts (made of more than one material)
      1. How do you assesses composite objects and decide on a treatment?
    12. Architectural materials, brick, stone
      1. How do you assess architectural materials and decide on a treatment?
    13. Environmental remains
      1. How should I care for archaeobotanical remains?
  7. RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF ARTIFACTS
    1. Can conservators do materials analysis?
    2. What resources exist for doing materials analysis?
    3. How should I collect and store samples/artifacts in case I need to do analysis?
    4. How do I avoid contaminating archaeological DNA samples with modern DNA?
    5. How do I avoid contaminating samples for Carbon-14 analysis?
    6. How do I store soil samples?
    7. What are x-rays, and how can they be useful to me?
  8. COLLECTIONS STORAGE AND CURATION
    1. What is Preventive Conservation?
    2. Temperature & Relative Humidity
      1. What dangers do temperature & relative humidity pose to a collection?
      2. How do I monitor temperature and relative humidity.
    3. Light
      1. How do I protect archaeological collections from light damage?
      2. How do I monitor light?
    4. Pests
      1. What damage do pests cause to an archaeological collection?
      2. How do I protect my collection from pest damage?
    5. Pollutants
      1. What dangers do pollutants pose for an archaeological collections and how do I monitor pollutants?
    6. Personnel
      1. How can I ensure my collections will be protected AND accessible to researchers and the public?
      2. How should I handle artifacts after treatment?
      3. What kind of gloves should I wear to handle artifacts?
    7. How do I assess whether my storage site is good or bad for my collection?
    8. How do I create microclimates for storage?
    9. How do I know my plastic bags are safe for artifact storage?
  9. STORAGE AND CURATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTATION
    1. How do I care for archaeological archives and photographs?
    2. What supplies are recommended for archival storage of documentation?
  10. PUBLICATION OF CONSERVATION INFORMATION
    1. What kind of research do conservators do, and where is conservation research published?
    2. What are some general publications about Conservation?
  11. DISPLAY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS
    1. What are the key things to be aware of when planning an archaeological display?
    2. Where can I find more information on planning exhibits that are safe for my artifacts?
  12. LABORATORY MAINTENANCE
    1. How do I clean laboratory glassware?
    2. What constitutes a hazardous material?
    3. What is the best way to dispose of chemicals used in conservation procedures?
    4. Where can I order conservation and lab supplies?
  13. DISASTER PLANNING FOR COLLECTIONS
    1. What is disaster planning and why is it important?
    2. What resources exist to help in disaster planning?
    3. What supplies do I need to keep on hand to respond to a water disaster event?
    4. What do I do if my library or archive floods?
    5. What is the difference between freezing and freeze-drying flood damaged documents?
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Copyright © 2006 Colleen Brady, Molly Gleeson, Melba Myers, Claire Peachey, Betty Seifert, Howard Wellman, Emily Williams, Lisa Young. All rights reserved. Commercial use or publication of text and graphic images is prohibited. Authors reserve the right to update this information as appropriate.