Preparative conservation of archaeological textile findings dated between 14th to 17th centuries

Archaeological textiles are among the most challenging of all artefacts to handle and conserve. Unlike any other types of preserved inherited movable goods, textile creations are considerably different in structure. Often made from natural fibers, usually wool, cotton, linen and silk, having survived hundreds, sometimes thousands of years in the ground, they tend to deteriorate rapidly under influence of physical, chemical and biological factors. The archaeological textile which is presented in this paper originates from the archaeological site (dated between 14th to 17th centuries) near Petrijevci that was discovered during ground testing for the construction of a new highway. All textile finding are mostly inseparably linked with soil and other impurities like wood, metal and human remains showing significant changes in structure due to the degradation process. In order to preserve them for future generation as a proof of our history it is necessary to conduct appropriate preparative conservation procedures before restoration and final conservation for the future.