Introduction
The conservation of sites and artifacts is an integral and important part of the archaeological process. Conservation has a role to play in the elucidation of the site and of the material recovered from it, and the process often starts with field stabilization and even before that with the planning process.
Definition
Field stabilization (also often referred to as “first aid for finds”) aims to prevent objects from deteriorating both chemically and physically by using correct lifting, recovering, packaging, transportation, and storage procedures. Not all objects require intensive conservation treatment in a lab-based setting, but all objects require field stabilization.
Key Issues/Current Debates/Future Directions/Examples
During burial, objects are prone to biological, chemical, and physical decay. They are affected by a number of environmental factors including the presence of water and oxygen, the degree of acidity or alkalinity, the temperature and redox potential...
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References
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Further Reading
Brady, C. M. Gleeson, M. Myers, C. Peachey, B. Seifert, H. Wellman, E. Williams & L. Young. 2006. Conservation FAQs and facts. Available at: http://www.sha.org/research/conservation_facts/conservation_facts.cfm. (accessed 1 August 2012).
Cronyn, J. 1990. The elements of archaeological conservation. London: Routledge.
Payton, R. (ed) 1992. Retrieval of objects from archaeological sites. London: Archetype Publications, Ltd.
Robinson, W. 1998. First aid for underwater finds. London: Archetype Publications, Ltd., & the Nautical Archaeology Society.
Sease, C. 1994. A conservation manual for the field archaeologist, 3rd edn. (Archaeological Research Tools 4). Los Angeles: Institute of Archaeology. Available at: http://www.ioa.ucla.edu/publications/pdfs/Conservation%20Manual.pdf (accessed 1 August 2012).
Watkinson, D. & V. Neal. 1998. First aid for finds. 3rd edn. London: RESCUE/UKIC Archaeology Section.
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Williams, E. (2014). Field Stabilization of Movable Heritage. In: Smith, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0465-2_474
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0465-2_474
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