Comparative archaeometric characterization of recent and historical oak ( Quercus spp.) wood
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Comparative archaeometric characterization of recent and historical oak (Quercus spp.) wood Amir Ghavidel1 · Tamás Hofmann2 · Miklós Bak3 · Ion Sandu4 · Viorica Vasilache4 Received: 29 October 2019 © The Author(s) 2020
Abstract The present paper studied the chemical composition of recent and historical oak wood comparing the extractive, holocellulose, α-cellulose, lignin, and ash contents. Comprehensive knowledge of the chemical components in recent and historical oak wood will facilitate the use of conservation agent in the restoration and conservation process of the investigated artifacts. The cyclohexane–ethanol extract of historical oak wood was significantly lower compared to recent wood, which can be explained by the leaching of extractives into the soil. No significant differences in the holocellulose and α-cellulose content of recent and historical oak wood were found. The lignin and the ash contents were significantly higher in the historical samples. The EDX analysis of the ash of historical oak wood showed remarkably higher iron content compared to the recent material. The result indicated the degradation of hemicelluloses in the historical sample. The significant difference in the amount of ash between the samples was explained by sediment materials that have been introduced into the wood from the soil. SEM imaging made these materials clearly visible as depositions in the cell lumens.
Introduction Throughout history, people have utilized wood as a base material in everything from art to construction. The remarkable improvement in material processing technologies that occurred in Europe from 6000 BC to 4000 BC represents a turning point in human civilization. A total of 151 oak timbers dating from 5469 BC to 5098 BC were discovered in a waterlogged area in Germany. The wood displayed signs of surprisingly advanced carpentry skills. The recently discovered water wells provide a thorough insight into the earliest wood architecture and the technical capabilities that existed 7000 years ago (Tegel et al. 2012). Further important historical artifacts * Miklós Bak bak.miklos@uni‑sopron.hu Extended author information available on the last page of the article
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Wood Science and Technology
from oak wood found in Europe are the Viking ships that were buried in Gokstad and Oseberg, Norway in the ninth century and later discovered in 1962 (Logan 2003; Richards 2005). The four fourth-century coffins originating from the reign of Valens and Valentinian discovered in the necropolis of Niculitel (Romania) in 1971 are considered the oldest known oak artifacts found on Romanian territory (Sandu et al. 2007; Vasilache et al. 2008). Being an organic material, wood has low resistance against environmental effects and is also affected by the time of exposure to microbiological and anthropogenic factors. Wood fossilization begins when wood material is submerged under water or buried in soil. This process happens in the absence of oxygen. Wood petrification depends on the characteristics of s
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