Conservation

The archaeological conservation team has continued to be involved in the assessment and analysis phases of a wide variety of projects. The conservation of the Dover boat is progressing with the completion of the pre-treatment phase. The boat sections were transported in a refrigerated container to the Mary Rose Trust in Portsmouth where freeze drying is well advanced. The condition of wood has been assessed using the Sibert Decay Drill at various sites including the Sweet Track, Somerset. Advice was given on vulnerable materials from the Bronze Age waterlogged site at Shinewater, Eastbourne, including a unique sickle with a wooden handle and copper alloy blade; conservation of this composite was carried out by a student at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, under the supervision of a contractor. An antler from Stonehenge which had provided a radiocarbon date was reconstructed and mounted in preparation for the forthcoming exhibition. At Owmby several lifting techniques were evaluated during the removal of a stone sarcophagus from the site and we have begun to examine the condition of the coins to see if there is any variation across the area. Guidelines for the Care of Waterlogged Archaeological Leather were produced with the Archaeological Leather Group, and 2 further seminars on Finds and Conservation were held. Those attending included County Archaeologists, finds personnel and project managers so there was the opportunity for wide discussion of the topics.

Archaeology Division has continued to explore methodologies for establishing and monitoring the hydrological condition in waterlogged environments. The planned mineral extraction and related excavation at Willingham, Cambridgeshire, has been preceded by a major monitoring programme which is providing an understanding of the hydrology of an area of 360 hectares. Following an evaluation of the Sweet Track, an extended monitoring programme has been commissioned from the Royal Holloway Institute for Environmental Research (RHIER) to provide more data, including oxygen levels and redox potential, as a measure of the degree of anaerobic conditions. RHIER have also been commissioned to assess the conditions at the Bronze Age site at Shinewater near Eastbourne, East Sussex. The monitoring programme at the Rose Theatre has continued to demonstrate that the site hydrology is being maintained and that conditions conducive to the preservation of the site continue. The results from monitoring at Market Deeping reinforce our understanding of the balance between weather, seasons, and site hydrology.

The Collections Conservation Section have completed their audit survey of EH's collections. Over 16,000 objects, out of an estimated total of half million, have been examined and assessed to give an overall view

of the condition of the collection which is housed at 147 different location across the country. The survey has shown that over three quarters of the collection is in good condition, and that of the remainder only a small, but significant proportion is in need of urgent attention. The audit results are a valuable resource for planning for the future and the team is working with regional curators to produce collections management plans. The opening of Brodsworth Hall was a significant event and considerable support was given to ensure that the contents were in good condition; the house staff were advised on object cleaning, and at the end of the season they were assisted in closing the house for the winter. Similar help was provided at the Tudor Merchants' House in Southampton and at Belsay in preparation for the opening of the Living at Belsay exhibition.

The Collections and Paintings Teams provide advice and assistance both to regional teams dealing with grant applications for the conservation of fixtures and to Major Projects. Quality assurance was given to the Albert Memorial conservation project when laser cleaning was used to remove black accretions from the glass 'jewels'; the method was found to be extremely effective for removing similar deposits from the leadwork, revealing that substantial areas of gilding survived.