Overview of Artifact Conditions and Environment Requirements

Zachary WaltonSession 9

Archaeology Locations

Land Dry or wet Never Fully

Submerged Usually result of

geologic event or land development

Maritime Submerged or area

directly relating to a port

Includes wells and peat bogs

Can be result of construction, storms, or even fishing

Factors Contributing to Maritime / Underwater Archaeology

Anerobic Environment Dark Cold Fresh/Salt Water

Location is Key Factorhttp://danielberesford.com/2011/04/07/sunsets-and-shipwrecks/

Items Preserved

Organics Wood Leather Horn & Bone Hair & Flesh (Unique Cases i.e. Peat Bogs

Non-Organics Ceramic Carved Stone Metal (if conditions are favorable)

Metals

http://www.qaronline.org/conservation/LabReportJuly08.htm

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10276/1091928-140.stm

Carved Stone

http://www.123rf.com/photo_3040993_greek-ancient-ceramics-museum-of-underwater-archaeology-in-bodrum.html http://danielomcclellan.wordpress.com/tag/archaeology/Left and right center

Ceramics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canvey_Island

http://www.mingwrecks.com/Shanghai_jar.jpg

http://www.ancientdigger.com/2009/02/insanely-phenomenal-mysterious.html

Organics

http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/photogalleries/ig/Sweden-Photo-Gallery/The-Vasa-Ship-in-Stockholm.htm

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5452068

Removal from Environment

Objects require special care and handling once removed from the environment to preserve integrity.

Normal goal is to slowly change the conditions which the artifacts exist.

Each material has a specific process which has been found to work best at preservation.

Resources

http://www.crystalinks.com/underwaterarch.html

http://www.qaronline.org/conservation/LabReportJuly08.htm

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10276/1091928-140.stm

http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/photogalleries/ig/Sweden-Photo-Gallery/The-Vasa-Ship-in-Stockholm.htm

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5452068

http://www.123rf.com/photo_3040993_greek-ancient-ceramics-museum-of-underwater-archaeology-in-bodrum.html

http://danielomcclellan.wordpress.com/tag/archaeology/

http://danielberesford.com/2011/04/07/sunsets-and-shipwrecks/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canvey_Island

http://www.mingwrecks.com/Shanghai_jar.jpg

http://www.ancientdigger.com/2009/02/insanely-phenomenal-mysterious.html

www.wikipedia.org -various pages

All sources last accessed 13 November 2011