Module ARCH41330: Conservation Skills

Department: Archaeology

ARCH41330: Conservation Skills

Tied To

• F4K507: Conservation of Archaeological and Museum Objects (Professional Practice)
• F4K707: Conservation of Archaeological and Museum Objects (Dissertation)

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To enable students to undertake a range of laboratory, fieldwork, documentation, cleaning, adhesion and replication skills.
• To provide a foundation for later practical coursework.

Content

• This module consists of a series of practicals and demonstrations, which teach students to examine and successfully treat archaeological objects and to document the impacts of their interventions.

Learning Outcomes

• A detailed knowledge of the physical and chemical basis for the decay, stabilisation and conservation processes of ancient and historic materials.
• How to visually identify the materials from which objects are made.

• The practical skills necessary to competently clean (remove surface accretions and decay products above the original surface), stabilise and restore artefacts.
• The ability to work safely in a conservation laboratory.
• The judgement skills necessary for pro-active decision making in conservation work.
• An understanding of the documentation skills needed to record treatments and other interventions on objects.
• Familiarity with object replication (exact three-dimensional duplication of an object form), materials testing and the creation of protective packaging.

• How to effectively communicate conservation actions through images, text and tables.
• The ability to undertake research, collect information (data), critically evaluate it, and draw appropriate conclusions.
• The ability to work to deadlines and as a member within a team.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching is primarily provided through supervised practicals, demonstrations, and self study materials and DUO.
• Learning is primarily achieved through undertaking practical activities, independent study, seeing demonstrations reading.
• Assessment is achieved through a portfolio of work.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Students in this module receive weekly feedback from teaching staff. Formative assessment is carried out through a precise exercise and through a write up of one practical (cleaning).