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A collection of one million objects provides ample opportunities for
digging deeper. At the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology
and Anthropology (Penn Museum), the objects conservation lab brings
ancient objects in touch with new technology. Archaeological materials
can hold centuries of riddles, from their original creation and use to
their excavation and treatment history. Preserving these ancient
materials involves a cohesive combination of contextual research,
scientific analysis, and carefully considered treatment plans. After
finishing my second year in the Winterthur/University of Delaware
Program in Art Conservation (WUDPAC), I set out to explore the
preservation and conservation of archaeological objects, both in the
field and in a museum setting.
The exploration began with a serious change of scenery, from
Wilmington, Delaware to the Gordion excavations in small town
Yassıhöyük, Turkey. First-hand experience with objects on site was
markedly different from daily life at Winterthur Museum, although the
resourcefulness and problem-solving skills that I have been developing
as a student were useful parts of my toolkit.
Primed with an improved understanding of archaeological field work, I
returned to the Philadelphia area to settle into my third-year
internship placement at the Penn Museum. Due to the strong partnership
between the Penn Museum and WUDPAC, I had been able to catch glimpses of
work in the conservation lab during my first two years in graduate
school. Now, as an intern, I am fully immersed in the bustle of a large
university museum. Currently, my desk is populated by ceramic bowls from
Tepe Gawra, an ancient Mesopotamian settlement located in present-day
Iraq. The large-scale reinstallation of the museum’s Middle Eastern
Gallery calls for hundreds of objects, and each one will be assessed and
stabilized before display. Preparations for the event have also happily
reunited me with a familiar face, a Mesopotamian copper alloy bull
relief that I researched and treated as a second-year fellow. Now, I
will be able to make final adjustments and witness the long-awaited
installation of this remarkable object.
The first month of my internship has already included a diverse array
of new experiences, from exhibition design sneak peaks to 3D microscopy
training. I am eager to delve deeper into the study of complex objects,
such as a 5 ½ foot tall mosaic column with elaborate shell and stone
inlay. My treatment projects are complemented by a lively sense of
community and interdisciplinary collaboration, which builds on my
previous experiences as a WUDPAC fellow. Nestled in a hub of research
activity and technological resources, I look forward to continuing my
journey through the unique challenges of archaeological conservation.
— Julia Commander, WUDPAC Class of 2017
