Chapter 11 Conservation of Ancient Timbers from the Sea
MARK JONES^1 AND ROD EATON^2
(^1) The Mary RoseTrust, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3LX, UK
(^2) The School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Hampshire,
PO1 2DY, UK
1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter deals with damage to maritime archaeological timbers caused
by the activities of microorganisms, wood-boring animals and insects in wood
exposed to and removed from the marine environment. It is important to recog-
nise from the outset that the deterioration of wooden shipwrecks, artefacts,
structural timbers and even submerged wooden monuments does not cease
when removed from the sea. Inadequate storage of the material prior to con-
servation will often allow the processes of deterioration to continue. Our inten-
tion here is to review the biology of the deteriogenic organisms of ancient
maritime timbers, to highlight the hazard they pose, particularly to shipwreck
timbers, and to examine the strategies and methods currently adopted to con-
serve timbers excavated from the seabed.
2 The Biodeteriogens
2.1 Marine Wood-Boring Animals
Wood-boring molluscs and crustaceans are the most destructive agents of timber
submerged in seawater. Indeed the marine environment is recognised as the
most hazardous situation for exposed timber. The rate at which these organisms
attack is dependent primarily on water temperature and the natural durability
of the wood species, notably the heartwood which has greater natural resistance
than sapwood.