November 2018: Jessica Walthew, “Archaeology and Conservation: From the Field to the Museum”

Sunday Nov. 11, 2018 at 3:00PM

Jessica Walthew

Objects Conservator, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum

Archaeology and Conservation: From the Field to the Museum

How are archaeological materials preserved once they are excavated? This talk will summarize the role of conservation in fieldwork and in museums. While preservation is our first concern, conservators share archaeological methods of examination, documentation, and technical investigation used to understand evidence of manufacture, use, and changes from deposition. In addition, conservators may also carry out cleaning and restoration to aid in interpretation. Conservators can be great interdisciplinary collaborators for archaeologists in the field, and in academic and museum settings. The introduction of new analytical capabilities (and particularly imaging techniques) to the conservator’s toolkit has greatly expanded the role of conservators in the analysis and preservation of archaeological materials.

Unless otherwise noted:

• Lectures are on Sundays at 3PM
• Lectures are held in Spiro Hall, Room 2, Wagner College, 631 Howard Avenue, Staten Island NY.
• Free parking is available in the first Campus Road lot (accessed by turning onto Campus Road from Howard Avenue and turning left at first parking lot).
• The lower entrance to Spiro Hall adjoins the parking lot. Please enter directly from the parking lot.
• Meet the speaker over coffee and cake following each lecture. Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) lectures (September and March) are free and open to all.
• Archaeology Society of Staten Island (ASSI) lectures are free for ASSI and AIA members, students 22 years or younger and Wagner faculty and staff. (Please show ID)
• Others may attend ASSI lectures for a suggested $10.00 donation or may join ASSI at the door.

For further information, or to be placed on our mailing list, please email info@siarchaeology.org