Academic thesis

Carla Burkard: Examination of badly damaged parchment documents from the city archive Hildesheim and creation of a conservation concept Back
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Overview:  
 
Abstract: This bachelor‘s thesis deals with the problem of microbial degradation of parchment. With special consideration of an unusual damage, which was found in three parchment documents of the City Archives Hildesheim, the characteristics of parchment and the circumstances that can cause microbial decomposing are outlined. The internal structure of the collagen fibers is of crucial importance for their enzymatic breakdown. The parchment documents of the City Archives Hildesheim are examined in detail and the microorganisms, which are responsible for their degradation, are identified. Two test series on the growth behavior of mold fungi in contact with iron gall ink should then provide an explanation for the unusual damage pattern on the examined parchment documents. In addition, the fluorescence behavior of parchment is described, which can change due to microbal degradation. Finally, a concept for the stabilization of the parchment documents is presented which can be reconciled with the requirements for the conservation of sensitive materials such as parchment and, at the same time, excludes a reactivation of the microbial infestation.

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Keywords: parchment, microbial damage, Aspergillus glaucus, iron gall ink, fluorescence
Details:
  • academic institution: HAWK Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst Hildesheim/ Holzminden/Göttingen
  • kind of theses:  Bachelorarbeit
  • main Tutor:  Prof. Dr. Karin Petersen
  • assistant Tutor:  Dipl.-Rest. Barbara Rittmeier
  • date:  2019
  • Language:  German
  • pages:  78
  • pictures:  56
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