Archaeologists spend much of their time in laboratories. Preserving excavated materials is essential to making them useful to researchers in the future. Different types of materials require different methods of preservation and repair.

Bone material is usually cleaned with acetone and coated with a solution of PVA (polyvinyl acetate) to protect both the surface and the inner structure of the bone. Broken bones may be glued together with a stronger PVA solution.

Garza points, ca.1200-1300A.D.

Stone artifacts generally need little conservation other than cleaning.


Folsom point, ca. 10,800 BP
Most ceramics need only to be washed lightly with water and a paintbrush. Fragile sherds may need to be washed with acetone and preserved with PVA preservative. Repair should be done by a conservator or trained museum personnel.

ginger beer bottle, ca. 1886
Shells or areas of shell that are stable may be cleaned with a dry brush. If necessary, water can be used sparingly but only if the shell does not begin to flake off. Otherwise, they should be left "as is."
Plant material. Generally nothing can be done to clean and preserve plant material without destroying it. Plant material should be housed in vials or boxes to protect it from crushing.
Soil samples should be stored in strong polyethylene bags or other containers that will not break, causing the soil samples to mix. The soil should be dried to avoid attracting mold and insects.
Other artifacts. Cleaning and preservation of other organic materials such as leather, and basketry and metal objects should not be attempted in the field lab. It should be done by trained conservators.

shield nickel, ca. 1864-1866

yucca mat

seed bead, ca. 1500-1900 A.D.
Recording Treatment. A record of all conservation treatment should be kept on each artifact and may be included on the catalog sheet, locational inventory or in a separate notebook.

Additional information about preservation methods used at Lubbock Lake Landmark can be found on the preservation lesson page.