2nd Edition

Conservation Skills for the 21st Century Judgement, Method, and Decision-Making

By Chris Caple, Emily Williams Copyright 2023
312 Pages 56 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

312 Pages 56 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

312 Pages 56 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Conservation Skills for the 21st Century provides a much-needed update to the original Conservation Skills volume, presenting an overview of current issues facing conservators of historic and artistic works. Beginning with the basics – why the past is important, as well as an overview of the nature and history of conservation – the book allows the reader to develop a holistic... Read more

1. Reasons for Preserving the Past; 2. The History of Conservation; 3. Conservation Aims and Ethics; 4. Objects: Their Investigation and Recording; 5. Cleaning; 6. Restoration; 7. Stabilisation; 8. Preventive Conservation and Storage; 9. Preserving Intangible Heritage: Working and Socially Active Objects; 10. Perception, Judgement, and Decision-Making; 11. Responsibilities, Skills, and Sustainable Practices in the 21st Century.

Biography

Chris Caple is Emeritus Reader in Archaeological Conservation having been director of the Durham University postgraduate programme in artefact conservation 1988–2018. Author of 7 books including the first edition of Conservation Skills: Judgement, Method and Decision Making. He is currently writing up his archaeological excavations at Nevern Castle.

Emily Williams is Associate Professor of Archaeological Conservation at Durham University where she directs the MA in the Conservation of Archaeological and Museum Objects. Prior to this she was the Senior Conservator of Archaeological Materials at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. She has worked at museums or sites in Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Egypt, Iraqi Kurdistan, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey.