BS EN 16873:2016 pdf free.Conservation of cultural heritage -Guidelines for themanagement of waterloggedwood on archaeological terrestrial sites.
BS EN 16873 Every artefact should have a unique and individual identification code or number indelibly written on adurable material and securely fastened to the artefact and its packaging.As the finds will pass throughmany stages during and after excavation, each find, including any separate parts, shall be labelled onsite. Labelling may also be employed to record the orientation of individual timbers in a complex woodstructure to assist later re-assembly.Where such a system is used, label positions should be recordedon site plans and elevations.
Cleaning of wood on site should be kept to a minimum as it will often lead to surface damage and loss ofinformation. When cleaning is necessary, it should be carried out by qualified personnel.Superficialburial matrix may be carefully removed with fresh water and a soft brush or sponge.
A record (paper-based or digital) should be created for each piece of wood, to include data such ascontext and association, basic dimensions, and indication of condition.Any actions taken relating to thewood, such as sampling,photography, drawing etc, in the field shall be noted. When sampling for woodspecies identification, growth ring studies and dendrochronological dating on site is unavoidable, itshould be carried out according to EN 16085.Sample processing and analyses shall be carried out in thelaboratory.
Large and complex timber structures, such as boats, may need to be digitally recorded in situ at thisstage using coordinate measuring equipment, to assist with later reconstruction and interpretation.Surface details, such as tool marks, signs of use and wear, and surface finishes (paint, tar,etc.) as well asexamination and recording of wood conversion and archaeometric data, such as growth ring count arebest revealed and recorded under laboratory conditions.
Whether recording occurs on site or in the laboratory, the wet condition of the find and any samplesshall be maintained at all times.
Since it is unlikely that all structural timbers and other categories of wood will be permanently retainedas part of the site archive, it is essential that any discarded material is preserved by record.
Removing artefacts from the ground requires planning and preparation and the number of moves shallbe kept to a minimum. As the wood surface is the most degraded part of the artefact it needs to beprotected and kept wet during lifting and moving. In order to select the appropriate lifting technique,the physical condition and mechanical strength of the wood has to be assessed using a non-destructivetechnique.When the structural integrity of an artefact is in danger it should be block lifted. When blocklifting techniques are employed, the impact on the surrounding archaeological contexts shall beevaluated.BS EN 16873 pdf download.