Analyses of Sulfur and Iron in Waterlogged Archaeological Wood: The Case of Polyethylene-Glycol-Treated Yenikapı 12 Shipwreck
The Yenikapı (YK) 12 shipwreck is 1 of 37 shipwrecks found at Yenikapı, Istanbul. This merchantman has been dated to AD 672–876 by radiocarbon analyses. The conservation of YK 12, which was assembled with iron nails, was completed with the pre-impregnation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and using vacu...
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/3/530 |
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| author | Aslı Gökçe Kılıç Namık Kılıç Donna C. Arnold |
| author_facet | Aslı Gökçe Kılıç Namık Kılıç Donna C. Arnold |
| author_sort | Aslı Gökçe Kılıç |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Yenikapı (YK) 12 shipwreck is 1 of 37 shipwrecks found at Yenikapı, Istanbul. This merchantman has been dated to AD 672–876 by radiocarbon analyses. The conservation of YK 12, which was assembled with iron nails, was completed with the pre-impregnation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and using vacuum freeze-drying processes. However, after conservation, dust formation was observed on some wooden parts of the shipwreck during storage. In this study, iron–sulfur-related problems detected in the woods of YK 12 were evaluated. We analysed samples taken from YK 12 to study the sulfur and iron content in woods from oak (<i>Quercus</i>), walnut (<i>Juglans</i>), and hornbeam (<i>Carpinus</i>), representing taxa with different wood properties. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and pH measurements were conducted on five samples. The results of these studies showed that the dust consisted of wood particles, PEG, and hydrated iron sulfates, such as FeSO<sub>4</sub>·4H<sub>2</sub>O and FeSO<sub>4</sub>·7H<sub>2</sub>O. Additionally, one sample included SiO<sub>2</sub>, whilst another exhibited a low pH value. These findings highlight the importance of optimum ambient conditions for the storage and display of these shipwrecks in order to prevent the irreversible degradation of YK 12 and other recovered shipwrecks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:32:19Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:32:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc503e0d49624b8aa93866551a6e095a2023-11-17T11:09:52ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-03-0114353010.3390/f14030530Analyses of Sulfur and Iron in Waterlogged Archaeological Wood: The Case of Polyethylene-Glycol-Treated Yenikapı 12 ShipwreckAslı Gökçe Kılıç0Namık Kılıç1Donna C. Arnold2Museology Department, Faculty of Letters, Istanbul University, Fatih, 34134 Istanbul, TürkiyeDepartment of Conservation of Marine Archaeological Objects, Faculty of Letters, Istanbul University, Fatih, 34134 Istanbul, TürkiyeSchool of Chemistry and Forensic Science, Division of Natural Sciences Canterbury, University of Kent, Kent CT2 7NH, UKThe Yenikapı (YK) 12 shipwreck is 1 of 37 shipwrecks found at Yenikapı, Istanbul. This merchantman has been dated to AD 672–876 by radiocarbon analyses. The conservation of YK 12, which was assembled with iron nails, was completed with the pre-impregnation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and using vacuum freeze-drying processes. However, after conservation, dust formation was observed on some wooden parts of the shipwreck during storage. In this study, iron–sulfur-related problems detected in the woods of YK 12 were evaluated. We analysed samples taken from YK 12 to study the sulfur and iron content in woods from oak (<i>Quercus</i>), walnut (<i>Juglans</i>), and hornbeam (<i>Carpinus</i>), representing taxa with different wood properties. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and pH measurements were conducted on five samples. The results of these studies showed that the dust consisted of wood particles, PEG, and hydrated iron sulfates, such as FeSO<sub>4</sub>·4H<sub>2</sub>O and FeSO<sub>4</sub>·7H<sub>2</sub>O. Additionally, one sample included SiO<sub>2</sub>, whilst another exhibited a low pH value. These findings highlight the importance of optimum ambient conditions for the storage and display of these shipwrecks in order to prevent the irreversible degradation of YK 12 and other recovered shipwrecks.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/3/530waterlogged archaeological woodYenikapı shipwrecksXRDFTIRpHsulfur |
| spellingShingle | Aslı Gökçe Kılıç Namık Kılıç Donna C. Arnold Analyses of Sulfur and Iron in Waterlogged Archaeological Wood: The Case of Polyethylene-Glycol-Treated Yenikapı 12 Shipwreck Forests waterlogged archaeological wood Yenikapı shipwrecks XRD FTIR pH sulfur |
| title | Analyses of Sulfur and Iron in Waterlogged Archaeological Wood: The Case of Polyethylene-Glycol-Treated Yenikapı 12 Shipwreck |
| title_full | Analyses of Sulfur and Iron in Waterlogged Archaeological Wood: The Case of Polyethylene-Glycol-Treated Yenikapı 12 Shipwreck |
| title_fullStr | Analyses of Sulfur and Iron in Waterlogged Archaeological Wood: The Case of Polyethylene-Glycol-Treated Yenikapı 12 Shipwreck |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analyses of Sulfur and Iron in Waterlogged Archaeological Wood: The Case of Polyethylene-Glycol-Treated Yenikapı 12 Shipwreck |
| title_short | Analyses of Sulfur and Iron in Waterlogged Archaeological Wood: The Case of Polyethylene-Glycol-Treated Yenikapı 12 Shipwreck |
| title_sort | analyses of sulfur and iron in waterlogged archaeological wood the case of polyethylene glycol treated yenikapi 12 shipwreck |
| topic | waterlogged archaeological wood Yenikapı shipwrecks XRD FTIR pH sulfur |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/3/530 |
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