Analysing objects to tailor environmental preventive conservation

Thickett, David, Emmerson, Nicola ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5277-0865, Larsen, Rene, Odlyha, Marianne and Watkinson, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5696-9780 2022. Analysing objects to tailor environmental preventive conservation. Heritage 6 (1) , pp. 212-235. 10.3390/heritage6010011

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Abstract

This work explores the potential of analyzing individual objects to improve their preventive conservation. Previously, environmental recommendations have been based on an average or worst response of material groups. Cultural heritage objects are extremely variable and within a group such as archaeological iron a very wide range of responses are shown. Characterizing a single object’s response allows its environment to be tailored to its requirements and can enable significant resource and carbon footprint savings. Three main approaches are considered with a material explored in detail including preventive conservation ramifications. Composition analysis is investigated through the stability of limestones. The critical concentrations of soluble salts causing surface deterioration in one environment has been explored. A more rapid method of analyzing clays in acid insoluble fractions from drillings and undertaking that analysis non-invasively has been developed. Measuring deterioration rates is explored through oxygen consumption analyses of archaeological iron. The distributions of previously published data are explored and the changes in rates examined. A scheme for parchment based on shrinkage temperatures and observations is presented for the first time and its use illustrated with a newly acquired letter. The type of work required to produce these schemes is explored with leather.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	History, Archaeology and Religion
Subjects:	C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology Q Science > Q Science (General)
Publisher:	MDPI
ISSN:	2571-9408
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	3 January 2023
Date of Acceptance:	21 December 2022
Last Modified:	05 May 2023 14:38
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/155316

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