Archaeological wood is a specific kind of wood. For a few hundred or thousand years it usually lies in difficult conditions, which on one hand helps it to survive, but on the other hand contributes to its destruction. These anaerobic conditions have a great influence on the degree of degradation. When in contact with aerobic environment after its discovery, such wood needs special care and protection.
Wood used in this research was mainly from the Neolithic archaeological site Szczepanki 8 in Masuria. The aim of this research was to check and later compare properties of Neolithic archaeological wood with contemporary wood. The results confirm that the wood had been largely destroyed by environmental factors during five thousand years’ period in an anaerobic circumscription. Anaerobic conditions had a very negative effect on the properties of archaeological wood, but the shape of it was still well preserved. Macroscopic research has enabled to recognise only a few samples of old ring-porous wood, mostly ash, diffuse-porous wood, like alder and beech, and a coniferous tree, namely pine. Microscopic research has showed the types of the samples, except one which had been destroyed. Physical and mechanical properties were checked and it wasn’t surprising that the oldest wood was the weakest one and the one that had the most severe changes in properties. The way how the studied wood was stored after archaeological excavation also had an impact on its condition.
The research gives an interesting insight into properties of this old kind of wood and draws attention to the problem of its protection after discovery. This is a problem still waiting for a solution.
Keywords: archaeological wood, physical properties, protection of wood
Authors
Lisiecka E.
Wood Technology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warszawa
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