The Challenge of Archaeological Wood Restoration: Traditional Methods and Scientific Innovations

Since ancient times, wood has been used for all kinds of purposes, from the manufacture of everyday tools to the construction of buildings, dwellings, and means of transport such as carts and ships. Archaeological wooden artefacts preserve ancient traces of the evolution of past societies, making it essential to undertake appropriate recovery, restoration, and conservation activities to enable their study and accessibility. Upon discovery, waterlogged archaeological wooden artefacts are generally physically fragile, highly porous, and chemically altered. The goal is to stabilise the artefact and make it suitable for display in museums. To achieve this, a consolidant is used, typically an aqueous solution of polyethylene glycol (PEG). This method is robust, reversible, non-toxic. However, over the decades, some disadvantages of using PEG have been identified, revealing it to be an imperfect agent for the preservation of wood.