The Conservation Research Lab (CRL) and the Archaeological Preservation Research Lab (APRL) work with cademic institutions, museums, historical societies, and government offices, as well as within private conservators. Our goal is to create viable conservation strategies of the highest standard that can be accomplished at reasonable cost.

Services Offered

• artifact conservation and stabilization
• industrial radiography of marine concretions an artifacts
• electrolytic, mechanical, and chemical cleaning of artifacts
• removal of salts and other chlorides from marine artifacts
• artifact casting, restoration and reconstruction
• new polymer processing technology
• artifact presentation and display
• photography and illustration
• artifact documentation, identification, and research
• condition assesment and collection management

 

Facilities

Artifact conservation facilities at Texas A&M University con accomodate large and small collections of artifacts of a variety of materials, including metals, glass, ceramics, stone, wood, fabrics, and other organic materials. Materials from both dry land and underwater sites have been treated in our facilities.

CRL consists of two laboratories: a teaching lab used by Dr. Hamilton to train conservation students, equipped to accomodate small collections of artifacts; and a main lab to accomodate large-scale projetcs, that features that features the largest wood conservation vat in North America.

APRL facilities inluce equipment for conducting digital microscopy as well as super-cold conductive and polymer research.

Contact Information

For more information or a cost estimate please contact:

Dr. Donny L. Hamilton
Director, CRL
Nautical Archaeology Program
Texas A&M University 
College Station, Texas  77834-4352

Telephone: 979.845.6355
Fax: 979.845.6399
E-mail: crl@tamu.edu

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/napcrl.htm

Dr. C. Wayne Smith
Director, APRL
Nautical Archaeology Program
Texas A&M University 
College Station, Texas  77834-4352

Telephone: 979.845.6692
Fax: 979.845.6399
E-mail: silicone@tamu.edu

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/aprl/aprlweb.htm