Conservation

• Challenges of Sampling Techniques:

• The impact of sampling on parchment depends on its preparation, such as whether it is smooth or sanded.

• Different sampling techniques may affect how future analyses can be conducted on these materials.

• The challenge lies in balancing the need for sampling with the potential irreversible effects on the artifacts.

Conservation and Research Dual Role:

• Conservators often face a dual role as both protectors and researchers of artifacts, leading to potential conflicts between preserving objects and studying them.

• The notion that non-destructive sampling is entirely benign is debunked; all sampling has some impact.

Specific Sampling Issues:

• Differences in the amount of material needed for various types of analyses, such as DNA versus enzyme analysis.

• The importance of detailed protocols for sampling, including precise documentation of where and how much material is sampled.

Conservation Ethics and Techniques:

• Debates about the appropriateness of certain aggressive sampling techniques, such as those using strong solvents that may alter the structure of parchment.

• The need for conservators to make informed decisions about permitting potentially damaging sampling methods.

Communication and Standardisation Challenges:

• Difficulty in maintaining communication and collaboration between conservators and scientists, especially post-project.

• The lack of standardized procedures for collecting and sharing conservation data complicates collaborative efforts and long-term data usability.

Opportunities for Methodological Improvements:

• Encouraging the use of visual analysis before invasive sampling, which can provide significant insights at lower risk and cost.

• Developing simple methodologies and reference materials that conservators at various levels can use to assess the condition and needs of artifacts independently.

Building and Sharing Knowledge:

• The potential for creating comprehensive guides or textbooks that could serve as essential resources for training and guiding conservators in best practices.

• Highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the conservation field, acknowledging the scientific value of craftsmanship in historical object analysis.