Degradation of Archaeological Wood Under Freezing and Thawing Conditions—Effects of Permafrost and Climate Change |
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Authors: | H Matthiesen J B Jensen D Gregory J Hollesen B Elberling |
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Institution: | 1. Conservation Department, National Museum of Denmark, , Copenhagen, Denmark;2. CENPERM (Centre for Permafrost), Department of Geography and Geology, University of Copenhagen, , Copenhagen, Denmark |
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Abstract: | The degradation of archaeological wood at freezing and thawing temperatures is studied at the site of Qajaa in West Greenland through a combination of environmental monitoring, measurement of oxygen consumption and microscopy of wood samples. Permanently frozen wood is still very well preserved after 2–4000 years, while wood samples that thaw every summer show attack by soft rot and an average density loss of 0.1 g cm–3 (corresponding to 25% of the dry mass) over the past 27 years. Future increases in temperature may increase the decay rate significantly (Q10 = 4.2 at 0–10°C) but the effects on site depend on local hydrology. |
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Keywords: | wood decay rate permafrost thawing environmental monitoring microscopy oxygen consumption Qajaa Greenland |
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