NAS/HFF Online Course – Find’s Conservation – theory

On the 20th October 2020 the Foundation funded seventeen students and researchers to attend a one day online course on Find’s Conservation. The course was hosted by the Nautical Archaeology Society and the tutors were; Angela Middleton, Polydora Baker, Francesca Gherardi, Ruth Pelling and Eleni Loizides. Between them the tutors covered the following topics; 

Image courtesy Elissa Nader

First Aid for Maritime Finds (Angela Middleton, Historic England)

Plant Remains from Wreck Sites (Ruth Pelling, Historic England)

Animal Bones from Wreck Sites (Polydora Baker, Historic England)

Introduction to Material Sciences in Heritage Studies (Francesca Gherardi, Historic England)

Introduction to Archaeological Conservation and marine materials (Angela Middleton)

In situ preservation (Eleni Loizides, Department of Antiquities, Cyprus)

The aim of the course was to provide an introduction to the conservation of maritime finds with case studies from across the Mediterranean. Feedback from participants was really positive, online courses such as this has enabled students and researchers to continue to learn about the subject of maritime archaeology whilst engaging with colleagues from across the globe using virtual platforms. 

“There is no doubt that participation in this training had many benefits as I am now familiar with several topics like the first aid for maritime finds, the packing, and storage of artefacts and also I got lots of information about maritime conservation and how to deal with maritime sites and why do maritime sites survive” Ahmed Galal Mesbah Ebrahim 

“It was a very fruitful and useful course as it consisted of several lectures that dealt with almost all aspects of conservation” Aya Omar Esmail

 “The main point that I have come across and I am keeping from this course is that good communication, sampling techniques and predetermined conservation strategies can guarantee interdisciplinary research between maritime archaeologists and other specialists” – Achilleas Iasonos

“This course encourages me to apply a new section to my research to cover the underwater part of the city since now I am capable to deal with the data that I may find” – Hassan Hajjali

“This bursary definitely improved my observational skills when treating objects and it introduced me to new methods in conservation. What interested me the most was the study of environmental conditions which led to either the success or failure of the same conservation method by different experts” – Reem Nader

“The course was an opportunity to know more about projects around the world and the aims of studies. It’s also an opportunity to think about the conservation as field for specialization in it” – Sirine Saad ElDine Ghiye

“All the material was very clear, well detailed and professionally explained . interaction with lecturers was efficient and nicely organized” – Elissa Nader

“I did not expect so much information and for me it was a complete package full of interesting topics” – Serge Soueid

“The pandemic has presented a plethora of problems for academia; however, the benefit of “distant learning” has afforded international students the chance to be involved in workshops which, prior to Covid, might have been limited to students within a physical proximity to the hosting universitY” – Alicia Johnson