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MA/PhD Theses Abstracts of Current Students & Alumni |
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Smith, Clifford E.,Jr., May 1995 - CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL REMAINS: AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROCESS REQUIRED TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE CULTURAL RESOURCES FROM THE EMANUEL POINT SHIPWRECK
Abstract: This thesis will discuss and illustrate the various methods used in the conservation and preservation of artifactual materials; however, the major theme of the thesis will present an argument that conservation plays a vital part in the archaeological processes of understanding past cultures from submerged cultural resources. To meet this goal, a holistic view of conservation and preservation will be presented through a review of the literature and examples of the conservation processes conducted at the Pensacola Shipwreck Laboratory. Thus, the thesis will examine the environmental factors that influence the degradation and/or preservation of materials found within a shipwreck site. A discussion will follow on the importance of conservation processes beginning with excavation in the field. Additionally, a review will be presented concerning the ethics of excavation and conservation pertaining to the preservation of submerged cultural resources. Objects will be grouped into three categories based on the type of material under discussion: 1) organics, 2) inorganics, and 3) composite artifacts. The subsection on organics and inorganics will be further subdivided into a discussion. of the conservation treatments based upon the specific nature of the material under study: 1) wood; 2) textiles, leather, and rope; 3) bone, olive pits, insects, etc.; 4) ceramics and stone; 5) metals - ferrous; 6) metals - nonferrous. Following the subcategories on organics, inorganics, the special problems inherent in treating composite artifacts will be examined separately illustrating both the successes and failures of conserving these difficult pieces from documented sites. Within the three major sections a review is presented on the current methods for the treatment of these materials recovered from shipwreck sites, followed by a discussion on the specific methods utilized by the Pensacola Shipwreck Survey Shipwreck Conservation Laboratory. Thus, the knowledge gained from other sites and laboratories is incorporated with the practical hands on experiences derived through my internship with the Pensacola Shipwreck Survey and their Shipwreck Laboratory. Therefore, the conclusions drawn from this thesis will be based not only on a current literature review, but with the actual application of these conservation processes to objects both in the field and laboratory.
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