Restoration laboratory

The conservation and restoration laboratory of archaeological findings was established in 1995, along with the expansion of the collection of the museum archaeological findings. Findings are conserved and restored at the laboratory: freshly discovered items undergo a primary disinfecting, cleaning and conservation before they are incorporated in the museum collections. The findings are preventively checked in the museum depository. Discovered archaeological findings quickly react with the new environment on their contact with atmosphere, then a new decay process starts. It is necessary to cease or slow down the decay of the archaeological findings, assuring the survival of these items as well as their further storage.

Upon extraction of strongly effected, fragile, damp fossils, they are taken straight to the museum laboratory for conservation. This is the way, how a quick decay of archaeological findings could be stopped.

Findings of organic and non-organic origin are conserved at the laboratory: hardware, archaeological material, leather items, archaeological wooden findings, ceramics, glass, bone items. The current state of an article is evaluated and the most appropriate methods of conservation are selected before actual conservation takes place. Ironware, copper alloy, silver, gold articles are found during archaeological excavations. They are usually soiled, disintegrated, effected by corrosion. The surface of metal articles is cleaned mechanically (with brushes, files, ultrasound, boron, scalpels) and a chemical cleaning is also employed. Salt, causing internal and external corrosion, is removed from found articles. Findings are consolidated with polymers, processed with corrosion inhibitors, covered with a preventive layer of wax.

A wet, damp archaeological tree has been conserved in the laboratory. A part of wooden findings was stored in the museum collections waiting for their turn to be conserved, another part was taken to the laboratory after the latest excavations. The cheapest and the least demanding conservation method was chosen - a sugar solution. Sugar easily dissolves in water, easily penetrates into timber.

The process is carried out in the room temperature, steadily increasing the concentration of the solution. Saturation lasts for about 5 months, leaving articles in the saturated sugar solution. When articles are taken out of the solution they undergo a slow drying process in a sand bath, then - in open premises in the room temperature. Timber conserved with sugar in the open air quickly reacts to the humidity fluctuations, therefore the surface of all findings is covered with a protective layer of wax.

Archaeological artefacts, that need chemical, physical, biological, microscopic analysis, radiographic analysis, also other findings that have to undergo a complicated conservation process are taken to the Lithuanian Art Museum, Gudynas Restoration Conservation Centre.
The specialists from Kernavė museum consult with their more experienced colleagues from Restoration Centre at the Lithuanian Art Museum and Restoration Department at the Lithuanian National Museum, participate in workshops, exhibitions of restored articles, conferences on restoration issues. 

Laboratory tel. +370 382 47449