Comment on egusphere-2022-1498

Abstract

<strong class="journal-contentHeaderColor">Abstract.</strong> Waterlogged archaeological wood (WAW) is a rare and precious organic material that can hold outstanding cultural values. In order to protect WAW for the next generations, this material must be accurately characterized to set its proper conservation, storage and exhibition conditions in museum environments. In this study, the mineral content found in WAW retrieved in a volcanic lake, was investigated by analysing wood ash through scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersion spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). This micro-destructive approach was coupled with morphological studies carried out through optical microscopy. SEM-EDS was also performed on the WAW and on the surrounding sediment, to study the possible correlation between the mineral composition and the wood degradation state. The analysis revealed that calcium was the most abundant element in all poles with weight percentages ranging between 24 % and 42 %. This element was more represented in heartwood (HW) than sapwood (SW). In Sapwood the second most abundant element was arsenic. Sulphur, iron, and potassium were also present in all the analysed samples. Arsenic was detected also in the sediments; it was particularly concentrated in the samples taken near archaeological wood. The presence of this element can be linked to the volcanic origin of the lake, and its high concentration points to bioaccumulation processes induced by bacteria (erosion bacteria and sulphate-reducing bacteria) and biochemical processes favouring precipitation of insoluble compounds. The present work is the first investigation on mineral content in archaeological wood establishing a possible correlation with the surrounding volcanic lake sediments.