Damage during field archaeology

Dennis Piechota <piechota<-a t->world< . >std< . >com> writes

In a message dated 7/16-97-5:08:49 AM, you wrote:

>On a practical level I would like to see if one can develop
>pre-expedition conservation planning by introducing basic risk
>management principles to predict and reduce the common field risks
>and lower the artifact damage rates. My sense is that predicted
>artifact volume studies, predicted artifact frequency studies,
>predicted artifact type studies and more detailed artifact process
>planning can make the best of difficult environments.

This is a most important undertaking.  A few archaeologists have
considered the effects on artifacts of differential skills of
excavators in removing them from sites and transit to the laboratory
for examination as part of the diagenic life history of an artifact.
When we compare features of degradation, abrasion, etc. on an object
the skill of the excavator (usually a student volunteer), the field
lab co-ordinator (usually an archaeology grad student) and the
museum conservator all effect this life history.  I was interested
in this subject when I wrote my 1987 article in JAIC on conservation
treatments in anthropology and tried to follow up on aspects when I
was researching my article on ultrasound (North American
Archaeologist, 1993, v.14).  The most disturbing part of the
research was the lack of access to archaeological reports (few are
completed and written, see my article in North American Arch., 1984)
or to field notes and photos. There has been a scattering of
comments in the SAA Bulletin over the years, but nothing on the
level that you propose.  I would bet that even given the best
training and preparation, desiccation of objects in field conditions
would be a major factor in many locales.  Sease has made great
strides in communicating some of these problems to the
archaeological community.  I'll go over my notes and see if I can
send you examples that might be helpful.

Niccolo Caldararo
Conservation Art Service

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 11:10
                   Distributed: Friday, July 18, 1997
                       Message Id: cdl-11-10-003
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