Recent developments in the conservation of materials properties of historical wood

Abstract

Wood is a complex hierarchical material. As a widely available renewable resource, it has been used throughout history to construct dwellings and transportation, tools, art and funerary objects. The desire to better understand cultural heritage and preserve it for future generations has long been a major driver in the study of wooden objects in the social sciences. This trend can also be associated with a recent strong push to create, low-cost, environmentally-responsible, sustainable housing solutions for rapidly expanding urban populations. Thus, interest in studying wood degradation and conservation from an engineering/materials science perspective has increased significantly. The study of degradation phenomena in wooden artefacts, along with methods to conserve or enhance their material properties and monitor changes over time is, not only, invaluable to archaeological science, but also to engineers and materials scientists concerned with the endurance of the wooden constructions of tomorrow. The aim of this review is to highlight recent developments in the characterisation, consolidation and monitoring of materials properties of archaeological wood. A specific focus will be placed on bio-sourced consolidants and multi-phase systems based on nano-fillers, recognising the contribution to archaeological science and underlining the impact this knowledge can play on future developments in wooden construction.