Abstract

SANCHEZ VALENZUELA, Gloria Martha; ALONSO OLVERA, Alejandra  and  ESCALANTE HERNANDEZ, María Fernanda. Comparative Study of Consolidation and Flexibilization Systems (Starch-PEG, Chitin-PEG, and Lactitol-PEG) for the Preservation of Hard-Fiber Objects Stemming from Dry and Wet Archeological Contexts in Mexico. Intervención (Méx. DF) [online]. 2017, vol.8, n.15, pp.5-21. ISSN 2007-249X.

This research focused on developing and assessing a viable method for the conservation of archeological artefacts made of hard-fibers (palm), which were found in both with dry (Cueva del Lazo, Chiapas, Mexico) and wet (ritual deposits of the Archeological Site of the Templo Mayor de Tenochtitlan, Mexico City, Mexico) contexts; that is, the most favorable environmental conditions for the preservation of cellulosic materials. Its purpose was to test three different consolidation products: starch, lactitol, and chitin in a mixture with a flexibilizer (polyethylene glycol or PEG) at different concentrations. The studie evaluated the results post-treatment in relation to the macroscopic physical characteristics in the treated objects, particularly: the physical resistance gain, the improvement in the fibers´ cohesion and the enhancement of their flexibility. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) served to visualize the extent of consolidation in the cellular structures and, thus, to corroborate the macroscopic characteristics achieved with the applied consolidation systems. As a result, this investigation determined the most adequate variants for the estabilization treatment of hard-fiber archeological elements.

Keywords : consolidation; hard-fibers; archeology; lactitol; chitin; starch; flexibilizer; polyethylene glicol.

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