Biofilms, Biocolonization, and the Conservation of Marble from Submerged Archaeological Environments

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Current Research at Texas A&M University's Conservation Research Laboratory" , at the 2022 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Gleaming white marble is often synonymous with beauty and importance. Yet biological growth often covers marble over time, masking original coloration. These effects are magnified under water, where stone becomes home to various macro- and microscopic organisms. Typically, marble from both aqueous and terrestrial contexts is treated to remove the biofilm. White marble is often more aesthetically desirable, and some biofilms deteriorate the stone. However, this treatment of marble has been questioned from a biochemical and cultural perspective. Inspired by Jacob et al. (2018)’s argument that biofilm’s effects and presence on marble should be reevaluated, this paper deals with the treatment of underwater archaeological marble from a conservation, chemistry, and cultural perspective. The paper reports results from new treatments and experiments in conservation of underwater archaeological marble with biological colonization, conducted in Fall 2021 at the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University’s Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Current Research at Texas A&M University's Conservation Research Laboratory   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2022

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology