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The Collections Research at the Peabody Conservation Lab Systems Informatics Resources |
Conservation LabCurrent ResearchThe Conservation Laboratory is involved in all aspects of collections care and handling at the Yale Peabody Museum. The Peabody’s Senior Conservator Catherine Sease is an archaeological conservator by training and has undertaken considerable work on archaeological excavations in Scotland, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Libya, Egypt, Turkey, Iran and Iraq. Conservation as a Research ToolIn the course of treating artifacts, conservators frequently reveal information about them. Knowledgeable about early technology and manufacturing techniques, object conservators often uncover details of how an artifact was made or used. Years of experience looking at and working with a variety of materials and artifacts from different time periods and locations help conservators to recognize and identify materials. Conservators are also trained to recognize seeds, grain, textiles and other organic materials that may be preserved in the corrosion surrounding a metal artifact. Not generally found on excavations, these materials can provide valuable information about the climate when the site was inhabited, what its inhabitants were growing or eating, or the types of technology they used. By revealing this kind of information, conservators can make important contributions to archaeological research. |