Overview of conservation and preservation of historic metal artifacts by the archaeology laboratory.
This historic axe head was recovered from the site of a Gold Rush mining settlement. With metal artifacts, heavy corrosion can conceal critical information about an object and its history. This axe underwent conservation to remove decades of accumulated corrosion to reveal any possible information about use, ownership, and manufacture of the axe.
Safe removal of the accumlated corrosion has provided researchers with key information about the axe. This information will be a significant contribution to understanding the life way activities taking place at this Gold Rush mining site.
Knowing the manufacturer of the axe, we can trace it's origin and possible route to final abandonment. Conservation of the axe will prevent additional corrosion and preserve this information for future researchers.