Introduction to Archaeological and Museum Artifact Conservation

(3 hours)

HIST6840

Instructor: Susanne Grieve / Lab Hours: M/W/F 1pm-4pm
Office: Maritime Conservation Lab, Bldg. 58A / or during office hours
Office Hours: T/Th 9-11:30am or by appt / Graduate Asst: Jennifer Jones,
E-mail: / Nicole Whittig,
Office Phone: 328-4407 / Course Website:

Course Description:Archaeological conservation involves stabilizing material that has been excavated from a maritime or terrestrial burial environment. This process involves careful excavation of the artifact, identification of material types, treatment of the object, and storage concerns. The conservation process for organic and inorganic archaeological materials will be discussed in combination with hands on laboratory experience.

Course Objectives: By the completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Describe the context of conservation and identify ethical considerations.
  • Communicate the purpose of conservation within archaeology.
  • Classify material types and interpret deterioration factors.
  • Demonstrate a variety of treatment techniques available based on material type.
  • Manage the storage and display of historical material.

Texts and Readings: There are five to seven readings per class (listed below) that should be completed beforehand in order to participate in discussions. Conservation literature is available through the Joyner library and at the conservation lab (see Reference Materials below). I suggest you log into Blackboard frequently to check for announcements and obtain copies of the readings.

Required Text: Rodgers, Bradley The Archaeologist’s Manual for Conservation

ISBN 0306484676

Lab Safety:During lab sessions or when working with artifacts or chemicals, you are required to adhere by the following rules: no open toed shoes or flip flops, long hair should be pulled back, no puffy sleeves, and arms and legs should be covered when working with chemicals. You are welcome to bring your own personal protection equipment, but gloves, safety goggles and lab aprons will be provided. Please turn off all cell phones during class. The instructor should be informed of any allergies or medical conditions that may be impacted by working in a lab environment. Additional laboratory safety guidelines will be distributed in class.

Scheduling:This class is a block course and the meeting time will be determined based on student schedules. We will meet as a group to discuss the course and to determine a meeting time on the first day of classes (Aug 25). The first official class will not begin until October 6th after the conclusion of the fall maritime archaeology field school. We will have approximately 16 classes for 3 hours each at the Maritime Conservation Lab, Bldg. 58A. Students are encouraged to meet at the Eller House and take the departmental van to the lab. Parking is also available near the lab in a Zone C lot.

Attendance:Attendance is critical to succeed in this course.If you are going to be late or need to leave early, please let the instructor know ahead of time. Attendance will not be taken, but the small class size and laboratory nature of the course necessitates you keeping up with the material. Excusable absences include athletics, a conference, or an illness (but all require documentation). You are responsible for catching up on material that was missed, but I am happy to answer any questions. The labs associated with the course can only be completed during class, laboratory hours, or with an instructor present. Please note that lab hours may be subject to change and every effort will be made to give at least one weeks’ notice.

Reference Materials:

There are hundreds of websites concerning conservation issues that can be accessed through keyword searches on the internet. There are also numerous resources through the Joyner library and the conservation library at the lab that can provide information on conservation subjects. If you need an article from a reference that is not available, please see me and we can try to locate a copy. Try the following resources first:

  • Joyner Library Sections:

CC135 TA418.74 TH6057

QD31.2 TA419 to TA427 N8554 to N8585

TS200 to TS1061 TA450 to TA492

  • Joyner Library Electronic Resources:

Studies in Conservation

Journal of the American Institute for Conservation

JSTOR

  • Useful Websites:

Additional references and websites that pertain to individual lectures will be distributed in class handouts.

ECU Disability Policy:EastCarolinaUniversity seeks to comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students requesting accommodations based on a disability must be registered with the Department for Disability Support Services located in Slay 138 ((252) 737-1016 (Voice/TTY)).

Class Schedule: Class will be conducted from October 6 to December 3. Each lecture is 3 hours with a 10 minute break. There may be the opportunities for field trips outside of class at a time when everyone can meet.A tentative course schedule is as follows:

Lesson / Date / Topic
T: August 25 / Familiarization Class
1 / T: October 6 / What is conservation and how does it fit into archaeology?
2 / TH: October 8 / From the Site to the Lab…
Sat-T: Oct 10-13 / Fall Break (No class on Tuesday)
3 / TH: October 15 / Identifying Materials: What Is It?
4 / T: October 20 / Wood
5 / TH: October 22 / Wood Lab
6 / T: October 27 / Leather/ Lab
7 / TH: October 29 / Bone, Ivory, Teeth, and Antler/Lab
8 / T: November 3 / Textile and Rope/ Lab Research Paper Due
9 / TH: November 5 / Stone, Ceramics, and Glass/ Lab First Exam (30 min)
10 / T: November 10 / Iron
11 / TH: November 12 / Iron Lab
12 / T: November 17 / Copper and Copper Alloys
13 / TH: November 19 / Copper and Copper Alloys Lab
14 / T: November 24 / Silver, Lead, Tin, Aluminum, Research Paper Due
and Gold/ Lab
W-Sun: Nov 25-29 / Thanksgiving Break (No class on Thursday)
15 / T: December 1 / Composite Materials
16 / TH: December 3 / Storage and Display Second Exam (30 min)
T: December 8 / Lab Catch Up, Last Class
T: December 15 / Final Exam 11am-1:30pm

Readings: Each lesson has readings and handouts associated with the subject matter. This includes websites, journal articles, sections from the required text and books. Wherever possible, the text has been posted on Blackboard, but some readings are only available through reserve at the library. I strongly suggest you browse through the source that the reading is from, so you have a better idea of related subject matter for the research paper. Please take note of the page numbers, as a lot of the readings are just sections of chapters. The location or call number of the entire text is listed after the citation in case you want to view the entire text. The reading for each week is as follows (unless noted on Blackboard):

October 6: What is conservation and how does it fit into archaeology?

  • Rodgers, pp. 12-16

(Code of Ethics Section)

  • AIC. 2003. Defining a Conservator: Essential Competencies, pp. 1-17. (also on AIC website)
  • Sease, C. 1996. A Short History of Archaeological Conservation. In: Roy, A. and Smith, P. (eds.) Archaeological Conservation and its Consequences, pp. 157-161. Cons Lab
  • Caple, C. 2006. Chapter 1.4: Theoretical Approaches to Objects. In:Objects: Reluctant Witnesses to the Past, pp. 6-12. CC135.C293.2006
  • Vinas, M. 2005. Chapter 8: Sustainable Conservation, Reversibility and Minimal Intervention. In: Contemporary Theory of Conservation, pp. 183-191. CC135.M86.2005
  • Siguroardottir, K. Challenges in Conserving Archaeological Collections. In: Of the Past, For the Future: Integrating Archaeology and Conservation, pp. 220-223. CC135.W67.2003
  • Handouts

October 8: From the Site to the Lab…

  • Rodgers, pp. 21-22
  • Singley, K. 1995. Caring for Artifacts after Excavation: Some Advice for Archaeologists. In: Historical Archaeology, Vol 15, No 1, pp. 35-48. E11.S625.V 1-3
  • Cronyn, J. 1990. Chapter 2: Agents of Deterioration and Preservation. In: The Elements of Archaeological Conservation, pp. 14-42. CC135.C76.1990
  • Handouts

October 15: Identifying Materials: What is it?

  • Wheatcroft, A. 1992. What Science Is (A, B, C). In: Science for Conservators, Vol. 1, Introduction to Materials, pp. 14-20. Cons Lab
  • Cronyn, J. 1990. Chapter 3.3 Examination and Cleaning. In: The Elements of Archaeological Conservation, pp. 58-68. CC135.C76.1990
  • Stuart, B. 2007. Introduction Sections of Chapter 1.1 to 10.1. Analytical Techniques in Materials Conservation. TA418.74.S78.2007
  • Caple, C. 2000. Chapter 6.4 Scientific Analysis. In: Conservation Skills: Judgment, Method and Decision Making, pp. 80-89. CC135.C29.2000
  • Handouts

October 20: Organic Materials: Wood

  • Rodgers Chapter 2, pp. 33-68
  • Handouts

October 22: Wood Lab

  • Handouts

October 27: Organic Materials: Leather and Lab

  • Rodgers, pp. 163-168 and pp. 171-172
  • Thomson, R. 2006. Chapter 1: The Nature and Properties of Leather. In: Kite and Thomson (eds.), Conservation of Leather and Related Materials, pp. 1-3. TS967.K5.2005 Reserve
  • Haines, B. 2006. Chapter 3: The Fibre Structure of Leather. In: Kite and Thomson (eds.), Conservation of Leather and Related Materials, pp.11-21.
  • Thomson, R. 2006. Chapter 7: The Manufacture of Leather. In: Kite and Thomson (eds.), Conservation of Leather and Related Materials, pp.66-81.
  • Cameron, E., J. Spriggs, E. Wills, 2006. Chapter 22: The Conservation of Archaeological Leather. In: Kite and Thomson (eds.), Conservation of Leather and Related Materials, pp. 244-261.
  • Handouts

October 29:Organic Materials: Bone, Ivory, Teeth, and Antler and Lab

  • Rodgers, pp. 172-173

(Bone, Horn, Tortoise Shell, Baleen)

  • Canadian Conservation Institute. 1988. CCI Notes 6/1 Care of Ivory, Bone, Horn, and Antler. In: CCI Notes, pp. 1-4. Cons Lab
  • Jenssen, V. 1987. Section 8.9 and 8.11, Conservation of Wet Organic Artefacts Excluding Wood. In: Conservation of Marine Archaeological Objects, pp. 156-162. CC77.U5C68.1987
  • Cronyn, J. 1990. Chapter 6.4 Skeletal Material. In: The Elements of Archaeological Conservation, pp. 275-282. CC135.C76.1990
  • Kuhn, H. 1986. Chapter 9: Ivory and Bone. In: Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities-Volume 1, pp. 116-119. N8560.K7813.1986.Vol 1
  • Kuhn, H. 1986. Chapter 13: Objects Made of Tortoiseshell and Horn. In: Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities-Volume 1, pp. 132-133.
  • Kuhn, H. 1986. Chapter 17: Ivory, Ivory-like Teeth, Bone, Antler. In: Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities-Volume 1, pp. 168-170.
  • Kuhn, H. 1986. Chapter 26: Tortoiseshell and Horn. In: Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities-Volume 1, pp. 213-214.

November 3:Organic Materials Textile and Rope/ Research Paper # 1 Due

  • Rodgers, pp. 168-171
  • Peacock, E. 2005. Investigation of Conservation Methods for a Textile Recovered from the American Civil War Submarine H.L. Hunley (1864). In: Proceedings of the 9th Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference, Copenhagen, pp. 497-512. Cons Lab
  • Jakes, K. and J. Mitchell. 1992. The Recovery and Drying of Textiles from A Deep Ocean Historic Shipwreck. In: Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, Vol 31, No 3, pp. 343-353.

Electronic Resource

  • Godfrey, I., and N. Smith. 1990. Conservation of Degraded Rope from Maritime Archaeological Sites. In: AICCM Bulletin, Vol 16, No 3, pp.93-108. Cons Lab
  • Handouts

November 5: Inorganic Materials: Stone, Ceramics, and Glass and Lab/ Exam on Organics (30 min)

  • Rodgers, pp. 139-158
  • Romich, H. 2006. Chapter 7: Glass and Ceramics. In: Conservation Science: Heritage Materials, Cambridge, pp. 160-184. AM141.C656.2006
  • Handouts

November 10:Inorganic Materials: Iron

  • Rodgers, pp. 69-104
  • (“The Process” and “ER Video”)
  • Handouts

November 12: Iron Lab

  • Handouts

November 17:Inorganic Materials: Copper and Copper Alloys

  • Rodgers, pp. 105-122
  • North, N. 1987. Chapter 10.4 Copper and Copper Alloys. In: Conservation of Marine Archaeological Objects, pp. 232-238. CC77.U5C68.1987
  • MacLeod, I. 1987. Conservation of Corroded Copper Alloys: A Comparison of New and Traditional Methods for Removing Chloride Ions. In: Studies in Conservation, Vol 32, pp. 25-40.

Electronic Resource

  • Handouts

November 19: Copper Lab

  • Handouts

November 24: Inorganic Materials: Other types of metals (Silver, Lead, Tin, Aluminum, Gold) /Lab

Research Paper #2 Due

  • Rodgers, pp. 123-138
  • MacLeod, I. 1983. The Stabilization of Corroded Aluminum. In: Studies in Conservation, Vol 28, No 1, pp. 1-7. Electronic Resource
  • MacLeod, I. and N. North. 1979. Conservation of Corroded Silver. In: Studies in Conservation, Vol 24, No 4, pp. 165-170. Electronic Resource
  • Cronyn, J. 1990. Chapter 5.3 and Chapter 5.4 Lead and Tin. In: The Elements of Archaeological Conservation, pp. 202-212. CC135.C76.1990
  • Handouts

December 1: Composite Materials/ Exam on Inorganics (30 min)

  • Rodgers, pp. 185-200
  • Gilberg, M., D. Grattan, and D. Rennie. 1989. Treatment of Iron/Wood Composite Materials. In: Conservation of Wet Wood and Metal, pp. 265-268. Cons Lab
  • Kevin, P. 2007. A Hole In the Bucket: The Technological Investigation and Conservation of a Wet Composite Angle-Saxon Bucket from Ringlemere, Kent. In:Poster, 9th Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference, Copenhagen, pp. 1-2. Cons Lab
  • De Groot, I., and C. Degrigny. 2004. Electrolytic Stabilisation of a Marine Composite Porthole and its Framework. In: Proceedings of ICOM-METAL 2004, pp.1-16. Cons Lab
  • Handouts

December 3: Storage and Display

  • Caple, C. 2000. Chapter 11.1 to 11.3: Preventative Conservation. In: Conservation Skills: Judgement, Method and Decision Making, pp. 152-160. CC135.C29.2000
  • Green, L., and D. Thickett. 1995. Testing Materials for Use in the Storage and Display of Antiquities-A Revised Methodology. In: Studies in Conservation, Vol 40, No 3, pp. 145-152.

Electronic Resource

  • Staniforth, S. 1992. Chapter 26: Control and Measurement of the Environment. In: Manual of Curatorship: A Guide to Museum Practice, pp. 234-245. Cons Lab
  • Handouts

December 8: Lab Catch Up

December 15: Final Exam 11am-1:30pm

Research Paper: You are required to complete two research papers for this course. The first paper will be a 10-15 page essay on a topic of your choosing that relates to archaeological conservation (ie: ethics, decision making, management and planning, role in archaeology). A minimum of 4 published peer reviewed references should be used and should be cited using the JAIC guidelines.

The second paper will be a condition survey and lab report on material that you have treated over the semester. Each paper should be in Times New Roman, 12pt font, double spaced, with images incorporated and referred to in the text.

Further details for both papers will be discussed in class and posted on Blackboard. It is imperative that your papers incorporate your own views and opinions supplemented with published resources. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and all sources and quotes should be identified in the paper. Papers should be submitted to the instructor by 5pm on the due date by e-mail. You will receive a confirmation e-mail when I get the paper. Late papers will be accepted up to 3 days after the due date with a 5% point penalty per day. Every effort will be made to return papers in seven days time.

Grading and Tests

There are two 30 minute exams (Nov 5 and Dec 1) on previously covered material and a final comprehensive exam covering the entire semester.All exams will consist of multiple choices, fill in the blank, and short answer. There are no pop quizzes.

Grading:

Evaluation / Percent of Grade / Points Worth
Exams (x2) / 20% / 200 (100 each)
Final Exam / 40% / 400
Research Paper (x2) / 30% / 300 (150 each)
Class Participation, Lab Assignments / 10% / 100

Grading Scale:

Grade / PercentRange / PointRange
A / 93%-100% / 930-1000
B / 86%-92% / 860-929
C / 76%-85% / 760-859
F / 75% or below / 759 or below

*The above schedule and procedures in the course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.