Definition
Conservation of archaeological finds is a critical part of excavation and curation. It is the activity that assures the permanence of the physical artifacts and preservation of the information they contain, and it includes specific methods and standards for examination, documentation, treatment, and preventive care of archaeological materials. These activities are performed by specialists who belong to professional societies that promote education, research, and adherence among its practitioners to a code of ethics and standards of practice.
History
When an early human repaired or rejuvenated a stone tool to extend its working life, he was not engaged in conservation as we now understand the term since the preserving activity did not result from an academic tradition of research and education to explore and improve upon the suitability and compatibility of methods and materials. In Europe, it was not until the Renaissance when such an approach was applied to antiquities;...
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Piechota, D. (2017). Artifact Conservation. In: Gilbert, A.S. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geoarchaeology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4409-0_55
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