Introduction to Archaeological and Museum Artifact
Conservation
(3 hours)
HIST6840
Instructor: Susanne Grieve
Office: Maritime Conservation Lab, Bldg. 58A
Office Hours: T/Th 9-11:30am or by appt
E-mail: grieves@ecu.edu
Office Phone: 328-4407
Lab Hours: M/W/F 1pm-4pm
or during office hours
Graduate Asst: Jennifer Jones, jej0731@ecu.edu
Nicole Whittig, new1009@ecu.edu
Course Website: www.blackboard.ecu.edu
Course Description: Comprehensive introduction and preliminary laboratory experience in artifact
conservation. Archaeological conservation involves stabilizing material that has been excavated from a
maritime or terrestrial burial environment. This process involves careful excavation of the artifact,
identification of material types, treatment of the object, and storage concerns. The conservation process for
organic and inorganic archaeological materials will be discussed in combination with hands on laboratory
experience.
Course Objectives: By the completion of the course, students will be able to:
 Describe the context of conservation and identify ethical considerations.
 Communicate the purpose of conservation within archaeology.
 Classify material types and interpret deterioration factors.
 Demonstrate a variety of treatment techniques available based on material type.
 Manage the storage and display of historical material.
Texts and Readings: There are five to seven readings per class (listed below) that should be completed
beforehand in order to participate in discussions. Conservation literature is available through the Joyner
library and at the conservation lab (see Reference Materials below). I suggest you log into Blackboard
frequently to check for announcements and obtain copies of the readings.
Required Text: Rodgers, Bradley The Archaeologist’s Manual for Conservation
ISBN 0306484676
Lab Safety: During lab sessions or when working with artifacts or chemicals, you are required to adhere by
the following rules: no open toed shoes or flip flops, long hair should be pulled back, no puffy sleeves, and
arms and legs should be covered when working with chemicals. You are welcome to bring your own
personal protection equipment, but gloves, safety goggles and lab aprons will be provided. Please turn off
all cell phones during class. The instructor should be informed of any allergies or medical conditions that
may be impacted by working in a lab environment. Additional laboratory safety guidelines will be
distributed in class.
Scheduling: This class is a block course and the meeting time will be determined based on student
schedules. We will meet as a group to discuss the course and to determine a meeting time on the first day
of classes (Aug 25). The first official class will not begin until October 6th after the conclusion of the fall
maritime archaeology field school. We will have approximately 16 classes for 3 hours each at the Maritime
Conservation Lab, Bldg. 58A. Students are encouraged to meet at the Eller House and take the
departmental van to the lab. Parking is also available near the lab in a Zone C lot.
Attendance: Attendance is critical to succeed in this course. If you are going to be late or need to leave
early, please let the instructor know ahead of time. Attendance will not be taken, but the small class size
and laboratory nature of the course necessitates you keeping up with the material. Excusable absences
include athletics, a conference, or an illness (but all require documentation). You are responsible for
catching up on material that was missed, but I am happy to answer any questions. The labs associated with
the course can only be completed during class, laboratory hours, or with an instructor present. Please note
that lab hours may be subject to change and every effort will be made to give at least one weeks’ notice.
Reference Materials:
There are hundreds of websites concerning conservation issues that can be accessed through keyword
searches on the internet. There are also numerous resources through the Joyner library and the conservation
library at the lab that can provide information on conservation subjects. If you need an article from a
reference that is not available, please see me and we can try to locate a copy. Try the following resources
first:
 Joyner Library Sections:
 CC135
 TA418.74
 TH6057
 QD31.2
 TA419 to TA427
 N8554 to N8585
 TS200 to TS1061
 TA450 to TA492
 Joyner Library Electronic Resources:
 Studies in Conservation
 Journal of the American Institute for Conservation
 JSTOR
 Useful Websites:
 http://www.conservation-us.org/
 http://aata.getty.edu/NPS/
 http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/
 http://www.bcin.ca/
Additional references and websites that pertain to individual lectures will be distributed in class handouts.
ECU Disability Policy: East Carolina University seeks to comply fully with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). Students requesting accommodations based on a disability must be registered with
the Department for Disability Support Services located in Slay 138 ((252) 737-1016 (Voice/TTY)).
Class Schedule: Class will be conducted from October 6 to December 3. Each lecture is 3 hours with a 10
minute break. There may be the opportunities for field trips outside of class at a time when everyone can
meet. A tentative course schedule is as follows:
Lesson
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Date
T: August 25
T: October 6
TH: October 8
Sat-T: Oct 10-13
TH: October 15
T: October 20
TH: October 22
T: October 27
TH: October 29
T: November 3
TH: November 5
T: November 10
TH: November 12
T: November 17
TH: November 19
T: November 24
W-Sun: Nov 25-29
T: December 1
TH: December 3
T: December 8
T: December 15
Topic
Familiarization Class
What is conservation and how does it fit into archaeology?
From the Site to the Lab…
Fall Break (No class on Tuesday)
Identifying Materials: What Is It?
Wood
Wood Lab
Leather/ Lab
Bone, Ivory, Teeth, and Antler/Lab
Textile and Rope/ Lab
Research Paper Due
Stone, Ceramics, and Glass/ Lab
First Exam (30 min)
Iron
Iron Lab
Copper and Copper Alloys
Copper and Copper Alloys Lab
Silver, Lead, Tin, Aluminum,
Research Paper Due
and Gold/ Lab
Thanksgiving Break (No class on Thursday)
Composite Materials
Storage and Display
Second Exam (30 min)
Lab Catch Up, Last Class
Final Exam 11am-1:30pm
Readings: Each lesson has readings and handouts associated with the subject matter. This includes
websites, journal articles, sections from the required text and books. Wherever possible, the text has been
posted on Blackboard, but some readings are only available through reserve at the library. I strongly
suggest you browse through the source that the reading is from, so you have a better idea of related subject
matter for the research paper. Please take note of the page numbers, as a lot of the readings are just sections
of chapters. The location or call number of the entire text is listed after the citation in case you want to
view the entire text. The reading for each week is as follows (unless noted on Blackboard):
October 6: What is conservation and how does it fit into archaeology?
 Rodgers, pp. 12-16

http://www.conservation-us.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewpage&pageid=858
(Code of Ethics Section)

AIC. 2003. Defining a Conservator: Essential Competencies, pp. 1-17. (also on AIC website)

Sease, C. 1996. A Short History of Archaeological Conservation. In: Roy, A. and Smith, P. (eds.)
Archaeological Conservation and its Consequences, pp. 157-161. Cons Lab

Caple, C. 2006. Chapter 1.4: Theoretical Approaches to Objects. In: Objects: Reluctant Witnesses
to the Past, pp. 6-12. CC135.C293.2006

Vinas, M. 2005. Chapter 8: Sustainable Conservation, Reversibility and Minimal Intervention. In:
Contemporary Theory of Conservation, pp. 183-191. CC135.M86.2005

Siguroardottir, K. Challenges in Conserving Archaeological Collections. In: Of the Past, For the
Future: Integrating Archaeology and Conservation, pp. 220-223. CC135.W67.2003

Handouts
October 8: From the Site to the Lab…
 Rodgers, pp. 21-22

Singley, K. 1995. Caring for Artifacts after Excavation: Some Advice for Archaeologists. In:
Historical Archaeology, Vol 15, No 1, pp. 35-48. E11.S625.V 1-3

Cronyn, J. 1990. Chapter 2: Agents of Deterioration and Preservation. In: The Elements of
Archaeological Conservation, pp. 14-42. CC135.C76.1990

Handouts
October 15: Identifying Materials: What is it?
 http://www.sha.org/research_resources/conservation_faqs/material.cfm

http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/crc/articles/metals/index-eng.aspx

Wheatcroft, A. 1992. What Science Is (A, B, C). In: Science for Conservators, Vol. 1, Introduction
to Materials, pp. 14-20. Cons Lab

Cronyn, J. 1990. Chapter 3.3 Examination and Cleaning. In: The Elements of Archaeological
Conservation, pp. 58-68. CC135.C76.1990

Stuart, B. 2007. Introduction Sections of Chapter 1.1 to 10.1. Analytical Techniques in Materials
Conservation. TA418.74.S78.2007

Caple, C. 2000. Chapter 6.4 Scientific Analysis. In: Conservation Skills: Judgment, Method and
Decision Making, pp. 80-89. CC135.C29.2000

http://www.nricp.go.kr/eng/cons/mate.jsp

Handouts
October 20: Organic Materials: Wood
 Rodgers Chapter 2, pp. 33-68

http://www.eurekalert.org/features/doe/2002-08/dlac-agw081402.php

http://forestpathology.cfans.umn.edu/archaeologicalwood.htm

Handouts
October 22: Wood Lab
 Handouts
October 27: Organic Materials: Leather and Lab
 Rodgers, pp. 163-168 and pp. 171-172

http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/guidelines/leather.html

Thomson, R. 2006. Chapter 1: The Nature and Properties of Leather. In: Kite and Thomson (eds.),
Conservation of Leather and Related Materials, pp. 1-3. TS967.K5.2005
Reserve

Haines, B. 2006. Chapter 3: The Fibre Structure of Leather. In: Kite and Thomson (eds.),
Conservation of Leather and Related Materials, pp.11-21.

Thomson, R. 2006. Chapter 7: The Manufacture of Leather. In: Kite and Thomson (eds.),
Conservation of Leather and Related Materials, pp.66-81.

Cameron, E., J. Spriggs, E. Wills, 2006. Chapter 22: The Conservation of Archaeological Leather.
In: Kite and Thomson (eds.), Conservation of Leather and Related Materials, pp. 244-261.

Handouts
October 29: Organic Materials: Bone, Ivory, Teeth, and Antler and Lab
 Rodgers, pp. 172-173

http://www.sha.org/research_resources/conservation_faqs/treatment.cfm
(Bone, Horn, Tortoise Shell, Baleen)

Canadian Conservation Institute. 1988. CCI Notes 6/1 Care of Ivory, Bone, Horn, and Antler. In:
CCI Notes, pp. 1-4. Cons Lab

Jenssen, V. 1987. Section 8.9 and 8.11, Conservation of Wet Organic Artefacts Excluding Wood.
In: Conservation of Marine Archaeological Objects, pp. 156-162. CC77.U5C68.1987

Cronyn, J. 1990. Chapter 6.4 Skeletal Material. In: The Elements of Archaeological Conservation,
pp. 275-282. CC135.C76.1990

Kuhn, H. 1986. Chapter 9: Ivory and Bone. In: Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and
Antiquities-Volume 1, pp. 116-119. N8560.K7813.1986.Vol 1

Kuhn, H. 1986. Chapter 13: Objects Made of Tortoiseshell and Horn. In: Conservation and
Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities-Volume 1, pp. 132-133.

Kuhn, H. 1986. Chapter 17: Ivory, Ivory-like Teeth, Bone, Antler. In: Conservation and Restoration
of Works of Art and Antiquities-Volume 1, pp. 168-170.

Kuhn, H. 1986. Chapter 26: Tortoiseshell and Horn. In: Conservation and Restoration of Works of
Art and Antiquities-Volume 1, pp. 213-214.

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/anth605/File3.htm
November 3: Organic Materials Textile and Rope/ Research Paper # 1 Due
 Rodgers, pp. 168-171

Peacock, E. 2005. Investigation of Conservation Methods for a Textile Recovered from the
American Civil War Submarine H.L. Hunley (1864). In: Proceedings of the 9th Wet Organic
Archaeological Materials Conference, Copenhagen, pp. 497-512. Cons Lab

Jakes, K. and J. Mitchell. 1992. The Recovery and Drying of Textiles from A Deep Ocean Historic
Shipwreck. In: Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, Vol 31, No 3, pp. 343-353.
Electronic Resource

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/anth605/File8.htm

Godfrey, I., and N. Smith. 1990. Conservation of Degraded Rope from Maritime Archaeological
Sites. In: AICCM Bulletin, Vol 16, No 3, pp.93-108. Cons Lab

Handouts
November 5: Inorganic Materials: Stone, Ceramics, and Glass and Lab/ Exam on Organics (30 min)
 Rodgers, pp. 139-158

Romich, H. 2006. Chapter 7: Glass and Ceramics. In: Conservation Science: Heritage Materials,
Cambridge, pp. 160-184. AM141.C656.2006

Handouts
November 10: Inorganic Materials: Iron
 Rodgers, pp. 69-104

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/science/85/8502sci1.html

http://www.monitorcenter.org/preserving/ (“The Process” and “ER Video”)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/25/AR2006092501035.html

Handouts
November 12: Iron Lab
 Handouts
November 17: Inorganic Materials: Copper and Copper Alloys
 Rodgers, pp. 105-122

North, N. 1987. Chapter 10.4 Copper and Copper Alloys. In: Conservation of Marine
Archaeological Objects, pp. 232-238. CC77.U5C68.1987

MacLeod, I. 1987. Conservation of Corroded Copper Alloys: A Comparison of New and
Traditional Methods for Removing Chloride Ions. In: Studies in Conservation, Vol 32, pp. 25-40.
Electronic Resource

Handouts
November 19: Copper Lab
 Handouts
November 24: Inorganic Materials: Other types of metals (Silver, Lead, Tin, Aluminum, Gold) /Lab
Research Paper #2 Due
 Rodgers, pp. 123-138

MacLeod, I. 1983. The Stabilization of Corroded Aluminum. In: Studies in Conservation, Vol 28,
No 1, pp. 1-7. Electronic Resource

MacLeod, I. and N. North. 1979. Conservation of Corroded Silver. In: Studies in Conservation, Vol
24, No 4, pp. 165-170.
Electronic Resource

Cronyn, J. 1990. Chapter 5.3 and Chapter 5.4 Lead and Tin. In: The Elements of Archaeological
Conservation, pp. 202-212. CC135.C76.1990

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/anth605/File13.htm

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/anth605/File14.htm

Handouts
December 1: Composite Materials/ Exam on Inorganics (30 min)
 Rodgers, pp. 185-200

Gilberg, M., D. Grattan, and D. Rennie. 1989. Treatment of Iron/Wood Composite Materials. In:
Conservation of Wet Wood and Metal, pp. 265-268. Cons Lab

Kevin, P. 2007. A Hole In the Bucket: The Technological Investigation and Conservation of a Wet
Composite Angle-Saxon Bucket from Ringlemere, Kent. In: Poster, 9th Wet Organic Archaeological
Materials Conference, Copenhagen, pp. 1-2. Cons Lab

De Groot, I., and C. Degrigny. 2004. Electrolytic Stabilisation of a Marine Composite Porthole and
its Framework. In: Proceedings of ICOM-METAL 2004, pp.1-16. Cons Lab

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ycrnw3c/JCMS/issue4/brysb.html

Handouts
December 3: Storage and Display
 http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/crc/articles/enviro/index-eng.aspx

http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications/newsletters/7_1/preventive.html

Caple, C. 2000. Chapter 11.1 to 11.3: Preventative Conservation. In: Conservation Skills:
Judgement, Method and Decision Making, pp. 152-160. CC135.C29.2000

Green, L., and D. Thickett. 1995. Testing Materials for Use in the Storage and Display of
Antiquities-A Revised Methodology. In: Studies in Conservation, Vol 40, No 3, pp. 145-152.
Electronic Resource

Staniforth, S. 1992. Chapter 26: Control and Measurement of the Environment. In: Manual of
Curatorship: A Guide to Museum Practice, pp. 234-245. Cons Lab

http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/crc/articles/mcpm/index-eng.aspx

Handouts
December 8: Lab Catch Up
December 15: Final Exam 11am-1:30pm
Research Paper: You are required to complete two research papers for this course. The first paper will be a
10-15 page essay on a topic of your choosing that relates to archaeological conservation (ie: ethics,
decision making, management and planning, role in archaeology). A minimum of 4 published peer
reviewed references should be used and should be cited using the JAIC guidelines.
The second paper will be a condition survey and lab report on material that you have treated over
the semester. Each paper should be in Times New Roman, 12pt font, double spaced, with images
incorporated and referred to in the text.
Further details for both papers will be discussed in class and posted on Blackboard. It is imperative
that your papers incorporate your own views and opinions supplemented with published resources.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated and all sources and quotes should be identified in the paper. Papers should
be submitted to the instructor by 5pm on the due date by e-mail. You will receive a confirmation e-mail
when I get the paper. Late papers will be accepted up to 3 days after the due date with a 5% point penalty
per day. Every effort will be made to return papers in seven days time.
Grading and Tests
There are two 30 minute exams (Nov 5 and Dec 1) on previously covered material and a final
comprehensive exam covering the entire semester. All exams will consist of multiple choices, fill in the
blank, and short answer. There are no pop quizzes.
Grading:
Evaluation
Exams (x2)
Final Exam
Research Paper (x2)
Class Participation, Lab
Assignments
Percent of Grade
20%
40%
30%
Points Worth
200 (100 each)
400
300 (150 each)
10%
100
Grading Scale:
Grade
A
B
C
F
Percent Range
93%-100%
86%-92%
76%-85%
75% or below
Point Range
930-1000
860-929
760-859
759 or below
*The above schedule and procedures in the course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.