Clay and pot shards.

[NC field hunter]

How should one clean clay relics, such as pot shards and game stones?

 

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[T Witko]

As long as the piece is solid (not flaming or falling apart, I usually just use water and a tooth brush.

 

[GatorBoy]

Definitely water and toothbrush. I leave the matrix on some as well if it was dug.

 

[NC field hunter]

Definitely water and toothbrush. I leave the matrix on some as well if it was dug.

I have very little pottery and know little about it. What is the matrix? I ask because I found a round clay button type thing today(in bad shape) and as soon as cold water hit it, it fell apart. It was dry as could be inside, and had sand in it. Then, I killed it:-(

 

[GatorBoy]

Sorry to hear about that. With Porous artifacts you usually do not want to drastically change the state that you found them in very quickly.. b it dry to wet or wet to dry. The Matrix is a term Used in an archaeological sense To describe the soil Surrounding artifacts In a stratified site. Meaning The surface soil from that time period. The layers of soil acting like a time line as you go deeper.

 

[NC field hunter]

Sorry to hear about that. With Porous artifacts you usually do not want to drastically change the state that you found them in very quickly.. b it dry to wet or wet to dry. The Matrix is a term Used in an archaeological sense To describe the soil Surrounding artifacts In a stratified site. Meaning The surface soil from that time period. The layers of soil acting like a time line as you go deeper.

I got ya, the soil will actually help preserve in a sense, and help with age determination? All the shards that I found in Sc. Look pretty bad now, and I also have a small nutting stone that has gone back due to drastic environment change. How do you prevent change in environment damage?

 

[GatorBoy]

Depends on the object and it's specific history. But generally you want to slowly dry wet objects even wrapping them in a towel. Then determine if it should be stabilized. Common white glue mixed with water works well as a soak for bone.something like a nutting stone usually wouldn't need anything in my experience ... but if it appears to need help I would recommended a solution of ducco cement and acetone for something like that.