Durham E-Theses An Anthropology of Conservation HUCKLESBY, CLARE,LOUISE How to cite: HUCKLESBY, CLARE,LOUISE (2008) An Anthropology of Conservation, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/96/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk An Anthropology of Conservation Clare Louise Hucklesby Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy Durham University Department of Archaeology 2008 Abstract An Anthropology of Conservation has been devised to determine the different approaches to conservation developed by cultural groups throughout time. The research questions that this thesis addresses are as follows : · Are there common threads associated with approaches to the care of material culture and its conservation? · What type of artefacts do different cultures retain and preserve? · Why do cultures conserve and how do they achieve this? · Does conservation actually exist outside of the remit of ‘modern’ (Western) conservation? Accessibility to literature and artefacts helped to narrow the field of study and the following social groups were selected for in depth analysis representing a range of temporal and spatial variables : Ancient Egyptian; British Regimental Culture; Native American: Roman; Aboriginal and Maori; and Modern British Culture. In order to collect the large volume of information required for this endeavour, a data- gathering tool, in for form of a structured questionnaire, was developed and refined. The tool allows for the critical analysis of conserved artefacts through the viewing of either objects, conservation reports, images of conserved artefacts, treatment-based articles or a combination of the above data. An early hypothesis to emerge focuses on how value is perceived in artefacts and how value influences conservation effort and he point in an object’s life when conservative effort is likely to be attempted. This thesis aims to reveal the conservation systems practised by the selected cultural groups and to critically address the research questions. It is intended that the synthesis will broaden theoretical understanding of approaches to conservation. ii Contents Page Page Number Title Page i Abstract ii List of Contents iii List of Figures iv Declaration vi Acknowledgements vii INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 1 METHODOLOGY 10 CHAPTER 2 VALUE AND CONSERVATION 31 CHAPTER 3 MODERN BRITISH CULTURE AND 57 CONSERVATION LABORATORY CULTURE CHAPTER 4 REGIMENTAL CULTURE 83 CHAPTER 5 MATERIAL CULTURE OF THE ROMAN 104 EMPIRE CHAPTER 6 THE EGYPTIANS AND THEIR 120 PERCEPTIONS OF MATERIAL CULTURE CHAPTER 7 THE HANDLING OF MATERIAL CULTURE 139 AMONGST THE NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS CHAPTER 8 ABORIGINE AND MAORI CULTURE 163 CHAPTER 9 CONCLUSIONS 185 APPENDIX 1 205 APPENDIX 2 209 APPENDIX 3 212 APPENDIX 4 235 APPENDIX 5 252 APPENDIX 6 254 APPENDIX 7 – RECORDS DATABASE 259 APPENDIX 8 – KEY TO INTERPRETING DATABASE 275 RESULTS APPENDIX 9 – INSTRUCTION BOOKLET FOR 281 STRUCTURED QUESTIONNAIRE APPENDIX 10 – TABLES OF CONSERVATION 290 RESULTS BY CULTURE BIBLIOGRAPHY 292 iii List of Figures Figure 1:1 Structured questionnaire and instruction booklet Figure 1:2 Artefacts for testing of the questionnaire Figure 1:3 Embroidery in the box of artefacts for testing the questionnaire Figure 2:1 Table of values Figure 2:2 Table of questionnaire value categories Figure 2:3 Graphic depiction of Rubbish Theory Figure 2:4 Theoretical Artefact Value Curve Figure 2:5 Value of Bentley in Pounds Figure 2:6 Value of Bentley in Pounds after 3-point smoothing Figure 2:7 Value of 1924 10d stamp (value in pennies) Figure 2:8 Value of 1924 10d stamp after 3- point smoothing Figure 3:1 Table of cultural groups conserved by Conservation Laboratory Culture Figure 3:2 Chart to show the range of objects conserved by Conservation Laboratory Culture Figure 3:3 Chart to show the range of reasons for preserving artefacts conservation by Conservation Laboratory Culture Figure 3:4 Chart to show the range of materials conserved by Conservation Laboratory Culture Figure 3:5 Chart to show the state of deterioration of objects conserved by Conservation Laboratory Culture Figure 4:1 Chart to show the range of objects conserved by Regimental Culture Figure 4:2 Chart to show the range of reasons for preserving artefacts conserved by Regimental Culture Figure 4:3 Chart to show the range of materials conserved by Regimental Culture Figure 4:4 Chart to show the state of deterioration of objects conserved by Regimental Culture Figure 4:5 Chart to show the balance of conservation techniques employed by Regimental Culture Figure 5:1 Chart to show the range of objects conserved by Roman Culture Figure 5:2 Chart to show the range of reasons for preserving artefacts conserved by Roman Culture Figure 5:3 Chart to show the range of materials conserved by Roman Culture Figure 5:4 Chart to show the state of deterioration of objects conserved by Roman Culture Figure 5:5 Chart to show the balance of conservation techniques employed by Roman Culture Figure 6:1 Stool from tomb of Tutankhamen Figure 6:2 Dyad statue of Amun and Mut at Luxor Figure 6:3 Detail of the nasal cavity Figure 6:4 Travertine vessel Figure 6:5 Chart to show the range of objects conserved by Ancient Egyptian Culture Figure6:6 Chart to show the range of reasons for preserving artefacts conserved by Ancient Egyptian Culture Figure 6:7 Chart to show the range of materials conserved by Ancient Egyptian Culture iv Figure 6:8 Chart to show the state of deterioration of objects conserved by Ancient Egyptian Culture Figure 6:9 Chart to show the balance of conservation techniques employed by Ancient Egyptian Culture Figure 7:1 Chart to show the range of objects conserved by Native American Culture Figure 7:2 Chart to show the range of reasons for preserving artefacts conserved by Native American Culture Figure 7:3 Chart to show the range of materials conserved by Native American Culture Figure 7:4 Chart to show the state of deterioration of objects conserved by Native American Culture Figure 7:5 Chart to show the balance of conservation techniques employed by Native American Culture Figure 8:1 Chart to show the range of objects conserved by Aborigine and Maori Cultures Figure 8:2 Chart to show the range of reasons for preserving artefacts conserved by Aborigine and Maori Cultures Figure 8:3 Chart to show the range of materials conserved by Aborigine and Maori Cultures Figure 8:4 Chart to show the state of deterioration of objects conserved by Aborigine and Maori Cultures Figure 8:5 Chart to show the balance of conservation techniques employed by Aborigine and Maori Cultures Figure 9:1 Functional Curve Figure 9:2 Altered Functional Curve Figure 9:3 Cultural / Aesthetic Curve Figure 9:4 Altered Cultural / Aesthetic Curve Figure 9:5 Modern Art Curve Figure 9:6 Auto-destructive Modern Art Curve Figure 9:7 Commemorative Curve Figure 9:8 Altered Commemorative Curve v Declaration: No part of this work has been submitted as part of a degree by myself at this or any other University. The only portion of this research that has been published is a version of the value chapter, which was submitted as a paper (Hucklesby: 2005; 1022-1027) for the 14th Triennial ICOM-CC Conference in The Hague and printed in the conference pre- prints. Statement of Copyright: © The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without her prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. vi Acknowledgements I would gratefully like to acknowledge help from the following people: Alex Croom, at Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields; Karen Exell, at the Oriental Museum, Durham; Louise Harrison at the Dorman Museum, Middlesbrough; Les Jessop, at the Hancock Museum, Newcastle; Phil Philo at the Captain Cook Museum, Middlesbrough; Steve Shannon, at the Durham Light Infantry Museum, Durham; Bob Smith, at the Leeds Royal Armouries, Leeds; Ralph Thompson, at the Soldier’s Life exhibition, Discovery Museum, Newcastle. The time afforded by these people has enabled me to gain greater understanding of the lives of artefacts. I would also like to thank Karen Barker for advice and access to laboratory records; Phil Clogg for his advice and assistance in the creation of Excel graphs; George Fraser for his invaluable insights into army life; Bob Williams for his philatelic advice; Ian Bailiff, Jenny Jones, Derek Kennet, Andrew Millard, Jenny Price, Chris Scarre, Robin Skeates, Tom Moore and Penny Wilson for their advice and encouragement; the Durham Library Staff for their assistance and everyone else who has discussed with me my research and offered encouragement. In addition I would like to thank my supervisor Chris Caple for his supervision, support and patience. With special thanks to T. vii Introduction This thesis is a study of different approaches to conservation developed by cultural groups throughout time. The aim of the study is to reveal global conservation practices and to develop a clearer understanding of the nature of conservation.