Waterlogged wood

In 1957 the Russian dug up a burial wagon in Armenia, dating from
1300 BC. Based on the Russian literature and analyses I know that
the waterlogged wood was treated with glycerol (9 parts) and PVA (1
part). Since 1957 the different parts of the wagon have shrunk and
deformed considerably.

Maybe not all the water was replaced by the impregnation media and
has evaporated over time which caused deformation. Maybe some of the
impregnation media has come out?

I have been asked to find out whether the parts can be given back
the proportions they had when they were found.

Has any body heard about comparable problems or and  publications on
comparable topics? Could swelling the wood with warm water and
reimpregnating it with PEG be a solution?

Hans Piena
Wood conservator




                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:7
                   Distributed: Friday, June 29, 2001
                        Message Id: cdl-15-7-015
                                  ***