Artifact Conservation and Historical Archaeology at Historic St. Mary's City

Archaeological Conservation-
In order to better understand our past….

A conservator is a specially trained professional who cares for cultural property and heritage collections.  Archaeological conservators specialize in the preservation of materials and artifacts that were once buried underground or underwater. Conservators prevent objects from deterioration through careful examination, documentation, analysis, preservation, and preventive care. Professional conservators care for cultural property in accordance with an ethical code such as the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice and have formal and hands-on training in chemistry, art, history, anthropology and archaeology. The primary goal of the archaeological conservator is to preserve information found through the excavation of artifacts and to make sure that information is available for future study, research, and exhibition.

An archaeological conservator serves as a partner to archaeologists in order to preserve archaeological resources before, during and after excavation.  Activities may include planning for the recovery of artifacts, rescuing delicate artifacts from the field, transport of artifacts from the field to laboratory, analysis of materials, treatment of artifacts post-excavation, storage of collections and careful documentation to ensure the long-term stabilization of excavated objects.  Conservators analyze and treat artifacts to preserve important archaeological information attached to that object such as tool marks, evidence of use and wear, mineralized organic remains and residues, as well decorative elements often revealed through cleaning.  An archaeological conservator may work on a variety of materials such as ceramics, glass, metals, organics, architectural elements and composites of these materials.

Metal artifacts are one fo the greatest challenges encountered by conservators working on material from historic sties. Iron, lead, and copper all offer their special challenges and all can yield fantastic information.

• Discover the story a crumbled piece of lead told after conservation in Lead Comes Clean and Reveals Date.
  
  
• Learn how conservators use x-rays.

Archaeological conservators assist archaeologists in reconstructing the past, by preserving important historical information that is attached to each artifact. Often this information can be found in bits of corrosion, breaks, or crystalline residues. These areas of degradation serve as clues which indicate how the object was made, how it was used, when and why it was thrown away and what type of environment it was buried in.  By carefully stabilizing archaeological objects, a conservator is able to assist the archaeologist in recreating stories about the people who lived here before us.