>Think vacuum packed mackerel.

I support Greg's right to whatever alternative lifestyle he choses.

Adrian


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Greg Jackman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 2:52 PM
Subject: Re: Field Recovery of Leather


> Mark,
> 
> Normally we try to mimimise any potential for chemical or structural
> change, bagging the item along with the matrix and sealing in a ziplock
> bag with all the air sucked out.  Think vacuum packed mackerel.  Then
> it's into a container and into the fridge until we can get it to a
> conservator.  Strangely we have had no problems with freezing things
> such as shoes for short periods.  Unless you can proceed immediately to
> the conservation stage I would avoid cleaning the object, particularly
> composite items, as it introduces oxygen etc. and accelerates starts the
> whole decay process.
> 
> Greg
> 
> Greg Jackman
> ARCHAEOLOGY MANAGER
> 
> Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority
> Port Arthur
> Tasmania
> Australia  7182
> 
> Ph: (03) 62 512 336
> Fax: (03) 62 512 322
> 
> Visit our new website: www.portarthur.org.au
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark
> Branstner
> Sent: Wednesday, 22 February 2006 9:06 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Field Recovery of Leather
> 
> Thanks Ron,
> 
> I was less concerned about actual conservation, restoration, etc. 
> Clearly, a lot of that work should be farmed out to the professionals 
> ...  I was more concerned with establishing a basic set of field 
> protocols that will get the material out of the field and into the 
> lab, while doing as little damage as possible.  Particularly with 
> respect to historic sites  ...  Leather has always been one of the 
> predictable artifact categories that requires special treatment, yet 
> seems to get treated as a unique resource, each and every time it is 
> encountered.
> -- 
> 
> 
> Mark C. Branstner
> 
> Illinois Transportation
> Archaeological Research Program
> 209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
> 23 East Stadium Drive
> Champaign, IL 61820
> 
> Phone: 217.244.0892
> Fax: 217.244.7458
> Cell: 517.927.4556
> [log in to unmask]
>