to be as they work with substances that are both noxious and flammable, but only in very small quantities and they do so with care, so accidents are very rare.
Case Studies
Interview with Kirsten Suenson-Taylor, archaeological conservator
‘After taking arts A-levels I did an undergraduate degree in archaeology and worked for a cable television company before taking various part-time jobs in museums. I eventually decided that what I really wanted to do was work in conservation and so studied for chemistry A-level at night school and then embarked on a second undergraduate degree in archaeological conservation. Nowadays there are postgraduate courses, diplomas, MAs and MScs available, but in the early 1990s options were much more limited and, for me, the most convenient way to access the subject was by enrolling on a second undergraduate degree course. It might have been possible to do this without taking the chemistry A-level first, but I think it would have been much more difficult; chemistry is crucial to understanding material science – the raw materials from which objects are made, their manufacture and deterioration through use, burial or post-burial changes – and this is the basis of all conservation work.
‘I emerged with my second degree, undertook various part-time options for English Heritage and some freelance work and then got a job with the Museum of London Archaeology Service as an archaeological conservator responsible for the conservation of objects recovered during excavations in London. One is less likely than one’s curatorial colleagues to have spent a long time volunteering before finding a paid position as a conservator within the world of museums and galleries. However, there are not that many jobs in conservation, especially since many museums have chosen not to prioritise conservation work and may have outsourced their conservation services. Having said that, the role of conservators (or conservation) is clear and highly specialised, and for those with the right qualifications, opportunities for employment do exist.
‘The precise meaning of the term ‘archaeology’ is interesting. There is a general assumption that it refers to the extraction and study of items that have been excavated, but the wider interpretation used by public bodies such as English Heritage is that it involves care and analysis of the material culture of civilisation, as opposed to their documentary evidence. So an above-ground monument, or item of clothing, may today be considered potential subjects of archaeology. Archaeological conservation is the preservation of this material culture.
‘I worked for the Museum of London for several years and after leaving to have a family, today do freelance work. It is possible to offer a consultancy service in the maintenance and storage of materials of all kinds, and this I am able to do from home. I can advise on storage and display conditions and likely risks to preservation, and I tend to limit my role to that. Offering a full-blown conservation service for archaeological materials would be more difficult because of the specific equipment required for the job, the space required in which to use it, and the impact on those you are living with. While simple investigative conservation with a microscope and hand tools is possible to do from home, many objects would need further work with specialist equipment. For example, an air abrasive machine for ironwork operates on compressed air and requires complex dust extraction; in addition any chemicals needed for treatment must be bought under a special licence, stored according to current legislation, and exposure to them limited, for yourself and those who have access to the space. There is protective legislation to be observed (for example how long you can breathe certain chemicals for and how much exposure you should have to others) and a range of supporting paperwork. I am more likely to find myself advising on storage facilities, store moves, planned renovations and how to monitor or evaluate the condition of the objects within the stores.
‘People offering a service like mine tend to promote themselves by word of mouth and via websites, in particular via the Conservation Register which can be found on the Institute of Conservation (ICON) website (see www.icon.org.uk and follow links to ‘Find a conservator’). Sometimes museums and galleries offer conservation as a paid-for service to the public. Most people would not know how to locate a conservation expert and finding one through a museum or gallery is a useful way of accessing a service they know they need. Finders of archaeological materials, such as metal detec-torists, may also find conservators through their local Finds Liaison