ARCHAEOLOGICALCONSERVATION ANDFIRST-AID FORFINDS 153
properly examined, analysed and treated using appro-
priate facilities (such as with good lighting, refrigeration,
microscopy and so on).
In long-term projects, all finds should be re-prioritized
for analysis and conservation treatment, in the light of
recently discovered material, at the end of each excava-
tion season. Such work is best undertaken with the help
of a conservator.
Immediately upon recovery, all finds should be kept:
- waterlogged– ideally in waters associated with the
original context; - cold– as cool as possible and ideally refrigerated (but
not allowed to freeze); - in the dark– wherever and whenever possible;
- clearly labelled – using at least two waterproof
labels; - separated, according to the materials of which they
are made – different metals should never be stored
together in solution; - in inert containers– such as polyethylene bags and
lidded boxes (never directly in contact with metal
containers); - safely– guns and artillery rounds, munitions and any-
thing else potentially explosive should be handled
with caution and ‘made safe’ in accordance with the
laws and regulations of the relevant state.
In addition there are many general storage requirements:- Conservation advice should be sought at the earl-
iest opportunity, regarding any questions relating to
storage requirements. - All finds should be stored completely covered
by water, with the minimum of air (oxygen) access.
This can be achieved, to some extent, by filling
lidded containers to the top or by covering water
surfaces using conservation-grade inert polyethylene
sheeting. Storage water should be topped up on a
regular basis, to ensure that all objects are covered
completely. The extremities of objects, if exposed,
may act as a ‘wick’, leading to rapid deterioration
and/or permanent damage. Regular checks on water
levels (including those in bagged objects) are essential. - Storage containers should be cleaned and rinsed out
on a regular basis, to remove any potential build-
up of algae and/or ‘slimes’ (the wearing of gloves
is recommended). Proprietary household cleaners
should not be used. During container cleaning,
finds should be transferred to alternative wet stor-
age, with air-exposure during handling and trans-
fer kept to a minimum. Details of cleaning and
the changing of solutions should be recorded, with
dates and times.- Waterlogged glass, small significant organic objects,
damp material and all organic samples should
be kept in the dark and refrigerated (at around
4 degrees Celsius/39 degrees Fahrenheit). On no
account should they be allowed to freeze, as this may
cause irreversible damage. (Note that the removal
of large quantities of material from a refrigerator
all at once may result in significant cooling within
the fridge and thereby risk the possible freezing
of any remaining material. Fridge thermostats
should be adjusted accordingly.) They should not
be allowed to dry, to any extent, during preliminary
photography and drawing. - Finds should be labelled at least twice using water-
proof materials. This is essential because labelling
may wear off in the short term. All labels should be
checked regularly (at least monthly), with replace-
ments added as necessary. A waterproof label such
as those made of Tyvek (spun-bonded polyester)
should be inserted inside bags and/or containers and
all reference numbers written on bags prior to use. - All finds should be monitored regularly, with records
kept on an ongoing basis (ideally weekly), detailing
condition, solution levels, topping-up and container
cleaning. Conservation advice should be sought at
the earliest opportunity in the event of changes in
condition. - All metal objects should be handled wearing
gloves: some lead and copper compounds are toxic
and acid from the skin may cause damage to finds. - Concretions should be desalinated quickly because
chlorides in seawater may accelerate corrosion. Do
not dismantle concretions. They should be X-rayed
and then handled by a conservator. - Robust ceramics should be transferred into fresh
water. However, earthenware should be handled
carefully and monitored in case the glaze detaches
itself from the body. - Jet, shale, amber and glass should be stored wet and
should be refrigerated: all are extremely prone to
deterioration, with irreparable damage likely even
on partial drying. Wet glass can be particularly
unstable, indicated by the loss of thin scales from
the surfaces and/or iridescence. - Worked stone, especially the softer ones such as
sandstone, may have weakened and therefore need
careful handling. Only large quantities of bulk un-
worked material, such as stone ballast, should be
allowed to dry out. (If in doubt, seek specialist advice.) - Smoking, eating and drinking should not be per-
mitted in the vicinity of artefacts or samples. - The time elapsed between recovery and full con-
servation treatment should be kept as short as
possible. Significant small finds, composite objects
- Waterlogged glass, small significant organic objects,