All treatments are completely documented and the conservation records are considered archival documents. The role of preventive conservation is key to the modern practice of conservation. Preventive conservation attempts to maintain a stable, inert atmosphere for the objects in order to slow down the natural rate of deterioration. As the immediate environment is modified to enhance the stability of the artifacts, the need for intervention is minimized. The Conservation Laboratory at the Oriental Institute is devoted to the conservation of three-dimensional archaeological objects.
Archaeological materials encompass the remains of man's material culture.
This includes metals, stone, ceramics, and glass, as well as organic materials such as wood, bone, ivory, leather, and plant matter.