Conservation

Organic Artifacts

Boot probably belonging to an officer,  found during the turret excavation. We know that the crew took off their shoes and heavy clothing as they prepared to leave  the Monitor to go into the lifeboats the  night the Monitor sank. Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Mariners’ Museum

Organic artifacts found on the Monitor include those that are made of wood, leather, and textiles. Although these artifacts can be made of very diverse materials, they all are classified together because of their composition that is based on carbon molecules. These materials are derived from natural sources that are subject to natural processes of decay. Therefore, they are typically not stable in the long-term unless properly conserved and are rarely found in excellent condition.

Submerged wooden artifacts are usually attacked by a number of marine organisms. Once they are brought to the surface, they are extremely susceptible to decay. If they are not immediately placed back in water and the surface begins to dry, the cell walls can collapse in on themselves and shrink. Once this happens, surface details are permanently lost. It is also important to keep leather artifacts from initially drying out after

Mariners’ Museum conservationist studying a shoe recovered from the Monitor. Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Mariners’ Museum

being recovered. This is because the surface tension of the retracting water drags the fibers together, which can lead to severe shrinking. If this happens, the shrunken leather will be very brittle. Therefore, the water in the leather must often be replaced with a synthetic wax, known as polyethylene glycol before drying. Excavated textiles are extremely fragile and should always be removed with their surrounding silt and mud. If the fabrics are not cleaned properly before drying, salts and silts can rupture the delicate fibers. This is typically done by placing the artifact in a water bath and unfolding it while immersed. Soft brushes, sponges, and ultrasonics can then be used to remove dirt and stains.