A major challenge for heritage professionals is to develop effective conservation procedures, with predictable outcomes, for the preservation of archaeological and historical objects. From its use in ships through to buildings, spoons and plates, wood was a major material resource in past societies and continues to maintain this role in the modern day world. Being an organic material, its biodeterioration is swift in normal burial conditions but it often survives in waterlogged environments. The challenges of excavating, recording, storing, stabilizing and displaying waterlogged wood are significant, yet whole ships such as the Wasa and Mary Rose are raised and successfully preserved, along with the wooden objects that were used on board. How did conservation develop strategies and treatments to achieve this successfully? Are the treatments effective and trouble free once completed?

This module uses waterlogged wood as an example to examine how preservation treatment strategies and methodologies develop within conservation. The chronology of waterlogged wood treatment is studied and the theory, thinking and research that produced treatment procedures is critically assessed. Methods and measures of success are interrogated, as are the ongoing problems associated with current and past treatments. An overarching context within the module is the rationalisation of factors that lead conservation to develop and implement particular treatments within a given context.

• Understand and link the structure, chemistry and properties of materials to their decay and the development of evidence-based conservation procedures, using waterlogged wood as an exemplar.
• Show understanding of the conservation process, derived from evaluating how treatments develop and are assessed.
• Identify problems and generate options for solving them relative to the prevailing variables, materials and contexts.
• Recognise the importance of determining assessment criteria for the evaluation of outcomes and the advice, practice and procedures that are developed from them.
• Identify research structures necessary to deliver evidence based preservation options for archaeological waterlogged archaeological wood.
• Demonstrate ability to employ pragmatic decision making for problems where there is no single correct answer but action must be taken.
• Recognise the value of interdisciplinary teamwork for solving problems, exemplified by the development of treatment procedures for waterlogged wood.

The module is delivered via a series of lectures, seminars, discussions based around objects in the conservation laboratories and a field trip. All sessions are compulsory, as is participation in presentations and in group discussions for which prior reading will be required. It is likely that contact time will be in classes of 2 hours every other week (or similar) to accommodate activities that will be longer than an hour in duration and to allow ample time for background reading between classes.

• Source academic and other publications on the corrosion and conservation of metals.
• Critique articles on conservation treatments and treatment case histories.
• Offer balanced evidence based arguments via the written word and oral delivery.
• Understand how evidence based decision making develops and how to source and critique the evidence that underpins it.
• Pragmatically and rationally choose a course of action within a given context, taking into account the variables within that context and the options available to address the desired outcome.
• Make pragmatic management decisions to identify best option choices relative to context.

Written Excercise.

Opportunity for reassesseemnet by Resubmission of coursework according to University regulations in summer resit period.

The structure, chemistry and decay of wood; wood technology and contextual use; the processes of waterlogging and post-excavation decay of waterlogged wood; excavation and site storage of waterlogged wood; development of thinking for treatment of waterlogged wood and the drivers that influenced it; problems to be overcome in order preserve waterlogged wood; review of treatments (theory, pros and cons, assessment of success, ongoing problems); ongoing and future problems in the preservation of waterlogged wood; recovery, management and conservation of large objects via exemplars (Wasa and Mary Rose); display and long-term management of waterlogged wood; visit to Mary Rose display and conservation laboratories. 

There are no text books on waterlogged wood. Some core reading is offered as articles and relevant book chapters.

ALMKVIST G. and PERSSON I (2009) Iron catalysed degradation processes in the Vasa. In Proceedings of the 10th  ICOM Committee for Conservation, Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Amsterdam 2007, Straetkvern K,  Huisman D. J.,  Grant T. (eds.), 499-506. Nederlandse Archeologische Rappoerten 37. Netherlands.

BARBOUR J. (1984) The condition and dimensional stabilization of highly deteriorated waterlogged hardwood. Waterlogged Wood Study and Conservation. International Council of Museums 2nd Waterlogged Wood Working Group Conference. Grenoble.  Ramiere R. and Colardelle M. (eds). 23-38.Centre et De Traitment de Bois Gorges D'eau-Grenoble. France.

BARBOUR J. and LENEY L. (1982) Shrinkage and collapse of waterlogged wood. Proceedings of the International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation Waterlogged Wood Working Group. Ottawa 1981. Grattan D (ed). 209-226. ICOM-CC.

BIORDAL C. G. and NILSSON T. (2002) Decomposition of waterlogged archaeological wood. Proceedings of the International Council of Museums Conservation Committee Working groups as Wet Organic Archaeological Materials and Metals. Stockholm, 11-15^th June, 2001. (eds. Hoffman P, Spriggs J., Grant T. Cook C. and Recht A.)  235-47. ICOM.

COOK C. and GRATTAN D. (1984) A practical comparative study of treatments for waterlogged wood. Part III pre-treatment solutions for freeze drying. Waterlogged Wood Study and Conservation. International Council of Museums 2nd Waterlogged Wood Working Group Conference. Grenoble. Ramiere R. and Colardelle M. (eds). 219-240. Centre et De Traitment de Bois Gorges D'eau-Grenoble. France.

FLORIAN M. L. (1990) Scope and history of archaeological wood. Archaeological Wood: Properties, Chemistry and Preservation. Barbour J. and Rowell R. (eds). Advances in Chemistry series 225. 3-34. American Chemical Society.

GRATTAN D. (1987) Waterlogged wood. Conservation of Marine Archaeological Objects. Pearson C. 55-67. Butterworths.

GREGORY D. and MATTHIESON H. (2006) In-situ preservation of waterlogged archaeological sites. In Conservation Science: Heritage Materials, May E. and Jones M. (eds), Royal Society of Chemistry Publishing, 309-329 Dorchester UK

HOFFMAN P. and JONES M. (1990) Structure and degradation process for waterlogged archaeological wood. Archaeological Wood: Properties, Chemistry and Preservation. Barbour and Rowell (eds). Advances in Chemistry series 225. 35-66.

JONES M. and EATON R. (2006) Conservation of Ancient Timbers from the Sea. In Conservation Science: Heritage Materials, May E. and Jones M. (eds), Royal Society of Chemistry Publishing, 266- 308 Dorchester UK

ROWELL R. M. and BARBOUR J. (eds) (1990) Archaeological Wood: Properties, Chemistry and Preservation: American Chemical Society. Washington DC.

ADESCH H. E. and DINWOODIE J. M. (1996) Timber Structure Properties Conversion and Use. Macmillan London 7^th edition.

BERGSTRAND T. et. al. (2005) Reburial as a method of preserving archaeological remains. A presentation of the Marstrand project. In Proceedings of the 9th ICOM Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference, Copenhagen 2004, Hoffmann P, Strætkvern K, Spriggs J.A., Gregory D. (eds.), Bremerhaven: Verlag H. M. Hauschild GmbH ICOM Committee for Conservation Working Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials, 9-39.

BONNE-DICONNEC., KHOI TRAN Q. and HOFFMAN P (eds) (1998) Proceedings of the 7^th of the International Council of Museums Conservation Committee Working Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference. Grenoble France. ARC-Nucleart Grenoble.

BRAOVAC S. and KUTZE H. (2010) Past Conservation treatments and their consequences – the Osberg find as a case study. In Proceedings of the 11th ICOM Committee for Conservation Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Greenville 2010, Straetkvern K. and Williams E. (eds), pp. 481-95 Lulu.com USA

BRYCE T. et. al.(1975) The acetone-rosin method for the conservation of waterlogged wood and some thoughts on the penetration of PEG into oak. Problems in the Conservation of Waterlogged Wood. National Maritime Museum, Monograph 16. Oddy W.A. (ed). 35-44. National Maritime Museum. London.

FELLOWES D. and HAGAN P. (2003) Pyrite oxidation: the conservation of historic shipwrecks and geological and palaeontological specimens. Reviews in Conservation 4  26-39

FRY M. (1996) Buried but not forgotten: sensitivity in disposing of major archaeological timbers. Archaeological Conservation and its Consequences. Roy A and Smith P (eds). 52-54. International Institute for Conservation

GRATTAN D. W. (1987) International comparative wood treatment study. Conservation of Wet Wood and Metal. Proceedings of the International Council of Museums Conservation Committee Working groups as Wet Organic Archaeological Materials and Metals. Freemantle 1987. MacLeod I. (ed). 163-192. ICOM

HARVEY R. and FREELAND C. (1990) Exhibition and storage of archaeological wood. Archaeological Wood: Properties, Chemistry and Preservation. Barbour J and Rowell (eds). Advances in Chemistry series 225.  235-262. American Chemical Society.

HOFFMAN P. (1999) Reconstructing a medieval river craft from the Rhine. International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation. 12^th Triennial Meeting - Lyons France. Bridgland J. (ed). 609-613. James and James.

HOFFMAN P. (2009) On the efficiency of stabilisation methods for large waterlogged wooden objects and on how to choose a method. In Proceedings of the 10th  ICOM Committee for Conservation, Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Amsterdam 2007, Straetkvern K.,  Huisman D. J.,  Grant T. (eds.), 323-50. Nederlandse Archeologische Rappoerten 37. Netherlands.

HUNTER K. and NAYLING, N. (1996) Counting the costs: caring for an excavated boat. Proceedings of the 6th International Council of Museums Conservation Working Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference. York UK. Hoffman P., Daley T, Grant T and Spriggs J (eds). 473-84. ICOM

MACLEOD I. D. (1987) Hygroscopicity of archaeological timber: effects of molecular weights of impregnant and degree of degradation. Conservation of Wet Wood and Metal. Proceedings of the International Council of Museums Conservation Committee Working groups as Wet Organic Archaeological Materials and Metals. Freemantle 1987. MacLeod I. (ed). 211-214. ICOM.

MACLEOD I. D., BROOKE P, RICHARDS V. (1990) Iron corrosion products and their interaction with waterlogged wood and PEG. Proceedings of the 4th International Council of Museums Conservation Committee Working Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference. Bremerhaven ICOM. Hoffman P (ed). 119-132. ICOM.

POWELL K. et al (1976) Labelling and tagging for artifact identity survival. Pacific Northwest Wet Site Wood Conservation Conference. Grosso (ed). Vol 2. 81-90.

RICHARDS V., KASI K. and GODFREY I. (2010) Iron removal from waterlogged wood and the effects on wood chemistry. In Proceedings of the 11th ICOM Committee for Conservation Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Greenville 2010, Straetkvern K. and Williams E. (eds), 383-400, Lulu.com USA

SAKAI, IMAZU S. and MORGOS A. (1996) Protection of waterlogged wooden objects kept in water against decay. Proceedings of the 6th International Council of Museums Conservation Working Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference. York UK. Hoffman P., Daley T., Grant T. and Spriggs J. (eds). 295-316.ICOM

SPRIGGS J. and HUTCHINGS J. (2009) Controlled drying of a large scale wood treated with sucrose: The Poole log boat. In In Proceedings of the 10th ICOM Committee for Conservation, Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Amsterdam 2007, Straetkvern K.,  Huisman D. J.,  Grant T. (eds.), 271-89. Nederlandse Archeologische Rappoerten 37. Netherlands.