Documentation

The finds arrive

Once the excavation work is completed, ship timbers and other items of water-logged wood are brought to the Archaeological Workshop to be recorded.

Storage

The finds are stored in a large tank of clean water until they can be sent to the Conservation Department of the National Museum of Denmark in Brede. The ship remains are cleaned, studied, photographed, measured and described in the Archaeological Workshop which is open to the public.

Cleaning

Firstly, sand and tar must be carefully cleaned from the timber using clean water and a fine brush. It is sometimes necessary to use detergent to remove all traces of tar. Cleaning, which is very messy work, is performed on the large washing table.

Examination

Each piece is then carefully studied at the examination table. Items are digitally photographed from all sides, and close-ups are taken of rivets, rivet holes, caulking material and tool marks.

Measurement

Measurements are taken using a sophisticated, mobile measuring device, a so-called "FaroArm". The electronic FaroArm pen draws around the contours and edges of the item to be measured. The recorded three-dimensional data are transferred directly to a computer. The item is simultaneously recorded in a database.

Reconstruction

Once all the parts have been measured and recorded, the data can be used to create a computer reconstruction on which subsequent work can be based, e.g. the building of a cardboard model of a shipwreck in scale 1:10.

Sampling

The Archaeological Workshop takes samples for dendrochronological dating and wood identification as well as samples of tar, paint and caulking material. The workshop also offers its services for the measurement and recording of other museum pieces from both old or recent finds.