Evaluation of two terpene-derived polymers as consolidants for archaeological wood.

The evaluation of two terpene-derived polymers, termed TPA6 and TPA7, as possible consolidants for archaeological wood was carried out. The overall objective of this work was to expand the non-aqueous treatment toolkit which is available for the conservation of the highly degraded Oseberg collection. The wood artefacts which were found on the Oseberg ship were treated with alum in the early twentieth century, leading to the formation of sulfuric acid and to the precarious state that they are in today.

Comparative hydrodynamic characterisation of two hydroxylated polymers based on α-pinene- or oleic acid-derived monomers for potential use as archaeological consolidants.

The Oseberg Viking ship burial is one of the most extensive collections of Viking wooden artefacts ever excavated in Norway. In the early twentieth century, many of these artefacts were treated with alum in order to preserve them, inadvertently leading to their current degraded state. It is therefore crucial to develop new bioinspired polymers which could be used to conserve these artefacts and prevent further disintegration.

Comparative Hydrodynamic Study on Non-Aqueous Soluble Archaeological Wood Consolidants: Butvar B-98 and PDMS-OH Siloxanes.

Butvar B-98 and PDMS-OH both have a demonstrable ability as consolidants for archaeological wood. This makes them both potential treatment options for the Oseberg collection, which is one of the most important archaeological finds from the Viking era. Both Butvar B-98 and PDMS-OH are soluble in organic solvents, offering a useful alternative to aqueous-based consolidants.

Tert-butyldimethylsilyl chitosan synthesis and characterization by analytical ultracentrifugation, for archaeological wood conservation.

The Oseberg ship is one of the most important archaeological testimonies of the Vikings. After excavation in 1904, the wooden gravegoods were conserved using alum salts. This resulted in extreme degradation of a number of the objects a hundred years later through acid depolymerisation of cellulose and lignin.

Identification of inorganic compounds in composite alum-treated wooden artefacts from the Oseberg collection.

Alum-treated wooden artefacts from the Oseberg collection display a great deal of morphological, structural and compositional inhomogeneity. Thus, an in-depth understanding of chemical processes underlying their degradation requires consideration of a variety of local environments. In addition to alum, sources of inorganic compounds include metal parts, corrosion products of which can migrate into the surrounding wood.