Current Research at the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University

Part of: Society for Historical Archaeology 2020

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Current Research at the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University," at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The Conservation Research Laboratory (CRL) at Texas A&M University is one of the oldest continuously operated conservation laboratories specializing in material from underwater archaeological sites in the world. Currently, the CRL is conserving artifacts and watercraft from archaeological sites from a wide array of time periods and georgraphical locales around the United States, and this session offers a snapshot into the various aspects of conservation techniques and archaeological research that is currently underway at the CRL.

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  • Documents (8)

Documents
  • The Application of 3d Models to the Conservation Planning Process (2020)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Mason Parody.

    This is an abstract from the session entitled "Current Research at the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. The Conservation Research Lab at Texas A&M utilizes distinctive methods regarding the documentation and processing of ship's timbers in the early stages of conservation. This paper contrasts traditional approaches of recording timber dimensions, which rely on manual drafting techniques and less...

  • Clay Tobacco Pipes From The Excavation Of The CSS Georgia (2020)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Sheri L Kapahnke.

    This is an abstract from the session entitled "Current Research at the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. Several fragmented clay tobacco pipes were excavated from Savannah Harbour along with remains of the 1862 CSS Georgia. The nature of the underwater excavation leaves these pipes with little context. It is unclear whether they belong to the CSS Georgia artifact assemblage, or were disposed of...

  • Overview of the Current Projects at CRL (2020)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Christopher Dostal.

    This is an abstract from the session entitled "Current Research at the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. The Conservation Research Laboratory (CRL) at Texas A&M University is one of the oldest continuously operated conservation laboratories specializing in material from underwater archaeological sites in the world. Currently, the CRL is conserving artifacts and watercraft from a variety of...

  • The Pewter Assemblage from the Site of CSS Georgia (2020)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Karen Martindale.

    This is an abstract from the session entitled "Current Research at the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. CSS Georgia had been in service for nearly 20 months when Sherman’s March to the Sea prompted Confederate forces to scuttle the ironclad to prevent the ship’s capture. Given the Confederate forces had time to remove supplies from the ship, salvage efforts shortly following the American Civil...

  • Placing The Past: Using GIS To Reconstruct The Maritime Landscape Of The Alexandria, Virginia Waterfront (2020)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Lauren M Shultz.

    This is an abstract from the session entitled "Current Research at the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. The town of Alexandria sits along the Potomac River in northeast Virginia. Established in 1749, Alexandria’s rich history spans over 250 years. During the late 18th and early 19th century, the waterfront underwent a drastic landscape transformation. To reconstruct the maritime landscape...

  • Reconstruction of the World Trade Center Ship (2020)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Julia M. Herbst.

    This is an abstract from the session entitled "Current Research at the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. In 2010, excavators discovered the remains of an 18th-century vessel below the foundation of the World Trade Center in New York City. The wreck was excavated and sent to the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University for conservation and documentation. As part of that...

  • Small Steps to Preserve El Gigante: Conserving and Interpreting an Artifact from a Rockshelter in the Highlands of Honduras (2020)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Amelia J Hammond.

    This is an abstract from the session entitled "Current Research at the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. The El Gigante rockshelter is located in the highlands of Honduras and has an occupation history dating back to 10,000 years B.P. In 2001, a composite artifact consisting of hide and rope was excavated from this site. After excavation, this leather was folded and stored in a plastic bag. Through...

  • A Study of the Effects of Two Poly-Ethylene Glycol Pretreatments in the Conservation of Waterlogged Wood (2020)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Jonathan L Henneberry.

    This is an abstract from the session entitled "Current Research at the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. Waterlogged wood can be a challenging material to successfully conserve due to its frailty, ability to discolor, and ease with which it shrinks and warps. In an effort to minimize these issues, an experiment was devised to evaluate the use of an ethanol-based PEG solution versus a water-based...