EN 16873:2016

Conservation of cultural heritage - Guidelines for the management of waterlogged wood on archaeological terrestrial sites

This European standard provides guidelines for safeguarding waterlogged wood on terrestrial sites of archaeological or historical significance. It deals with the protection of archaeological and historical waterlogged wood, from the time of exposure during and after excavation, until it reaches the conservation laboratory. The standard cannot be applied to the management of  controlled reburial, in situ preservation, long term post excavation storage or excavations under water. Composite artefacts, and other waterlogged materials are specifically excluded from this standard.

Erhaltung des kulturellen Erbes - Leitlinien für die Handhabung von Nassholz an terrestrischen archäologischen Stätten

Diese Europäische Norm stellt Leitlinien zur Sicherung von Nassholz terrestrischer Stätten von archäologischer oder historischer Bedeutung auf. Sie behandelt den Schutz von archäologischem oder historischem Nassholz vom Zeitpunkt der Freilegung während und nach einer Grabung bis zum Eintreffen im Konservierungslabor. Diese Norm ist nicht auf die Handhabung von kontrolliertem Wiedervergraben, In-situ-Erhaltung, langfristiger Lagerung nach der Ausgrabung bzw. von Unterwasserausgrabungen anwendbar. Artefakte, die aus einem Verbundmaterial und aus anderen wassergesättigten Materialien bestehen, sind ausdrücklich vom Anwendungsbereich dieser Norm ausgeschlossen.

Conservation du patrimoine culturel - Lignes directrices pour la gestion du bois gorgé d’eau sur les sites terrestres présentant un intérêt archéologique

La présente Norme européenne fournit des lignes directrices relatives à la protection du bois gorgé d'eau sur les sites terrestres présentant un intérêt archéologique ou historique. Elle traite de la protection du bois archéologique gorgé d'eau, à partir du moment de l'extraction, pendant et après la fouille, jusqu'à son arrivée au laboratoire de conservation. La présente norme ne peut pas être appliquée à la gestion du réenfouissement sous contrôle, à la préservation sur site, au stockage à long terme post-fouille ou aux fouilles subaquatiques. Les artefacts composites et autres matériaux gorgés d'eau sont spécifiquement exclus de la présente norme.

Ohranjanje kulturne dediščine - Smernice za ravnanje z vlažnim lesom na kopenskih arheoloških najdiščih

Ta osnutek evropskega standarda podaja smernice za zaščito vlažnega lesa na kopenskih arheoloških ali zgodovinskih najdiščih. Obravnava zaščito vlažnega lesa z velikim arheološkim in zgodovinskim pomenom od razkritja, med in po izkopu do shranjevanja v laboratoriju. Standarda ni mogoče uporabljati za upravljanje podvodnih najdišč, nadzorovanega ponovnega pokopa, ohranjanja na mestu najdbe ali dolgotrajnega shranjevanja po izkopu. Artefakti, sestavljeni iz lesa in drugih materialov, so prav tako izključeni iz področja uporabe standarda.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 08-Nov-2016
• Withdrawal Date: 30-May-2017
• ICS: 79.040 - Wood, sawlogs and sawn timber
• ICS: 97.195 - Items of art and handicrafts. Cultural property and heritage
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 346 - Conservation of cultural property
• Drafting Committee: WG 18 - Characterisation, preservation, and management of archaeological sites
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 15-Nov-2022
• Completion Date: 14-May-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 16873:2017 - Conservation of cultural heritage - Guidelines for management of waterlogged wood on terrestrial sites of archaeological significance

Overview

EN 16873:2016 - Conservation of cultural heritage: Guidelines for the management of waterlogged wood on archaeological terrestrial sites (CEN) provides practical, field-focused guidance for protecting archaeological and historical waterlogged wood from the moment it is exposed during excavation until it reaches the conservation laboratory. The standard covers planning, on-site management, lifting, labelling, minimal cleaning, recording, packaging and transport. It applies to terrestrial waterlogged environments (bogs, wetlands, wells, palaeochannels, urban deposits) and to wood artefacts ranging from small finds to large timber structures.

Not applicable: controlled reburial, in-situ long-term preservation, long-term post-excavation storage, underwater excavations, composite artefacts and other waterlogged materials.

Key topics and requirements

• Pre-excavation planning: anticipate waterlogged wood when surveys indicate waterlogging; include specialists (conservators, archaeologists), resources, timeframes, selection/retention strategy and emergency funding in the project design.
• Keep finds wet: from exposure onward, artefacts must be kept constantly wet and protected from drying (sunlight, wind); cover overnight and whenever the site is not worked.
• Revealing and cleaning: undertake revealing and any cleaning only by qualified personnel; minimize cleaning (use fresh water and soft brushes when necessary) to avoid loss of surface information.
• Recording and documentation: create individual records for each wood find (context, dimensions, condition, actions taken); preserve discarded material by record. Dendro/sampling must follow EN 16085 where unavoidable.
• Labelling: every artefact and its parts shall receive a durable, indelible unique identifier attached on site; record label positions for complex assemblies to aid reassembly.
• Lifting strategies: assess physical condition non-destructively; use block-lifting (artefact + surrounding burial matrix) for fragile finds; protect degraded surfaces and minimize moves.
• Packaging & transport: package finds with cushioning and stable packing to protect during handling and movement; maintain wet condition until arrival at the conservation laboratory.

Applications

• Field guidance for archaeologists, conservators and site managers handling waterlogged wooden artefacts.
• Project planning checklists for excavation teams working in wetlands, bogs, wells and urban waterlogged deposits.
• Emergency response protocols for salvage recovery of waterlogged timber and boat/structure remains.
• Basis for tender specifications, conservation lab intake procedures and museum acquisition workflows.

Who should use this standard

• Archaeological project directors and field archaeologists
• Conservation professionals and conservation scientists
• Museum curators and collections managers
• Cultural heritage authorities and site contractors
• Students and educators in conservation and archaeological fieldwork

Related standards

• EN 16085 - Sampling and analysis for dendrochronology (referenced for on-site sampling)
• EN 15898 - Conservation terminology (definitions cited)

Keywords: EN 16873:2016, waterlogged wood, conservation, archaeological wood, site management, block-lifting, labelling, recording, transport, CEN.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Erhaltung des kulturellen Erbes - Leitlinien für die Handhabung von Nassholz an terrestrischen archäologischen StättenConservation du patrimoine culturel - Lignes directrices pour la gestion du bois gorgé d’eau sur les sites terrestres présentant un intérêt archéologiqueConservation of cultural heritage - Guidelines for management of waterlogged wood on terrestrial sites of archaeological significance97.195GHGLãþLQDItems of art and handicrafts. Cultural property and heritage79.040Les, hlodovina in žagan lesWood, sawlogs and sawn timberICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 16873:2016SIST EN 16873:2017en,fr,de01-januar-2017SIST EN 16873:2017SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 16873
November
t r s x ICS
{ yä s { wâ
y {ä r v r English Version
Conservation of cultural heritage æ Guidelines for the management of waterlogged wood on archaeological terrestrial sites Conservation du patrimoine culturel æ Lignes directrices pour la gestion du bois gorgé d 5eau sur les sites terrestres présentant un intérêt archéologique
Erhaltung des kulturellen Erbes æ Leitlinien für die Handhabung von Nassholz an terrestrischen archäologischen Stätten This European Standard was approved by CEN on
t x September
t r s xä
egulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alterationä Upætoædate lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN memberä
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versionsä
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austriaá Belgiumá Bulgariaá Croatiaá Cyprusá Czech Republicá Denmarká Estoniaá Finlandá Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaá Franceá Germanyá Greeceá Hungaryá Icelandá Irelandá Italyá Latviaá Lithuaniaá Luxembourgá Maltaá Netherlandsá Norwayá Polandá Portugalá Romaniaá Slovakiaá Sloveniaá Spainá Swedená Switzerlandá Turkey and United Kingdomä
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels
t r s x CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Membersä Refä Noä EN
s x z y uã t r s x ESIST EN 16873:2017

controlled reburial, in situ preservation, long term post excavation storage or excavations under water. Composite artefacts, and other waterlogged materials are specifically excluded from this standard. 2 Normative references The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. Not applicable. 3 Terms and definitions For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply. 3.1 deposition archive formal handing over of the entire excavation record, including the conserved artefacts, to a museum or other receiving institution 3.2 block-lifting removal of a fragile find by lifting from the ground with surrounding burial matrix, with or without extra support, limiting the risk of damage 3.3 burial matrix soil, peat, sediment or other medium found in direct contact with an artefact 3.4 cleaning removal of unwanted material from an object Note 1 to entry the criteria for something being “unwanted” always have to be stated, e.g. potentially damaging, obscuring detail, un-aesthetic [SOURCE: EN 15898:2011, definition 3.5.3] 3.5 condition physical state of an object at a particular time [SOURCE: EN 15898:2011, definition 3.2.1, modified, Note 1 to entry deleted] 3.6 conservation active remedial treatment of waterlogged wooden finds designed to prevent further deterioration or degradation and bring them into a stabilized condition for research, archiving or museum display SIST EN 16873:2017
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