Monday 20th – Friday 24th May 2019
The Working Group Wet Organic Archaeological Materials (WOAM) is concerned with the degradation and conservation of organic archaeological objects found in fresh or salt water, or during excavation of wetland or damp sites. The group is also working with in-situ conservation, reburial, and site surveys, as well as post-conservation treatments of objects of organic archaeological materials.
The 14th ICOM-CC WOAM conference is jointly organised between the Mary Rose Trust and Historic England. The main venue for the conference is the Portland Building, University of Portsmouth.
As well as the conference program, there will be the opportunity to go behind the scenes and visit the conservation facilities of the Mary Rose Trust as well as Historic England.
There will also be a social program (included in the conference fee), the opportunity to enjoy the Historic Dockyard attractions and a field-trip (not included in the conference fee).
Please check the News tab for updates and conference news.
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Portland Building, University of Portsmouth
Monday 20 May - Friday 24 May, 2019
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Please find the preliminary conference agenda below OR to download and view here. Please note that the organising committee reserves the right to change the line-up prior to the publication of the final schedule.
During the conference, a program of optional social activities will be offered to delegates.
Monday 20TH MAYThe Welcome Reception will be held on Monday, 20th May, 19:30 at Southsea Castle. You will be able to enjoy views over the Solent and see where the Mary Rose sank. | Thursday 23RD MAYThe Gala Dinner will be held on Thursday 23rd May 2019, at 18:30, at the Mary Rose Museum. Please note, the gala dinner is not included in the general conference fee. You are able to purchase a companion ticket; however, this event is limited to 100 people. Ticket sales have now ended. | saturday 25TH MAYA Field trip on Saturday 25th May 2019 to visit Flag Fen, Archaeology Park. Tickets are £60 per person. Ticket sales have now ended. |
Registration is now closed, we look forward to seeing you in Portsmouth.
Tickets cannot be purchased at the event.
ICOM-CC’s Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Working Group (WOAM) exists to: disseminate scientific research in the field of wet organic archaeological materials; to promote the application of new materials and technologies for conservation, investigate new tools for analysis and documentation; present relevant case studies in the conservation of wet organic archaeological materials; identify further areas of research and to facilitate networking for future collaborative activities.
For the 2017-2020 Triennial period, WOAM opted to focus on the following subjects:
- The ethics and practicalities of treating waterlogged materials, especially large structures or large assemblages.
- Documentation and characterisation techniques for recording and assessing wet organics.
- In situ preservation of wet organic archaeological materials and sites?
- New treatment techniques and continued review of established methods, for example Kauramin, PEG, Sugars, Alum etc. We welcome studies that address the long-term performance and stability of treatments.
- The treatment of composite materials.
- The treatment of non-wood organics.
- The display and storage of waterlogged (and previously waterlogged) organics.
- The role of sulfur and other contaminants in the deterioration of wood and other organics and ways to mitigate these effects.
Although papers and posters addressing these subjects are most welcome, the list is not inclusive and we encourage all original submissions covering topics relevant to the analysis, treatment, study and care of wet organic archaeological materials for consideration.
Please submit abstracts for papers or posters to: woamcoordinator@gmail.com. They are due by September 15, 2018. Abstracts should be a minimum of 250 words and a maximum of 500 words. They must contain the title, author(s) name and contact details as well as the body of the abstract. They should not contain images or graphs.
Key dates to remember:
Sept 15, 2018: Submission of abstracts for papers or posters
October 31, 2018 Notification of speakers and authors
March 30, 2019: Submission of all papers and posters for inclusion in conference post-print.
Portland Building, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 3AH
For more information about the area please click through to the Visit Portsmouth website.
Train times and fare information: National Rail
Coaches/ Airport transfer: National Express
Portsmouth bus service: First Group Bus Timetable
Airport arrival / departure information: Southampton, Heathrow, Gatwick
Aqua Cars Taxis - 02392 654 321
City Wide Taxis - 02392 833 333
Portsmouth offers a number of hotels, close to the conference venue. We have provided a selection here and a link to book directly.
Please make your own arrangements.
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Keep up to date with program announcements and conference news.
NOTICE:
Poster boards are 1.2 by 1.8 metres and can be used portrait or landscape