Dear colleagues, our archaeological department excavated a graveyard, used from 1855 until early 20th century, during last year. In one of the graves we found a book on the chest of the skeleton. The book has a colored front with an ornamented cross. Beneath that are the lettered pages. Dirt and small roots go through the book and the pages are cemented. The infill of the grave was a damp mixture of gravel, sand and clay. During the excavation the book broke in two parts and smaller fragments. When I tried to clean the surface with a soft brush the layers were very fragile, easily removed and broke across the page layers. Since the excavation day we store the book in the freezer at -20°C. We cannot decide which material the front and the pages are made of by visual examination (leather, parchment or paper?). Does anyone have experience with archaeological books from damp grounds? We would be very thankful for some advice for the conservation. (We know the work of Ines Jesche, but her book was in a much better condition.)
Johanna Wolfram-Hilbe Objects Conservator Archaeological Service of the Canton of Grisons, Switzerland [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 0041-81-2574870 ****** Unsubscribe by sending a message to [email protected] Archives through August 2016 at http://cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/ Archives from September 2016 onward at https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
