Any archaeological artefact found (depending on size) should be handled with care and placed in plastic bags (e.g. zip lock bags) or wrapped in bubble wrap. These should be clearly labelled with the completed ‘Finds Record’ included
or attached so this information is not lost.
Cleaning • Onlyusewaterforartefactcleaning. Donotusedetergentsorsolvents.Dirtcan beremovedfrommetalartefactsbylightly dustingwithadrybrush.• Unstableartefactsurfacesshouldnotbe cleanede.g.corrodedmetal,wood,cork, textile,leather,paperorotherorganic materials.• Donotwashinteriorsofbottles.• Shell,boneormetalshouldnotbecleaned withwater.Usedtoothbrushesare suitableforcleaningthesurfacesofthese typesofmaterials.• Seekadviceforfragileitemsordampor waterloggedartefact(contacttheWA MuseumorMuseumsAustralia;resources canalsobefoundonline).
Artefact packing and sorting• Artefactsshouldbesortedbymaterialsonon-compatiblematerialsarekept separately,e.g. rustingmetalshouldbe keptawayfromfabric.• Packintransparentpolyethylenebags (i.e.zip-lockbags)andbubblewrapifthe objectisfragile.Materialshouldnotbe foldedbutlaidflat.• Bagsshouldbeplacedinrigidcardboard orplasticboxeswithadditionalpadding (bubblewrap)ifrequiredandbeclearly labelled.• Boxesshouldnotbeover-packedandlids shouldfitsecurely.
Labels • Archivalqualitymaterialsandlabels shouldideallybeusedhowevernormal paperwillbesuitable.• Nostaplesorpaperclipsshouldbeused (particularlyifthere’spotentialforcontact withtheobject);nostickytapeshouldbe usedtoattachlabelsandartefactshould notbewrittenon.• Ifartefactsarekeptinzip-lockbags,the ‘FindsRecord’canbeincludedwithin thebagwithsomebasicidentifying informationwrittenonthebagifrequired.• Largerartefactshouldhavelabelsattached usingcottonstring;ensuretheinformation containedonthelabel/FindRecordis protected.
ArchaeologyStorageandHandlingInstructions
CONTACTNational Trust of Western Australia
The Old Observatory4 Havelock Street, West Perth
t 08 9321 6088e [email protected]
PO Box 1162West Perth WA 6872
www.nationaltrust.org.au/wa
PreparedbytheNationalTrustofWesternAustraliaandsupportedbytheDepartmentofInfrastructureandRegionalDevelopment’sIOTCommunityDevelopmentGrants.
Thisinformationshouldbeconsideredgeneralonlywithspecificqueriesdirectedtorelevantagencies.
