Waterlogged state

The tissue in Figure 31 consists of only 14% of its original substance 2% of the carbohydrates are left, presumably in the middle lamellae. Its density is only 0.09 g/cm. Nevertheless, in the waterlogged state, it still looks like wood. 

Increased fiber diameters of the Marine Silks compared to the Reference Silk is indicative of a disruption in molecular association that occurred in the ocean and is maintained upon drying from the waterlogged state. Upon immersion in water, inter- and intra-sheet protein-protein hydrogen bonds are replaced by water-protein bonds in the amorphous regions, leaving weaker van der Waals forces as the dominant noncovalent protein-protein interaction (40), An inverse relationship between filament size and molecular orientation has been demonstrated in the literature (41) similarly the larger diameter of these silk fibers is indicative of internal structural change. 

Jensen, P. and D. J. Gregory (2006), Selected physical parameters to characterize the state of preservation of waterlogged archaeological wood A practical guide for their determination, /. Archaeol. Sci. 33, 551-559. 

In its normal state at ordinary relative humidity, the stratum comeum takes up moisture to the extent of 15% to 20% of its dry weight (2). The ionic character of keratin is certainly a factor of consequence here. Should the skin become waterlogged, the water content of homy tissue covering the friction surfaces (caUused surfaces) can rise to several multiples of the tissue s dry weight. The water content of stratum comeum appears to be less affected under the same circumstance. It appears that the stratum... 

For completeness, we mention the existence of compounds of mixed oxidation states. Here, two or more atoms of sulfur exist in the molecule or ion, each having a different oxidation state. Numerous examples of these species are known but details of their natural existence are obscure. It is suggested (Grinenko and Ivanov, 1983) that thiosulfate, 8203, ion can be produced by bacteria in waterlogged soils, paddy fields, and the like. The formal oxidation state for the two sulfur atoms is II, but the two sulfur atoms are chemically different. Such species may play important roles as intermediates between the major species such as and SOj (Jorgensen,... 

Surely a few thought about the material, the wood, now archaeological wood about the physical and chemical state of the wood and the task of conserving this waterlogged wood about how the unique burial environment, through some fluke, allowed this wood to evade the natural cycle of deterioration for 333 years and about the secrets hidden in the wood, such as information about its age and the environment in which it lived, secrets revealed in its unique growth patterns. 

ATERLOGGED ARCHAEOLOGICAL WOOD refers to wood that has been excavated yy archaeologists—regardless of size, species, age, or state of preservation—and is more or less completely filled with water. It is understood implicitly that the wood has been waterlogged for a considerable time, from decades to millions of years. Even very old wooden artifacts are often marvelously well preserved when excavated from below the water table, but they are very unstable once exposed to the ambient climate. They shrink, warp, and crumble in a frightening way, destroying the joy that only hours or days before lit the faces of the excavators. 

Several archaeological excavations provided samples of waterlogged European oak (Quercus sp.), European ash Fraxinus excelsior L.), Dutch elm Ulmus campestris L.), white-poplar Populus alba L.), and European spruce Picea abies (L.) Karst). The timbers were 400-2000 years old and had been covered by marine sediments. Cross sections were cut from timbers 10-20 cm in diameter and samples were taken from macroscopically discernible zones of different states of degradation, as well as from the border between these zones (Figure 1). 

Treatments of deteriorated wood, which are often indispensable, especially for waterlogged wood, must be tailored to the particular properties and state of deterioration of each object (44). Therefore, it becomes highly desirable to find appropriate methods of nondestructive evaluation. Some preliminary experiments with ultrasonic pulse measurements appeared to be sensitive to the loss in degree of anisotropy accompanying loss of crystalline structure in cellulose (45), However, most published efforts appear to have been focused entirely on hardness measurements 41, 46-48),... 

Savory (82) reported that soft-rot attack could occur at quite low moisture contents, as well as under waterlogged conditions. He stated that the mi-croftingi can attack wood which is too wet or too dry for Basidiomycete decay. He also reported severe soft rot in beech strips exposed at a constant relative humidity of 90%, corresponding to an equilibrium moisture content of 20-21%. Apparently it is a misconception that soft rot only occurs in very wet wood. Kirk and Cowling (9) state, for example, that only water-soaked timber is attacked by soft rot. In fact, soft rot may occur over a wide range of moisture conditions, from quite dry to fully waterlogged wood. 

Analytical methods have evolved for the evaluation of the condition of objects. These have made possible comparisons of different treatments applied to wood in similar states of deterioration. Such comparative techniques are invaluable in selecting the best treatment for a particular object. Passive methods have been developed to suppress deterioration without the use of toxic chemicals. Considerable strides have also been made in the ethical aspects of when and how objects should be conserved. For example, reburial is now an accepted long-term storage technique for waterlogged wood when immediate conservation treatment is impractical. 

The most important chemical characteristics of a soil are (l) its content of essential nutrients and their availability to plants (2) the exchange capacity (3) the buffering capacity (4) acidity or alkalinity and (5) content of inorganic and organic colloids (humus). Perhaps the state of oxidation or reduction of the soil should be mentioned this is ordinarily not of major importance but may be if a waterlogged or poorly-drained soil is under consideration. 

Tusneem, M. E. and W. H. Patrick, Jr. 1971. Nitrogen transformations in waterlogged soils. Bulletin No. 657. Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University, pp. 73. 

There are some striking geographie eorrelations with the occurrence of cancer, some of whieh may be due to soil t) e. A high incidence of stomach cancer occurs in areas with eertain types of soil in the Netherlands, the United States, France, Wales, and Seandinavia. These soils are high in organic matter content, are acidic, and are frequently waterlogged. A stomaeh-cancer-prone lifestyle has been deseribed, whieh includes consumption of home-grown food, consumption of water from one s ovm well, and reliance on native and uncommon foodstuffs. 

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