Welcome to the contract conservation services page of Texas A&M University's Conservation Research Laboratory (CRL) and Archaeological Preservation Research Laboratory (APRL).  If you found us simply by browsing or arrived here from our related pages, we hope you will take the time to review the services we offer for the conservation and preservation of all types of archaeological artifacts, including metals, glass, ceramics, stone, and organic materials.  

CRL and APRL work with academic institutions, museums, historical societies, and government offices, as well as with the private conservator.  Our goal is to create viable conservation strategies of the highest standard that can be accomplished at minimal cost.

 

 

SERVICES

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  • industrial radiography and electrolytic and chemical cleaning of metal artifacts

     

  • North America's largest wood-treatment facility

 

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  • artifact casting and restoration

     

  • new polymer- processing technologies

 

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  • state-of-the-art equipment for training, analysis, and research

 

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FACILITIES & EXPERIENCE

 
THE CONSERVATION RESEARCH LABORATORY (CRL) was founded in 1978 by Dr. Donny L. Hamilton.  Prior to coming to Texas A&M University, Donny was an experienced conservator, who worked for the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory at The University of Texas at Austin.  CRL consists of two laboratories: one is used primarily by Donny to teach conservation classes to students at Texas A&M University; it is also equipped to conduct archaeological conservation of small inorganic and organic artifacts.  The second laboratory has recently been enlarged to accommodate bigger projects. 


 
Read about current and past contract projects:
 
Jewett Mine Cars
A Crate from the Wreck of the Brother Jonathan
A Dugout Canoe
The Wreck of La Belle

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THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRESERVATION RESEARCH LABORATORY (APRL) was established in 1995 by Dr. C. Wayne Smith, in collaboration with Dr. Hamilton.  Prior to coming to Texas A&M University, Wayne did post-doctoral work in polymer chemistry and conservation for Dow Corning Corporation in Michigan.  Research at APRL is directed toward the development of new processes for the conservation of organic materials. 

 
Read about current and past projects:
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INQUIRIES FOR COST ESTIMATES

 

Conservation Research Laboratory
Nautical Archaeology Program
Department of Anthropology
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas 77843-4352

Telephone: 979-845-6355
Email: crl@tamu.edu

 

When inquiring by email, if possible please include an image of the object(s) you wish to have conserved.

 

Dr. Hamilton