Archaeological wood preparation

The preparation of wood samples from archaeological contexts largely depends on the preservation type and on the chemical and physical state of the material, which may vary from near normal to highly degraded. Compared to fresh wood, archaeological materials have generally undergone hydrolysis and/or degradation through the action of fungi, bacteria, and other soil microorganisms, especially in oxygen-rich environments. Archaeological wood may be waterlogged, dried, charred, or mineralized. It can also present a combination of preservation types (e.g., waterlogged and mineralized). As such, different portions of the same wood fragment may require different treatments. For this reason, while several attempts have been made to standardize the preparation methods for archaeological wood, it is a common experience that each case study may need some adjustment after the application of standard procedures.