Abstract
From a theoretical point of view D-mannitol is promising as an alternative impregnation agent to polyethylene glycol (PEG), and small scale treatment attempts have shown that collapse and cross fissures in heavily decayed waterlogged archaeological wood can be avoided with impregnation in
5 % (w/w) D-mannitol solution followed by freeze-drying. From 2015 to 2018 a cooperative project between four conservation institutions in Denmark were conducted to investigate, if impregnation with 10 % (w/w) D-mannitol followed by freeze drying could provide a sound conservation treatment for waterlogged archaeological wood varying in dimensions, wood species, degree of degradation, archaeological context, and construction complexity. As a part of the project an approximately six-meter-long oak sternpost from an 19th century English sailing ship with various components of lead, copper and brass was impregnated for 13 months in 10 % (w/w) D-mannitol followed by vacuum freeze drying at -10 °C. The conservation treatment was overall successful, but several practical challenges were faced during the process of going from small research scale
conservation to large scale conservation of an object going into display.
5 % (w/w) D-mannitol solution followed by freeze-drying. From 2015 to 2018 a cooperative project between four conservation institutions in Denmark were conducted to investigate, if impregnation with 10 % (w/w) D-mannitol followed by freeze drying could provide a sound conservation treatment for waterlogged archaeological wood varying in dimensions, wood species, degree of degradation, archaeological context, and construction complexity. As a part of the project an approximately six-meter-long oak sternpost from an 19th century English sailing ship with various components of lead, copper and brass was impregnated for 13 months in 10 % (w/w) D-mannitol followed by vacuum freeze drying at -10 °C. The conservation treatment was overall successful, but several practical challenges were faced during the process of going from small research scale
conservation to large scale conservation of an object going into display.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Wet Organic Archaeological Materials 2019. Proceedings of the 14th ICOM-CC Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Working Group Interim Meeting, Portsmouth 2019 |
| Publisher | ICOM-CC, International Committee of Museums |
| Publication date | 2022 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-2-491997-32-8 |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Artistic research
- No