Glass: Conservation and Preservation

Introduction

Glass artifacts that are successfully recovered and preserved have the potential to contribute to the archaeological record in many ways. However, conservation and preservation of archaeological glass can be challenging. Some glasses are inherently less stable than others, and some burial environments more deleterious. Surface weathering on archaeological glass is common, and it is rare for glass to survive burial unbroken.

A successful preservation plan for glass incorporates both active and preventive conservation and begins before excavation. Because glass is fragile, careful handling, both at the time of excavation and subsequently, is important for its preservation. Once a glass artifact has been excavated, the level of deterioration, physical damage, and the stability of the glass itself must be evaluated, and steps to improve the artifact’s condition should be taken if necessary. Wet or damp glass that may have absorbed soluble salts must be treated to remove the...