Glossary

Acid-free paper Paper-based products that have been made neutral or basic pH (7 or greater) during production that are used in archival and museum settings to protect cultural property that is otherwise sensitive to acids.

Accretion An unintended deposit or mass on an object surface that has accumulated during burial from sources such as insoluble salts, corrosion products, or decomposition build-up. agents of deterioration The environmentally related causes of damage to cultural property including light, temperature, relative humidity, pollutants, and pests. block lift An excavation technique by which fragile or unstable archaeological finds are removed within their soil matrix in order to provide greater structural support and surface protection. conservation The careful preservation and protection of

Cultural property through research and education while retaining its integrity including historical significance, context, and esthetic or visual aspects.

Consolidant A low concentration of adhesive polymer in liquid that is sometimes applied to materials that have lost their own cohesive qualities.

Inert packaging materials Supportive supplies that are lacking in active properties that would contribute to the deterioration of cultural property during storage, display, and transport. silica gel Amorphous silica, resembling coarse white sand, which is used as a desiccant to dry and dehumidify storage environments for finds. It can be reactivated by heat.

Just as archaeology is much more than the study of objects dug up from the ground, conservation is much more than the cleaning and mending of objects. Archaeological interest in conservation has been longstanding, yet the role conservation plays to help archaeologists unearth new clues about artifacts is relatively new. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the processes of conservation within the various stages of archaeology. The processes of conservation include: examination and analysis, stabilization design and proposal, treatment application and interpretation, and data and documentation.