Water,Water Everywhere: Collections Management for Wet Sites

Abstract

Digging a wet site (wells, privies, and other waterlogged contexts) can present a logistical challenge to field directors. But what happens once the artifacts come into the lab? All archaeologists know that wet organic artifacts should be kept wet, but then what? And what about ceramics, glass, and other inorganic artifacts? Does slow-drying mean more than drying something slowly? When can all those wet artifacts come out of the water to be labeled and cross-mended? This paper presents lessons learned from the recent excavation of a Civil War privy and some practical guidelines for managing collections from wet sites so as to promote their long-term preservation. A lab manager teamed with an archaeological conservator to develop easy-to-follow procedures which are being followed by a largely volunteer work force.