Stabilization Methods for Textiles from Wet Sites

Abstract

Compared with artifacts of a more durable nature, the survival of textile objects in moist archaeological conditions is uncom1non. Textile 1naterials become degraded during prolonged burial and are already fragile and weakened when excavated. Methods of cleaning, consolidating, and drying textiles from wet terrestrial sites in temperate climates were investigated for this study. Methods considered were 1) no treatment, 2) aqueous cleaning, 3) aqueous cleaning with a surfactant, 4) lubricant treatment, 5) consolidants treatment, and 6) solvent treatment. Both air- and freeze-drying were utilized. Using two undyed wool fabrics that had been buried in representative southern New England soil, these stabilization methods were tested to determine which were the most suitable for treating the wool textiles. The treatments were evaluated by testing shrinkage, stiffness, and fabric strength, and by microscopic examination of the treated samples. Stiffness test results were statistically analyzed.None of the treatments was found to cause further fiber degradation in the treated samples. While the surfactant cleaning resulted in the highest degree of soil removal, fabrics were weakened by the mechanical action of the treatment. All of the wet treatments left redeposited soil embedded within the fiber and yarn structure of the samples. Regardless of treatment the air-dried samples were stiffer and experienced more overall shrinkage than their freeze-dried counterparts. Studies investigating alternative 1neans of soil removal and appropriate methods of freeze-drying wet archaeological textiles are recommended for further research.

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