Atlas of Micromorphological Degradation of Archaeological Birch Bark

Klügl, Johanna; Di Pietro, Giovanna (2021). Atlas of Micromorphological Degradation of Archaeological Birch Bark Applied Science Special Issue Application of Biology to Cultural Heritage, 11(18) MDPI https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188721

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In this paper we present an atlas of micromorphological degradation of archaeological birch bark for the first time. We analysed the morphology of 13 samples extracted from ice-logged, waterlogged and cave-retrieved objects dated from the Neolithic to the Middle Age by means of light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We then compared their morphology to that of a contemporary sample, both intact and decayed. In all samples, 13 morphological characteristics that can be associated with fungal, bacterial, chemical, mechanical and light degradation are defined and described, and example LM and TEM images are provided. This novel atlas provides conservator-restorers a much-needed tool to relate the macroscopic appearance to the microscopic structure of birch bark objects. The most important macroscopic features allowing estimation of the state of preservation at the cell level are colour changes, loss of pliability, presence of delamination and increased brittleness. Colour change and delamination can be connected to microscopic features, and microscopic analysis can trace whether they were caused by biotic, chemical or physical decay. However, increased brittleness cannot be connected to a specific microscopic feature.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

Bern Academy of the Arts
Bern Academy of the Arts > Institute Materiality in Art and Culture
Bern Academy of the Arts > Institute Materiality in Art and Culture > Material analyses

Name:

Klügl, Johanna0000-0001-6958-5076 and
Di Pietro, Giovanna0000-0002-0772-1084

Subjects:

Q Science > Q Science (General)

Publisher:

MDPI

Funders:

[UNSPECIFIED] Schweizerischer Nationalfonds

Projects:

Projects 159662 not found.

Language:

English

Submitter:

Johanna Klügl

Date Deposited:

22 Nov 2021 13:40

Last Modified:

22 Nov 2021 13:40

Publisher DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188721

ARBOR DOI:

10.24451/arbor.15702

URI:

https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/15702

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