After Excavation: Maintaining research potential of archaeological bone
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 28/06/2019

Archaeological bone accounts for around 10% of the English Heritage collection. This includes both valuable worked objects and bulk finds. Most of this material is housed in archaeological stores across the country, however the most the significant objects are on display. While in storage archaeological bone undergoes continual degradation when exposed to the ambient environment. This mechanism is accelerated when bones are exhibited in low RH environments, often selected to ensure the stability of archaeological metal objects. With interest in animal remains increasing and as more sophisticated analytical techniques become available the depth of information at stake is growing. To better understand this relationship and minimise future damage research is being carried out into optimising their storage environment regarding relative humidity. This will be achieved by profiling the English Heritage exhibited collection and scrutinising the relationship between bone preservation and the storage environment using bulk finds. Various analysis methods will characterise bone on the nano-scale and in terms of mechanical properties.

Chloe Pearce (Birkbeck, University of London)