
Fig. 1: µ-X-ray-computed tomography of an early medieval sword hilt. Virtual section of a beech wood sample (Foto: J.Stelzner, LAD).

Fig. 5: µ-X-ray-computed tomography of a wooden fragment from a Stone Age context. Collapsed areas are visible in the conserved wood structure (Foto: J.Stelzner, LAD).

Fig. 6: Image in the transmitted light microscope. Cross section of Roman oak wood (Foto: I.Stelzner/R.Lenz, abk–).

Fig. 7: Image in the reflected light microscope. Cross section of Roman oak wood. The UV-light activates the lignin-rich components of the cell wall (Foto: I.Stelzner/R.Lenz, abk–).
CuTAWAY – Conservation and Wood Analyses
Wood has excellent material properties and is readily available. Therefore it has been used frequently in prehistoric times. In most cases, the organic material has decayed during burial but where wood has been preserved it plays a key role in archaeological research. The woody taxon used, the function of the object and information concerning the environment can be gained from the analysis of wooden objects. Moreover, precise dating is possible using dendrochronology. Therefore, the conservation of archaeological wooden objects, which are mainly preserved as waterlogged finds, is of great importance. A plethora of methods and conserving agents are currently applied to conserve archaeological waterlogged wood. In order to compare the various treatments different conservation methods have been applied on about 800 archaeological wooden samples in the framework of a project organized by the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum in Mainz (RGZM) and funded by KUR (Kulturstiftung des Bundes und der Länder. This reference collection will be analysed in order to quantify results of the conservation treatment (shrinkage, collapse and cracks) and the impact of the conservation method employed on investigations of archaeological wood (wood anatomy and dendrochronology).
The comparative analysis will be carried out using non-destructive, three dimensional methods, such as 3D-Scan und X-ray computed tomography and microscopic techniques. Additionally, the study of the samples aims at the optimisation of analytical and conservation methods to enable documentation of characteristic features of wood anatomy after conservation. By this means, the penetration of the conservation material and the effectiveness of the method will be recorded in detail in order to arrive at conclusions about the success of the conservation treatment.
Long-term stability will be analysed and evaluated by simulated aging tests on conserved wooden samples. The results will be documented in the KUR database with open access, and will in this way guarantee that archaeological wooden artefacts can be better studied and conserved for future generations.
Funding
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
(project no: 416877131)
Schweizer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (SNF)
(project no: 200021E_183684)
Cooperations
- Karslruher Institut für Technologie (KIT): Herr Dr. Elias Hamann und Herr Dr. Markus Zuber
- Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Baden-Württemberg: Prof. Dr. D. Krausse, Priv.-Doz. Dr. Oliver Nelle
- Max-Planck-Institut für Biologische Kybernetik: Prof. Dr. Klaus Scheffler und Dr. Rolf Pohmann
- Museum of Cultural History, Oslo: Dr. Susan Braovac
- Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum: Dr. Katharina Schmidt-Ott
- Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Stuttgart: Prof. Dr. G. Eggert, Prof. Dr. Christoph Krekel
- The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation: Prof. Dr. Nanna Bjerregaard Pedersen
- Universität Basel: Dr. Zarah Walsh-Korb
- Volume Graphics, Heidelberg: Dr. Daniela Handl
Publications
- J. Stelzner, I. Stelzner, J. Martinez-Garcia, D. Gwerder, M. Wittköpper, W. Muskalla, A. Cramer; G. Heinz, M. Egg, P. Schuetz. Stabilisation of waterlogged archaeological wood – The application of structured-light 3D scanning and micro computed tomography for analysing dimensional changes, Herit Sci 10, 60 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00686-6
- I. Stelzner, J. Stelzner , J. Martinez-Garcia, D. Gwerder, S. Million, O. Nelle, P. Schuetz, The effect of conservation agents on non-destructive dendrochronology, in: 50th Annual Meeting of the American Institute for Conservation, 2022.
- T. Homburg, A.Cramer, L. Raddatz. Metadata schema and ontology for capturing and processing of 3D cultural heritage objects. Herit Sci 9, 91 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00561-w
- J. Martinez-Garcia, I. Stelzner, J. Stelzner, D. Gwerder, P. Schuetz, Automated 3D tree-ring detection and measurement from X-ray computed tomography. Dendrochronologia 69, 2021, DOI: 10.1016/j.dendro.2021.125877.
- J. Martinez-Garcia, J. Stelzner, I., J. Stelzner, D., Gwerder and P. Schuetz, Image processing approach for detection of 3D tree-rings from X-ray computed tomography, International Journal of Computer and Information Engineering, Vol. 15, No.7, (2021) , 2021 https://publications.waset.org/10012118/.pdf.
- J. Martinez-Garcia, I. Stelzner, J. Stelzner, D. Gwerder, P. Schuetz, Automated 3D tree-ring detection and ring-width calculation from X-ray computed tomography, in: J. Edvardsson, T.T. Chen, B. Gunnarson, A. Hansson, H.W. Linderholm (eds.), Book of Abstracts. TRACE 2021 Conference, Lund, Sweden, 2021, 56.
- J. Martinez-Garcia, I. Stelzner, J. Stelzner, D. Gwerder, P. Schuetz, Automated 3D tree-ring detection and ring-width calculation from X-ray computed tomography, in: K. Kleinova (ed), Book of Abstracts. 27th Annual Meeting, Kiel, 2021.
- I. Stelzner, J. Stelzner, J. Martinesz-Garcia, D. Gwerder, M. Wittkoepper, W. Muskalla, M. Egg, P. Schuetz, Non-destructive assessment of conserved archaeological wood using computed tomography, in: J. Bridgland (Hrsg.), Transcending Boundaries: Integrated Approaches to Conservation. ICOM-CC 19th Triennial Conference Preprints, Beijing, 2021, https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/4291.
- I. Stelzner, J. Stelzner, J. Martinez-Garcia, M. Wittkoepper, D. Gwerder, W. Muskalla, M. Egg, P. Schuetz, New insights into wet wood conservation with X-ray computed tomography, in: S. Klein, F. Schlütter, S. Greiff, A. Kronz (Hrsg.), Archäometrie und Denkmalpflege, METALLA Sonderheft 11, 2021.
- I. Stelzner, The CutAWAY Project: Conservation and Wood Analysis. News in Conservation 82, 2021, 10–13.
- https://www.iiconservation.org/content/cutaway-project-conservation-and-wood-analysis
- Garcia-Martinez, Jorge
CuTAWAY: Conservation and Wood Analysis using X-Ray Computed Tomography, Presentation on 9.6.2020, Forschungsplenum, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts