DETERMINING THE STABILITY AND DURABILITY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIALS

TL;DRAbstract

The heavy alteration of archaeological materials makes them environmentally sensitive and, amongst the most challenging, to safely display and store. Non-destructive testing can provide vital information to inform preventive conservation decisions, ensuring the continued preservation of this sensitive material. The heavy chloride contamination of archaeological metals makes some artefacts extremely vulnerable to ambient relative humidities. Copper alloy objects can corrode at RHs above 42%, whilst some archaeological iron can rapidly deteriorate at RHs above only 19%. Composite objects with organic components, that will be damaged by low RHs, present a particular challenge. Displays often contain mixed media, and balancing environmental needs between organic artefacts and metals that require low RHs is extremely difficult. A certain proportion of archaeological copper and iron alloys have much lower chloride levels and are relatively stable. Completely mineralised iron artefacts are no

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