Conservation Strategies for Archaeologists
Faculty
Emily Williams,
conservator of archaeological materials at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation;
research interests include waterlogged organics, the burial environment,
and the history of conservation
and
Lisa Young, archaeological
conservator and president of Alexandria Conservation Services, Ltd.; research
interests include the treatment of dry and wet material, surveying archaeological
collections, and the deterioration and preservation of polymers (plastics)
Seminar Overview
Review the role of conservation in the field and in the laboratory for archaeological projects. Discuss
planning and preparation for the care of excavated materials. Learn about
the condition of materials upon excavation and "first aid" packing and
transport methods for artifacts from both dry and waterlogged contexts.
Examine artifact preservation and methods to facilitate interpretation.
Learn how to perform simple stabilization techniques such as dewatering
waterlogged bone, removing chlorides from objects, and consolidating highly
degraded glass, as well as exploring tips for mending vessels.
Day 1 of this seminar is included in
Archaeological Curation, Conservation, and Collections Management,
scheduled for September 15-18, 2008, in Boston (Charlestown), MA
Evaluation Comments
"[The seminar offered] a nice combination of theoretical background and some very practical tips to use in the field."
"[I learned] different methods for retrieving artifacts responsibly and the ways in which they can be conserved."
"[The seminar included] very helpful information for preplanning field projects and ways to handle surprises in the field."
"[I gained] a solid understanding of what field conservation entails-from planning to management to hands on."
Participants
Archaeologists; archaeological lab staff; historic preservation specialists; project managers.
Locations and Dates
- Mount Vernon, VA
April 14-16, 2008
in cooperation with Mount Vernon Archaeology
Cost (see Register for more information)
$525 (6-week advance registration); $575 (regular registration)
On-site and Customized Training
NPI also offers this seminar as an on-site or customized seminar to meet specific organizational needs. Seminars can be tailored to create single- or multiple-day workshops at a location and time convenient to the sponsor. Contact NPI at 703.765.0100 or info@npi.org for further information.