Introductory course on the conservation and restoration of archaeological finds

The International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar organizes international courses in the restoration and conservation of underwater archaeological finds every year.

International courses are aimed to the practical and theoretical training of candidates for independent work in the restoration and conservation of underwater archaeological finds.

The courses consist of a theoretical segment and practical work that is carried out under the supervision of a mentor in the workshops of ICUA Zadar.

Candidates can choose between several modules: a one-month Advanced course that can be staged in one of the three main workshops (the metal workshop, the ceramics and glass workshop or the organic material workshop) or the two-week Introductory course that will involve work in all three workshops .

All course participants receive their own copy of the manual on restoration and conservation of underwater archaeological finds published by ICUA Zadar.

In the manual,they can find all the fundamental guidelines for dealing with underwater archaeological finds.

At the end of the course, candidates take an exam in the theoretical and practical part, after which they are entitled to a certificate of passing the course.

INTRODUCTORY COURSE

It is a two-week course on the conservation and restoration of underwater archaeological finds which provides an introduction to conservation-restoration. During the course participants are acquainted with work on all materials and spend a few days in each of the workshops. The training consists of a theoretical and practical segment, with the possibility of placing greater focus on a given segment, depending on the wishes, capabilities and knowledge of the applicant. The programme is conducted along the same points as the one-month course, but in lesser scope. In the practical segment participants have the opportunity to try their hand on the phases of conservation-restoration work that can be executed in the available time. The goal of this brief course is to either acquaint participants with conservation and restoration as a method of protecting archaeological finds or to acquaint more experienced conservators-restorers with the specifics pertaining to the treatment of archaeological finds originating from wet environments.

Introductory course on the conservation and restoration of archaeological finds, programme

DESALINATION PROCEDURE:

Preparing the artefact for the desalination procedure
Monitoring desalination by conductivity and the concentration of chloride
Measuring the concentration of chloride by potentiometric titration

CERAMIC AND GLASS WORKSHOP:

Documenting the initial condition
Evaluating the state of conservation and establishing a plan of conservation-restoration work
Cleaning the artefact
A brief introduction to the desalination procedure
Consolidation
Bonding and gluing fragments
Small integrations of missing sections
Retouching
Final protection

METAL WORKSHOP:

Getting acquainted with the types and causes of the deterioration of archaeological metal
Getting acquainted with the phases of conservation-restoration operations
Getting acquainted with the procedure for the desalination of underwater archaeological artefacts made of metal
Mechanical cleaning of underwater archaeological artefacts made of metal

The micro sandblasting procedure
The use of various hand and power tools

Getting acquainted with the methods of actively stabilising metal artefacts
Applying final protection substances

ORGANIC FINDS WORKSHOP:

Documenting the initial condition of the artefact
Preliminary inspection of the artefact and establishing a plan of conservation-restoration work
Mechanical cleaning of the artefact
Introduction to the desalination of underwater archaeological artefacts
Introduction to the methods of impregnation and removing excess of impregnation substances
Introduction to the drying process
The importance of compiling documentation and of the adequate storage of restored artefact