Revisiting Conservation Treatment Methodologies for Waterlogged Archaeological Wood: An Australian Study

Abstract

This article discusses a theoretical framing of a conservation research project that focuses on waterlogged archaeological wooden artefact composed of Australian tree species. Although a multitude of materials and methods have been reported on in the conservation literature, four consolidation methods for waterlogged archaeological wood are outlined. These methods have been selected due to their representativeness of the development of treatment technique within the field of waterlogged wood conservation over the past 60 years and also because of their potential applicability for the conservation of wood in an Australian context. If operating within the boundaries of best practice, conservators will select the most appropriate treatment method for the artefact by consideration of variables such as the size and mobility of the artefact, the degree of degradation of the wood, the artefacts end use, the eventual location and lastly the owner, client or custodian's requirements informing conservation outcomes. Australian conservation practice for terrestrially found archaeological wood is limited by a lack of published knowledge about the treatment of Australian wood species. This is a result of the scarcity of wooden artefact finds in the Australian archaeological record to date; this is particularly true for the finds from the pre-European contact era. It is hoped that this survey of selected conservation methods for waterlogged wood will aid in determining a treatment pathway for highly significant Australian artefact finds in the future. The paper highlights developments in conservation treatment-based research for waterlogged wood from Australia, Scandinavia, Turkey and China, with the aim of drawing together some conservation treatment methodologies that hold potential for successful application in an Australian context. It provides a useful background research setting for Australian research to come and underlying this discussion are the notions of irreversibility and re-treatability in conservation, versus the issues of long-term stability and accessibility of cultural material.