ANTH 402
Dr. Carolyn Kennedy
Office hours: T 1:00-3:00
Location: ANTH 122 (INA Office Suite)
Email: carolynkennedy13@tamu.edu
Course Description
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. The emphasis will be on the basic conservation processes successfully used on the most commonly encountered artifacts recovered from archaeological sites.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Recognize the difference between archaeological preservation and archaeological conservation.
- Understand the need to conserve archaeological artifacts.
- Learn and demonstrate proper conservation treatments, both in the field and in the laboratory, of bone, wood, other organics, metals, pottery, and glass.
- Employ safe handling of artifacts and treatment chemicals.
Required Textbooks
Hamilton, D.L. 2010. Methods of Conserving Archaeological Material from Underwater Sites (revision 2). https://nautarch.tamu.edu/CRL/conservationmanual/ConservationManual.pdf. (Available on Canvas)
Cronyn, J. M. 1990. The Elements of Archaeological Conservation. London: Routledge. (Available on Canvas)
Grading Policy
Grades will be based on three laboratory reports, a ceramic reconstruction, and two noncumulative exams.
Laboratory Reports
There will be three laboratory reports. 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. It is essential that you take prolific notes and photos throughout the semester of everything you do and observe to produce an adequate report. Each report should be succinct, clear, and very well-edited. Be sure to cite your sources in-text, with page numbers, and include a bibliography! Each report will follow a prescribed format and will have no more than 15 pages of text, not counting figures, tables, and samples. Reports must include your treated samples.
- Conservation of Organic Material, Part I (emphasis on adhesives & consolidants, bone & ivory). Due: Week 6.
- Conservation of Organic Material, Part II (emphasis on wood, leather, and textile). Due: Week 11.
- Conservation of Metal (emphasis on iron, brass, lead). Due: Week 15.
Late Reports will receive a penalty of a letter grade per day late.
Ceramic Reconstruction
During the semester, each student will decorate, destroy, and reconstruct a terracotta flower pot, which is worth 10% of your grade. The pots will be evaluated on both technical proficiency and the overall finished aesthetic. Due: Week 15.
Exams
There will be two exams: one mid-term and one during final exam period. Exams will be multiple choice, short & long answer. Exams are non-cumulative. Each exam is worth 20% of your final grade.
- Exam 1: Week 9
- Exam 2: Week 14
Final grades will be calculated according to the following formula and based on a 10-point scale (A=90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69; F=59 and below):
Summary of Assignments
| Lab Report 1 | 10% |
| Exam 1 | 20% |
| Lab Report 2 | 20% |
| Lab Report 3 | 20% |
| Ceramic Reconstruction | 10% |
| Exam 2 | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
ALL COURSES
- ANTH 313 – Historical Archaeology
- ANTH 316 – Nautical Archaeology
- ANTH 317 – Introduction To Biblical Archaeology
- ANTH 318 – Nautical Archaeology of the Americas
- ANTH 323 – Nautical Archaeology Of The Ancient Mediterranean
- ANTH 353 – Archaeology Of Ancient Greece
- ANTH 354 – Archaeology of Ancient Italy
- ANTH 402 – Archaeological Artifact Conservation
- ANTH 417 – Naval Warfare & Warships In Ancient Greece And Rome
- ANTH 418 – Romans, Arabs, and Vikings
- ANTH 420 – History and Archaeology of Pirates, Privateers, and Sea Raiders
- ANTH 436 – Ancient Egypt
- ANTH 438 – Ancient Egypt II
- ANTH 464-664 – Cultural Heritage and Resource Management
- ANTH 603 – Seafaring Life and Maritime Communities 1450-1950
- ANTH 605 – Conservation of Archaeological Materials I
- ANTH 606 – Conservation of Archaeological Materials II
- ANTH 608 – Skills in Maritime Archaeology
- ANTH 610 – Outfitting And Sailing The Wooden Ship 1400-1900
- ANTH 611 – Introduction To Nautical Archaeology
- ANTH 612 – Preclassical Seafaring
- ANTH 613 – Classical Seafaring
- ANTH 615 – History Of Wooden Shipbuilding Technology
- ANTH 616 – Research and Reconstruction of Ships
- ANTH 617 – Conservation of Archaeological Materials III
- ANTH 628 – New World Seafaring Anthropology
- ANTH 629 – Post-Medieval Seafaring Anthropology
- ANTH 663 – Analytical Methods in Archaeology and Conservation
- ANTH 685 – Archaeological Diving: Skills and Methods
Course Schedule
(The schedule is a subject to change, revisions, and refinements which will be posted)
| Week | Activity | Topic | Readings |
| 1 | Lecture | Introduction, Archaeological Conservation: An Overview; Syllabus, Safety Discussion, Lab Tour | Syllabus; Hamilton, D. (1999) Methods of Conserving Archaeological Material from Underwater Sites. P. 4-10 |
| 2 |
Lecture |
History of the CRL; Adhesives and Consolidants | Ashley-Smith, J. et al. (1992) Science for Conservators Vol. 3: Adhesives and Coatings. P. 49-56; 57-89. Routledge Publishing, London. Hamilton, P. 11- 14 |
| 3 |
Lecture |
Bone & Ivory | Hamilton, P. 15-16 Cronyn, J. (1990). Elements of Archaeological Conservation. P. 238-245; 275-282. Routledge Publishing, London. |
| 4 |
Lecture |
Wood |
Hamilton, P. 22-29 |
| 5 |
Lecture |
Wood (cont.) |
Historic England (2010) Waterlogged Wood: Guidelines on the Recording, Sampling, Conservation, and Curation of Waterlogged Wood. McCawley, J. (1977) Waterlogged Artifacts: The Challenge to Conservation. Journal of the Canadian Conservation Institute. Vol. 2 pp 17-26.; |
| 6 |
Lecture |
Leather |
Hamilton, P. 30-33 |
| Lecture | Textile, Rope, Other | Hamilton, P. 34-37. | |
| 7 | Lab | Organics Lecture | Cronyn, P. 284-293. |
| 8 |
Lecture |
Glass, Pottery, & Stone; Exam Review |
Hamilton, P. 17-21. |
| Spring Break | |||
| 9 |
Exam 1 |
Introduction to Metals Lecture |
Hamilton, P. 38-48. |
| 10 |
Lecture |
Iron, Electrolytic Cleaning |
Hamilton, P. 49-72. |
| 11 |
Lecture; |
Copper, Brass, Bronze |
Hamilton, P. 73-77. |
| 12 |
Lecture |
Lead, Tin, Pewter |
Hamilton, P. 85-87. |
| 13 |
Lecture |
Silver and Gold; Modern Metals; Exam Review |
Hamilton, P. 78-84, 88. |
| 14 |
Exam 2 |
Final day to work on Ceramic Project | |
| 15 | Lab Report 3 Due; Ceramic Project Due; |
Lab cleanup; Mandatory Attendance |
Late Work Policy
Late work will be penalized by one letter grade (10%) every day late. (Work submitted by a student as makeup work for an excused absence is not considered late work and is exempted from the late work policy. See Student Rule 7.)
Laboratory Policies
- Be safe – Appropriate PPE must be worn at all times, no exceptions. Failure to comply will result in removal from the lab.
- Be informed – You cannot reason with a chemical burn or hazardous exposure; you MUST be informed on the chemicals and materials you will be using before you use them.
- Be clean – A clean lab space minimizes risks to health and safety and prevents accidental damage to the artifacts. If you use something, clean it and put it back where it belongs when you are done. My assistant can help direct you to where things belong. Your work station should be spotless when you are not actively working.
- Be organized – Every procedure you follow should be fully delineated before you begin, and you should then carefully follow that procedure. All materials and containers needed for the procedure must be collected before starting any work. All procedures must be approved by me before you begin.
No eating or drinking allowed in the lab. Closed toed-shoes and long pants are mandatory for lab days.
Class Format
Class meets for 2h15min on lecture days and 2h15min for lab days. The Monday class each week will typically be the lecture and technical demonstrations, and the Wednesday class will be a lab day. Exceptions are noted in the schedule.
The Conservation Research Laboratory (CRL) is a working laboratory. Therefore, all class and laboratory work is expected to be performed between 10:15 am and 12:30 pm on Wednesdays. Additional time needed in the lab can be organized with Dr. Kennedy or the course teaching assistant.
Diversity in the Anthropology Classroom
Respect for cultural and human biological diversity are core concepts of Anthropology. Anthropological research provides perspectives and data that can be used to examine many current social issues that may be appropriate to discuss in this class. Students and faculty should expect to both defend and critique diverse points of view in a respectful manner. Please respect the different experiences, beliefs and values expressed by your fellow students and instructor, and refrain from derogatory comments about other individuals, cultures, groups, or viewpoints. There is no justification for discrimination or hateful speech or behavior in any form. The Anthropology Department supports the Texas A&M University commitment to diversity, and welcomes all individuals regardless of all age, background, citizenship, disability, education, ethnicity, family status, gender, gender identity, geographical origin, language, military experience, political view, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and work experience (See https://diversity.tamu.edu/).
