Archaeological Conservation: the Development of Analysis and Assessment Protocols for Adhesives Used on Archaeological Pottery

Abstract

The development of routine adhesive testing and assessment methodologies will provide conservation laboratories with the relevant knowledge to test adhesives before use. This will result in the timely identification of formulation changes, thus preventing the use of inferior adhesive products that no longer perform to conservation standards. This preventive approach is highly cost effective and will have a positive impact on the preservation of archaeological pottery and other cultural collections. Furthermore, the expertise developed with this project can be extended to adhesives used to repair other cultural materials and contemporary collections made from synthetic polymer based materials..