ANTHROPOLOGY 605
Conservation of Archaeological Resources I
Fall Semester 2007

Instructor: Donny L. Hamilton
Phone 845-6355 or 845-6695
E-mail - dlhamilton@tamu.edu

Office Hours: 9:00 AM - 12:00 AM T&Th or by appointment, Anthropology Building, Room 102B or

Room 124

This course introduces students to the techniques of stabilizing and preserving deteriorated or corroded artifacts from archaeological sites. Proper conservation techniques are introduced in seminar/laboratory sessions designed to familiarize students with the chemicals, equipment, and procedures used in the treatments. Practical experience will be gained in treating organic and siliceous materials, and the various metals commonly found in prehistoric and historic sites.

It must be remembered that the Conservation Research Laboratory (CRL) is a working laboratory. Therefore, all class and laboratory work is expected to be performed between 2:00 and 5:30 PM on Tuesday and Thursday. Work in CRL outside of class hours is not encouraged.

This syllabus and various reading will be posted on the WEB site for his class. The latest version of the syllabus can always be found on the WEB site and links to the reading posted on the WEB can be accessed by clicking on the link.

The index page for this class can be found at: http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/anth605/File0.htm

Other useful conservation links can be found at:

Conservation on Line -- http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/

National Center for Preservation Technology and Training - http://www.ncptt.nps.gov/

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (Subject to Change)

Lecture Class -- Laboratory
Tuesday -- Thursday

Week 1 - Aug 28 - 30 - Tues. Introduction to laboratory, Chemical Safety, Laboratory Tour. Thurs. - Laboratory class canceled this week. Take the time to read the articles discussed in class on Tuesday and the readings assigned for next week.

Week. 2 - Sept. 4 - 6, Adhesives & Consolidants.

Readings: Cronyn, chpt. 1, Introducing Archaeological Conservation; chpt. 2. Agents of deterioration and preservation; chpt. 3, General Techniques of Conservation; and Class Notes.

Prior to class read: UNESCO book, Chapter A. Basic equipment and processes by H.W.M. Hodges.

Readings: Lab Book; UNESCO, 1968: Appendix: p. 305-331; Curt Moyer, The Duco Dialogues; Stephen Koob, Using Acryloid B-72 for the Repair of Archaeological Ceramics; SPNHC Leafltets, Vol. 1, No. 2, Adhesives and Consolidants in Geological and Paleontological Conservation: A Wall Chart.

Thurs. - Begin Adhesive-Consolidants lab. Make Paraloid Glue and mix consolidants.

Week 3, Sept. 11-13, Bone & Ivory
Readings: Cronyn chpt. 6, pp. 238-245, pp. 275-284; and bone section in lab book

Week 4 Sept. 18 -20, Wood
    Readings: Cronyn chpt. 6, pp. 246-263; CCI Journal on Wood; and Wood Section in lab book.
   Archaeological Preservation Research Laboratory WEB Pages:
        Silicone Oil in Organic Conservation
        http://nautarch.tamu.edu/CRL/report3/silicone.htm

Index to APRL Reports
http://nautarch.tamu.edu/aprl/reportindex.htm

Silicone and Polymer Technologies: An Additional Tool in Conservation
http://nautarch.tamu.edu/aprl/report01.htm

Re-treatment of PEG Treated Waterlogged Wood
http://nautarch.tamu.edu/aprl/report02.htm

Re-Treatment of a PEG Treated Composite Artifact - A Sabot
http://nautarch.tamu.edu/aprl/report03.htm

Week 5, Sept. 25-27, Wood (cont.)
Readings: Watson, 1982, pp. 237-242.
Conservation of Waterlogged Wood, National Museum of Denmark - http://www.natmus.dk/cons/x/ww/ww1.htm

Week 6, Oct. 2 - 4, Leather
Readings: Cronyn chpt. 6, pp. 263-274; (P&W Chpt. I, Animal Skins and Skin Products); Omar, McCord & Daniels, The Conservation of bog bodies by freeze drying, in Studies in Conservation, V. 34, No. 3, pp. 101-109, and Leather Section in lab book.
WEB Pages:

Guidelines for the care of waterlogged archaeological leather
http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/guidelines/leather.html

Conservation Research Laboratory (CRL) Leather Dressing
http://nautarch.tamu.edu/aprl/report10.htm

Week 7, Oct. 9-11, Textiles & Rope & misc. organic material
    Readings: Cronyn chpt. 6, pp. 284-295, and Textile Section in lab book.
    WEB Pages
        Silicone and Polymer Technologies: An Additional Tool in Conservation
        http://nautarch.tamu.edu/aprl/report01.htm

Silicone Oil: A New Technique for Preserving Waterlogged Rope
http://nautarch.tamu.edu/aprl/report05.htm

Conservation of 17th Century Canvas Using Silicone Oils http://nautarch.tamu.edu/aprl/report06.ht

Silicone Bulking of Waterlogged Cork Using PS340, PS341 and PS343 Silicone Oils
http://nautarch.tamu.edu/aprl/report07.htm

Conservation of Waterlogged Corn Cobs Using Silicone Oils
http://nautarch.tamu.edu/aprl/report08.htm

Week 8, Oct. 16 - 18, Glass, Pottery & Stone.
    Readings: Cronyn chpt. 4; Barov, The Reconstruction of a Greek Vase, in Studies in Conservation, V. 33, No. 4, pp. 165-176; Olive & Pearson 1975:63-68; Mibach 1975; and Ceramic and Glass Section in lab book.
    WEB Pages:
        Conservation of Devitrified Glass with Methylhydrocyclosiloxanes and Silicone Oils
        http://nautarch.tamu.edu/aprl/report15.htm

Week. 9, Oct. 23-25, First Exam, Tuesday, October 23, 2007 over non-metals.

Readings: Cronyn chpt. 5, pp. 160-20, and Metals Introduction and Iron Section in lab book

Start iron conservation. Mechanical, Chemical Cleaning

Week. 10, Oct. 30- Nov. 1, Iron, Electrolytic Cleaning
Readings: Iron Section in lab book; Tannic Acid article - Logan, CCI, 9./5; An improved tannin-based corrosion inhibitor-coating system fro ferrous artifacts by Worth Carlin and Donald H. Keith, IJNA, 25.1:38-45
Conservation of Iron and their Consequences , National Museum of Denmark - http://www.natmus.dk/cons/x/metal/m1.htm

Week 11, Nov. 6 - 8, Copper, Bronze, Brass
Readings: Lab book, Cronyn chpt. 5, pp. 213-230. Weisser, pp. 105-108; Copper Section in lab book; A bronze cannon from La Belle, 1686: its construction, conservation and display, by Donald H. Keith and Worth Carlin, IJNA, 26.2: 144-158

Week 12, Nov. 13 - 15, Lead, Tin and Pewter
Readings: Lab Book, Cronyn chpt. 5, pp. 201-213; Lane 1979; and Lead Section in lab book; On the treatment of pewter plates from the wreck of La Belle, 1686 by Worth Carlin and Donald H. Keith, IJNA, 26.1: 65-74.

Week 13, Nov. 20 - 22 , Silver, Gold; Composite artifacts
Readings: Lab book; Cronyn chpt 5, pp. 230-237; MacLeod & North 1979; Scott, 1983; and Silver/Gold Sections in lab book.

Thursday-Friday, Thanksgiving Holiday

Week 14, Nov. 27-29, Modern Metal, composite artifacts.

Second Exam, Week, Tues. Nov. 27, 2007 over Metal Conservation.

Copies of all readings will be on reserve in the Nautical Archaeology Library and CRL.

Week 15, Dec. 3 - 4 . Monday, redefine day, Students meet their Thursday class.

Tuesday, Dec. 5, Finish all projects, leave ceramic project at your desk for grading, clean up laboratory. Last class day.

Additional Readings, other than those listed above will be assigned on a weekly basis.

MATERIAL DATA SAFETY SHEETS FOR MATERIALS AND CHEMICALS USED IN THIS LAB MAY BE ACCESSED AT: HTTP://WWW.ILPI.COM/MSDS/INDEX.CHTML

BASIS FOR DETERMINING GRADE IN ANTHROPOLOGY 605

Each student's grade will be based on:

1. Class attendance, participation in class discussions and laboratory activities. Excessive absences (more than two un-excused absences) may result in a lower grade

2. Pop exams over assigned readings (5% of total grade)

(If no pop exams given, 50% exams, 50% lab reports and ceramic project.)

3. Two exams (50% of total grade, 25% each exam) Second exam to be taken on the day and time designated for the final for this time period. Note, keep this in mind, no early exams will be given.

4. Two lab reports (40- 45 % of total grade, 20-22.5% each) and 10% ceramic project

Each report will emphasize the student's own laboratory experiences as well as pertinent observations and comparisons garnered from lectures, published data and assigned readings. Each report should be as succinct as possible. Each report will follow a prescribed format and will have a maximum 15 pages of text, not counting figures, tables and samples.

Report I Conservation of Organic Material (emphasis on wood and leather, due by Nov. 2, 2007.

Report II Conservation of Metal, (emphasis on iron, brass, lead), due by Dec. 7, 2007

Ceramic restoration exercise, to be presented by December 4, 2007

NOTE!! - TREATED SAMPLES ARE TO BE INCLUDED WITH EACH REPORT --

NO EXCEPTIONS and NO EXCUSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LATE REPORTS ARE NOT APPRECIATED AND WILL BE GRADED ACCORDINGLY. NOTE: NO INCOMPLETES (I) WILL BE GIVEN IN THIS COURSE. FAILURE TO COMPLETE ALL THE COURSE REQUIREMENTS BY THE END OF THE SEMESTER WILL RESULT, AT THE OPTION OF THE INSTRUCTOR, IN AN "F" OR THE EXISTING AVERAGE OF THE WORK COMPLETED.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the office of Support Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Student Services Building. The phone number is 845-1637.

TAMU Plagiarism Policy

The handouts used in this course are copyrighted. By "handouts," I mean all materials generated for this class, which include but are not limited to syllabi, quizzes, exams, lab problems, in-class materials, review sheets, and additional problem sets. Because these materials are copyrighted, you do not have the right to copy the handouts, unless I expressly grant permission. As commonly deemed, plagiarism consists of passing off as one's own the ideas, words, writings, etc., which belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of that person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated. If you have any questions regarding plagiarism, please consult the latest issue of the Texas A&M University Student Rules, under the section "Scholastic Dishonesty."

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