J.IIC-CG VOLUME 12 (1987)
“A Message in a Bottle”: The Conservation of a Waterlogged Parchment Document
The examination, analysis, recording and conservation of a waterlogged document is described. The document, written by William Edward Parry in the early 19th century, had been deposited in a rock cairn on the shore of Prince Regent’s Inlet. Examination indicated that it was composed of either parchment or vellum, or a skin prepared for writing in a similar fashion to parchment and vellum. Analytical techniques used were microscopic examination, X-ray diffraction, X-ray energy spectrometry and shrinkage temperature measurements of the collagen. Recording included normal and UV photography as well as computer enhancement of selected areas. The document was successfully dried on a suction cold table.
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