Making Better Use of Monitoring Data. (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hollesen, Jørgen; Matthiesen, Henning; Møller, Anders Bjørn; Martens, Vibeke Vandrup
• Is Part Of: Conservation and management of archaeological sites. Volume 18:Number 1/3(2016)
• Page Start: 116
• Page End: 125
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: archaeological deposits -- preservation conditions -- monitoring -- decay model; Excavations (Archaeology) -- Collection and protection -- Periodicals; Cultural property -- Protection -- Periodicals; Historic buildings -- Conservation and restoration -- Periodicals; Historic sites -- Conservation and restoration -- Periodicals; Antiquities -- Collection and preservation -- Periodicals; 930.1028
• DOI: 10.1080/13505033.2016.1182750
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-5033

Abstract

Abstract : This paper addresses the knowledge gap that exists in relation to understanding and quantifying the sensitivity of organic-rich archaeological deposits with respect to changes in the soil environment. Based on two case studies we demonstrate that it is possible to quantify the current decay rate in unsaturated archaeological deposits by combining decay rates measured in the laboratory with on-site monitoring data in a simple decay model. The decay of organic archaeological deposits is highly sensitive to variations in soil temperatures and soil water content. Measurements of soil water content cannot always stand alone as a representative measurement of oxygen availability; which suggests that in situ measurements of oxygen content or redox potential are needed in order to understand the preservation conditions at a site. The results of this study emphasize the advantage of combining monitoring data with laboratory studies, in order to document in more detail where and when degradation takes place.