Oak wood degradation processes induced by the burial environment in the archaeological site of Biskupin (Poland)
Abstract The open-air Archaeological Museum in Biskupin (Poland) preserves and shows to the public a prehistoric settlement of Lusatian culture dating back to Early Iron Age (eighth century BC). The monitoring of the environment and dynamics of the wood degradation in the burial conditions at the si...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Heritage Science |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40494-020-00390-3 |
| _version_ | 1818512408777326592 |
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| author | Jeannette Jacqueline Lucejko Diego Tamburini Magdalena Zborowska Leszek Babiński Francesca Modugno Maria Perla Colombini |
| author_facet | Jeannette Jacqueline Lucejko Diego Tamburini Magdalena Zborowska Leszek Babiński Francesca Modugno Maria Perla Colombini |
| author_sort | Jeannette Jacqueline Lucejko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The open-air Archaeological Museum in Biskupin (Poland) preserves and shows to the public a prehistoric settlement of Lusatian culture dating back to Early Iron Age (eighth century BC). The monitoring of the environment and dynamics of the wood degradation in the burial conditions at the site is fundamental for the in situ preservation of archaeological wooden materials. A monitoring program thus started in 2003 at the Biskupin site, using contemporary sound oak wood that was placed in two wet burial environments, characterised by different conditions. A multi-analytical protocol was exploited to obtain information on the structural, physical and chemical conditions of the buried wood. The study involved the application of gravimetric and wet chemical analysis, and instrumental techniques, including infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and analytical pyrolysis (Py–GC/MS) to evaluate alterations in the buried oak wood over a 10-year period. The results showed that, during the burial period in both monitoring stations, there was only limited chemical transformation of the polysaccharide component, mostly involving hemicelluloses. The differences observed might be due to the natural compositional variability and inhomogeneity of oak wood. The final condition of the wood was very similar in the two burial environments. It is therefore suggested that the wet burial conditions in the Biskupin site represent a safe conservation environment for the in situ preservation of the wood remains, at least those presenting a good initial preservation state. This supports the conservation strategy adopted in the Biskupin Museum site. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T23:46:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b0d843e11559494c960f01991189849d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7445 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T23:46:24Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heritage Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-b0d843e11559494c960f01991189849d2022-12-22T01:28:55ZengSpringerOpenHeritage Science2050-74452020-05-018111210.1186/s40494-020-00390-3Oak wood degradation processes induced by the burial environment in the archaeological site of Biskupin (Poland)Jeannette Jacqueline Lucejko0Diego Tamburini1Magdalena Zborowska2Leszek Babiński3Francesca Modugno4Maria Perla Colombini5Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of PisaDepartment of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of PisaInstitute of Chemical Wood Technology, Faculty of Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life SciencesDepartment of Conservation, Archaeological Museum in BiskupinDepartment of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of PisaDepartment of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of PisaAbstract The open-air Archaeological Museum in Biskupin (Poland) preserves and shows to the public a prehistoric settlement of Lusatian culture dating back to Early Iron Age (eighth century BC). The monitoring of the environment and dynamics of the wood degradation in the burial conditions at the site is fundamental for the in situ preservation of archaeological wooden materials. A monitoring program thus started in 2003 at the Biskupin site, using contemporary sound oak wood that was placed in two wet burial environments, characterised by different conditions. A multi-analytical protocol was exploited to obtain information on the structural, physical and chemical conditions of the buried wood. The study involved the application of gravimetric and wet chemical analysis, and instrumental techniques, including infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and analytical pyrolysis (Py–GC/MS) to evaluate alterations in the buried oak wood over a 10-year period. The results showed that, during the burial period in both monitoring stations, there was only limited chemical transformation of the polysaccharide component, mostly involving hemicelluloses. The differences observed might be due to the natural compositional variability and inhomogeneity of oak wood. The final condition of the wood was very similar in the two burial environments. It is therefore suggested that the wet burial conditions in the Biskupin site represent a safe conservation environment for the in situ preservation of the wood remains, at least those presenting a good initial preservation state. This supports the conservation strategy adopted in the Biskupin Museum site.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40494-020-00390-3Natural ageingWood degradationDepolymerisationMonitoring programBiskupin |
| spellingShingle | Jeannette Jacqueline Lucejko Diego Tamburini Magdalena Zborowska Leszek Babiński Francesca Modugno Maria Perla Colombini Oak wood degradation processes induced by the burial environment in the archaeological site of Biskupin (Poland) Heritage Science Natural ageing Wood degradation Depolymerisation Monitoring program Biskupin |
| title | Oak wood degradation processes induced by the burial environment in the archaeological site of Biskupin (Poland) |
| title_full | Oak wood degradation processes induced by the burial environment in the archaeological site of Biskupin (Poland) |
| title_fullStr | Oak wood degradation processes induced by the burial environment in the archaeological site of Biskupin (Poland) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Oak wood degradation processes induced by the burial environment in the archaeological site of Biskupin (Poland) |
| title_short | Oak wood degradation processes induced by the burial environment in the archaeological site of Biskupin (Poland) |
| title_sort | oak wood degradation processes induced by the burial environment in the archaeological site of biskupin poland |
| topic | Natural ageing Wood degradation Depolymerisation Monitoring program Biskupin |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40494-020-00390-3 |
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