Overview
Review the role of conservation in the field and in the laboratory for archaeological projects. Discuss planning and preparation for the care of excavated materials. Learn about the condition of materials upon excavation and "first aid" packing and transport methods for artifacts from both dry and waterlogged contexts. Examine artifact preservation and methods to facilitate interpretation. Learn how to perform simple stabilization techniques such as dewatering waterlogged bone, removing chlorides from objects, and consolidating highly degraded glass, as well as exploring tips for mending vessels.
This seminar is offered in conjunction with Archaeological Curation and Collections Management.
Faculty
Emily Williams, Ph.D., FAIC, FIIC, associate professor in Archaeological Conservation, Durham University; formerly senior archaeological conservator at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation; research interests include waterlogged organics, the burial environment, and the history of conservation
Evaluation Comments
"[The seminar offered] a nice combination of theoretical background and some very practical tips to use in the field."
"[I learned] different methods for retrieving artifacts responsibly and the ways in which they can be conserved."
"[The seminar included] very helpful information for preplanning field projects and ways to handle surprises in the field."
"[I gained] a solid understanding of what field conservation entails-from planning to management to hands on."
Participants
Archaeologists; archaeological lab staff; historic preservation specialists; project managers.
Related Trainings
Archaeological Curation and Collections Management
NAGPRA Essentials
NAGPRA on-demand videos, National NAGPRA Program and NPI
Locations and Dates
- 2026 date/location TBA
offered in conjunction with
Archaeological Curation and Collections Management
Cost
Conservation Strategies for Archaeologists
$800 2 days / in-person seminar registration
$300 2 days / in-person seminar registration for full-time student; identification must be submitted at time of pre-registration
NPI scholarship application
Archaeological Curation and Collections Management
$1,100 3 days / in-person seminar registration
$350 3 days / in-person seminar registration for full-time student; identification must be submitted at time of pre-registration
NPI scholarship application
Certificates of Attendance
Certificates of attendance are available online upon completion of training. Instructions for receiving certificates are included in the NPI Welcome Letter, available to participants once they are registered online. A certificate for a one-day seminar provides 6 training hours, a two-day seminar provides 12 training hours, and a three-day seminar provides 18 training hours.
Customized Training
NPI offers customized training to meet specific organizational needs at a location and time convenient for the sponsor. In-person seminars, online, on-demand courses, and/or webinars may be based on current NPI offerings or new preservation-related training may be developed.
Questions?
Contact NPI at 703.765.0100 or info@npi.org.