Characterization of archaeological waterlogged wooden objects exposed on the hyper-saline Dead Sea shore

Published Date
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
October 2016, Vol.9:73–86, doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.06.049

Author 

• Asaf Oron ^a,,
• Nili Liphschitz ^b,
• Benjamin W. Held ^c,
• Ehud Galili ^d,
• Micha Klein ^a,
• Raphael Linker ^e,
• Robert A. Blanchette ^c,

• aDepartment of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel
• bTel Aviv University Institute of Archaeology — the Botanical Laboratories, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel
• cDepartment of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
• dIsrael Antiquities Authority and Zinman Institute of Archaeology, University of Haifa, POB 180, Atlit 30300, Israel
• eFaculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel

Received 22 March 2016. Revised 16 June 2016. Accepted 27 June 2016. Available online 16 July 2016.

Highlights

• •
  Drying up of the Dead Sea exposes cultural heritage of 2500 years of maritime activity.
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  Waterlogged wood finds on the Dead Sea shore are better preserved than those from the Mediterranean
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  The Dead Sea's hyper-saline environment prevents biodegradation of wood in the lake water.
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  Minerals migrating into wood submerged in the lake prevent shrinkage when exposed.
• •
  High mineral content in dry wood objects from the Dead Sea causes gradual physical breakdown.

Abstract

Archaeological waterlogged wood objects exposed on the Dead Sea shore exhibit little visual evidence of degradation when first exposed, and after prolonged exposure and dehydration. An investigation on the state of preservation of this material was recognised as a necessary step towards its long-term conservation. Micromorphological observations, ATR FTIR, ash content, and physical tests showed that deterioration is limited and is mostly non-biological in nature. Natural bulking and impregnation with lake minerals and salts appear to play a significant role in the physical stability of these woods when dried, and apparently inhibit microbial colonization and subsequent degradation. In contrast, archaeological wood examined from a typical Mediterranean marine environment showed advanced stages of degradation by bacteria, with the wood structure extensively compromised.

Keywords

Dead Sea

Maritime activity

Waterlogged wood

Ancient driftwood

Hyper-saline environments

Wood deterioration

Conservation

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