The document describes a method for reconserving archaeological amber that had previously been impregnated with glycerol and gelatin. The method involves humidifying the amber, wrapping it in cotton gauze, treating it with enzymes to remove the glycerol and gelatin, washing it with water, drying it, and stabilizing the surface with a consolidant. The process takes 2-3 weeks and includes daily removal of degraded gelatin fragments under a microscope during the enzyme treatment. The method aims to restore the amber's original surface and appearance.

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Amber Revisited
Anna K.E. Tjelldén PhD, object conservator
Moesgaard Museum, DK, akt@moesgaardmuseum.dk

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Year 2000 Year 2008 Year 2019

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Reconservation of glycerol/gelatine impregnated
archaeological amber
Dorthe Gramtorp 1988, Master thesis ”An investigation
of glycerin-gelatine amber” at the School of
Conservaiton, Copenhagen.
1) Humidification of amber bead in humidity chamber
1-2 days
2) The bead is wrapped in nylon stocking or string
3) Treatment in enzyme bath ca. 0,02 g to 100 mL water
for 30 min
4) Water (70 degrees Celcius)
5) Controlled drying
6) Stabilisation with Paraloid B72
Before introduced to water

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Reconservation of glycerol/gelatine impregnated
archaeological amber
Dorthe Gramtorp 1988, Master thesis ”An investigation
of glycerin-gelatine amber” at the School of
Conservaiton, Copenhagen.
1) Humidification of amber bead in humidity chamber
1-2 days
2) The bead is wrapped in nylon stocking or string
3) Treatment in enzyme bath ca. 0,02 g to 100 mL water
for 30 min
4) Water (70 degrees Celcius)
5) Controlled drying
6) Stabilisation with Paraloid B72
Before introduced to water

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Step 1. Restoring the surface fragments after 4-5 min. immersion in 37 degrees C water.
Step 2. Each bead sewed into cotton gaze bag to keep fragmented surface together during
treatment. A stainless steel wire was attached to each bag allowing it to freely ”levitate”
from the sides of the glass.
Step 3. Enzyme treatment for 2-3 weeks (Neutrase from Novo Nordisk, 50 degrees C, 1,5 g
per 100 mL demin. water). Daily removal of quawed gelatine fragments from bead surface
by tweezers under microscope while the bead was immerged in demin. water.
Step 4. 2-3 immersions in water (50 degrees C) to wash the enzymes and gelatine residues
out of the bead.
Step 5. 24 hours drying (still in cotton gaze bag).
Step 6. 15 min. immersion in consolidant Regalrez 1094 to stabilise the fragmented surface.
Regalrez 1094 allows provenance determination by FTIR of ”the Baltic shoulder”, is
soluble in mineral turpentine which does not deteriorate amber (contrary to ethanol and
acetone).
Step 7. 1-2 days hardening of consolidant in fume cupboard (important that each bag still
levitates from glass sides) and finally removal of cotton bag under microscope.

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Step 1. Restoring the surface fragments after 4-5 min. immersion in 37 degrees C water.

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Step 2. Each bead sewed into cotton gaze bag to keep fragmented surface together during
treatment. A stainless steel wire was attached to each bag allowing it to freely ”levitate” from
the sides of the glass.

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Step 2. Each bead sewed into cotton gaze bag to keep fragmented surface together during
treatment. A stainless steel wire was attached to each bag allowing it to freely ”levitate” from
the sides of the glass.

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Step 2. Each bead sewed into cotton gaze bag to keep fragmented surface together during
treatment. A stainless steel wire was attached to each bag allowing it to freely ”levitate” from
the sides of the glass.

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Trin 2. Indsyning af hver perle i gazebindspose for at holde sammen på perlen under den
videre behandling. En snoet rustfri ståltråd blev fastgjort i hver pose således at perlen kunne
”svæve” ud fra glassets sider under den videre behandling.

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Step 3. Enzyme treatment for 2-3 weeks (Neutrase from Novo Nordisk, 50 degrees C, 1,5 g
per 100 mL demin. water). Daily removal of quawed gelatine fragments from bead surface by
tweezers under microscope while the bead was immerged in demin. water.

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Step 3. Enzyme treatment for 2-3 weeks (Neutrase from Novo Nordisk, 50 degrees C, 1,5 g
per 100 mL demin. water). Daily removal of quawed gelatine fragments from bead surface by
tweezers under microscope while the bead was immerged in demin. water.

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Step 4. 2-3 immersions in water (50 degrees C) to wash the enzymes and gelatine residues
out of the bead.

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Step 4. 2-3 immersions in water (50 degrees C) to wash the enzymes and gelatine residues
out of the bead.
Step 5. 24 hours drying (still in cotton gaze bag).

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Step 4. 2-3 immersions in water (50 degrees C) to wash the enzymes and gelatine residues
out of the bead.
Step 5. 24 hours drying (still in cotton gaze bag).
Step 6. 15 min. immersion in consolidant Regalrez 1094 to stabilise the fragmented surface.
Regalrez 1094 allows provenance determination by FTIR of ”the Baltic shoulder”, is
soluble in mineral turpentine which does not deteriorate amber (contrary to ethanol and
acetone).

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Trin 7. 1-2 døgns ophærdning i stinkskab (her var det vigtigt, at hver lille gazebindspose
stadig svævede ud fra glassets sider) og dernæst opklipning af gazebindsposen under
mikroskop.

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Step 7. 1-2 days hardening of consolidant in fume cupboard (important that each bag still
levitates from glass sides) and finally removal of cotton bag under microscope.

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Before immersion in water After immersion in water/enzymes
After introduced to acetone

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Before reconservation
Before reconservation
After reconservation
After reconservation

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After reconservation
Before reconservation
Acknowledgements:
Henrik Thomsen, Conservator, Dorthe Gramtorp, Conservator at
Odense Bys Museer, Anne Le Boedec Moesgaard, Conservator at the
National Museum, Knud Botfeldt, Conservator (retired), Marianne
Glasius, Head of Department, and Mads Mørk, research employee,
Institute of Chemistry, AU.
Anna K.E. Tjelldén, akt@moesgaardmuseum.dk