BS EN 18056:2025 - Conservation of Cultural Heritage

Waterlogged Archaeological Wood: A Comprehensive Guide

The BS EN 18056:2025 is an essential standard for professionals involved in the conservation of cultural heritage, specifically focusing on waterlogged archaeological wood. Released on April 10, 2025, this standard provides a detailed framework for the characterization of waterlogged archaeological wood, aiding in the decision-making processes crucial for its preservation.

With a total of 18 pages, this standard is a concise yet comprehensive guide that addresses the complexities involved in preserving waterlogged wood artifacts. The ISBN for this standard is 978 0 539 29119 3, ensuring its authenticity and ease of reference in academic and professional settings.

Why is BS EN 18056:2025 Important?

Waterlogged archaeological wood is a significant part of our cultural heritage, often found in ancient shipwrecks, submerged settlements, and other historical sites. The preservation of these artifacts is crucial as they provide invaluable insights into past civilizations and their interactions with the environment. However, the preservation process is complex due to the delicate nature of waterlogged wood, which can deteriorate rapidly if not handled correctly.

The BS EN 18056:2025 standard offers a structured approach to understanding the physical and chemical properties of waterlogged wood. By characterizing these properties, conservators can make informed decisions about the most appropriate preservation techniques, ensuring the longevity and integrity of these precious artifacts.

Key Features of the Standard

• Comprehensive Characterization: The standard provides detailed methodologies for assessing the condition of waterlogged wood, including its moisture content, density, and structural integrity.
• Decision-Making Support: By offering a clear framework for characterization, the standard supports conservators in choosing the most effective preservation methods, tailored to the specific needs of each artifact.
• Preservation Techniques: It outlines various preservation techniques, from traditional methods to modern technological solutions, ensuring that conservators have a wide range of options at their disposal.
• International Relevance: As a part of the BS EN series, this standard is recognized internationally, making it a valuable resource for conservators around the world.

Who Should Use This Standard?

The BS EN 18056:2025 is designed for a wide range of professionals involved in the conservation of cultural heritage. This includes:

• Archaeologists: To better understand the condition of waterlogged wood artifacts and plan appropriate excavation and preservation strategies.
• Conservators: To apply the most suitable preservation techniques, ensuring the long-term stability of artifacts.
• Museum Curators: To make informed decisions about the display and storage of waterlogged wood artifacts.
• Researchers: To gain insights into the properties of waterlogged wood and contribute to the development of new preservation methods.

Conclusion

The BS EN 18056:2025 standard is an indispensable tool for anyone involved in the conservation of waterlogged archaeological wood. By providing a comprehensive framework for characterization and decision-making, it ensures that these valuable artifacts are preserved for future generations to study and appreciate. Whether you are an archaeologist, conservator, museum curator, or researcher, this standard will equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect our cultural heritage.

Embrace the guidance offered by the BS EN 18056:2025 and contribute to the preservation of our shared history. With its release, the standard sets a new benchmark in the field of cultural heritage conservation, reflecting the latest advancements and best practices in the industry.

BS EN 18056:2025

This standard BS EN 18056:2025 Conservation of Cultural Heritage. Waterlogged archaeological wood. Characterization of waterlogged archaeological wood to support decision-making processes for its preservation is classified in these ICS categories:

• 97.195 Items of art and handicrafts. Cultural property and heritage

This document provides guidelines for the characterization of waterlogged archaeological wood to support decision-making processes for its preservation. This document can be applied for the management of wood discovered in waterlogged environments, including terrestrial and aquatic (marine and freshwater) sites, as a basis for designing conservation strategies (e.g. reburial, in situ preservation, post-excavation storage). In the case of composite artefacts made of wood and other materials, this document is applicable only for the wooden components. Methods for conservation, site protection and monitoring for reburial as well as in situ preservation are beyond the scope of this document.