Posted by William
We started this season at Gordion with a condition survey of the collection on view at the Gordion Museum. This survey of the museum collection occurs on a yearly basis to allow condition comparison with previous years. This year during our survey a trefoil ceramic jug had developed the presence of salts, a common problem with some archaeological materials. The ceramic was excavated in 1965 and found in a secondary pit. It dates to the Middle/Late Phrygian period (7th – 4th century B.C.) and would have likely been used for pouring liquids. The jug was taken off view and a condition report was recorded and before conservation treatment images were taken.
Before Treatment |
Before Treatment |
Before Treatment Interior |
Taking Before Images |
Removing the Restored Fill
|
One Section Removed |
Making Deionized Water |
Vessel in Water |
To determine the endpoint for desalination an adjusted conductivity measurement (a number representing a conductivity reading adjusted to take into account the ceramic weight and volume of water) is made by entering the data into an equation. It was determined that soaking the ceramic in deionized water for three days was sufficient for the removal of salts.
Measuring Conductivity of the Water |
Entering the Data in the Equation |
The ceramic was removed from the desalination bath and allowed to dry overnight. The edges of the vessel were then cleaned using a dental pick and the restoration paint was removed from the plaster fill.
After Removal from Deionized Water |
Removing Excess Plaster from the Edges |
Removing Restoration Paint from Plaster Fill |
Reattaching Plaster Fill |
After the fill was replaced it was sanded to make a smooth transition between the microballoons and plaster fill. A small incision was made around the fill to identify it as a restoration and a primer coat of paint was applied.
After Reattaching Fill |
Inpainting |
After Treatment Image |
After Treatment Image |
After Treatment Image Interior |
Phrygian Trefoil Jug Back on View in the Gordion Museum |