Paul Mardikian

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I am a passionate practicing objects conservator with 30 years of international experience in cultural heritage preservation in various contexts including cultural institutions, academia and private practice. I have an undergraduate and graduate degree in art history and archaeology from the School of the Louvre and a graduate degree in objects conservation from the Sorbonne University in Paris. My curriculum reflects my keen interest for conservation projects requiring a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach, applied conservation research, and commitment to education and conference development and management. My area of expertise includes the conservation of archaeological materials from terrestrial and maritime contexts, composite artifacts, public art, sculpture, and large-scale technological, industrial and military heritage artifacts, particularly those containing modern materials. I am the co-founder of Terra Mare Conservation, LLC based in the USA and coordinator of the ICOM-CC Metals Working Group.

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Conservation Laboratory Design

Springer eBooks, 2018

The application of subcritical fluids for the stabilization of marine archaeological iron

Studies in Conservation, Oct 1, 2013

Abstract The long-term stabilization of marine archaeological iron, whether cast or wrought, cont... more Abstract The long-term stabilization of marine archaeological iron, whether cast or wrought, continues to challenge conservators responsible for treatment of this material. Results and observations obtained from past treatments highlight the daunting, prolonged, and laborious efforts required to desalinate large and complex ferrous artifacts recovered from the ocean. In general, the higher an artifact's chloride level, the less stable it is. Consequently, any stabilization treatment must involve the removal of as much Cl−1 as possible without affecting the integrity of the corroded artifact. This problem is particularly acute with corroding cast iron objects that have formed thick, fragile, and highly unstable corrosion layers. Over the course of the twentieth century, conservators have used a variety of techniques in an attempt to mitigate the negative effects of chloride ions on iron artifacts and prevent disintegration. In spite of early promise, each of these stabilization techniques has significant disadvantages, particularly with regard to treatment efficiency, duration of treatment, and/or unacceptable risks to the artifact during treatment. For these reasons, conservators and conservation scientists at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in Charleston, South Carolina, decided to look at the possibility of using subcritical fluids to stabilize archaeological iron. This paper compares the efficiency and effectiveness of traditional stabilization techniques (i.e. alkaline soaking and cathodic polarization) to subcritical fluids on wrought iron rivets and metal shavings from the H.L. Hunley submarine as well as Civil War era cast iron artillery shells recovered from a marine environment.

Conservation and Investigation of Cometh the Sun: A Monumental Weathering Steel Sculpture

The authors would like to thank the artist Curtis Patterson, the City of Atlanta, Georgia, Jesse ... more The authors would like to thank the artist Curtis Patterson, the City of Atlanta, Georgia, Jesse Slagle and the team from Holland LP, Tim Foecke, and Jon Tirpak. The analytical work for this project was partly funded by the project GEOMATERIALES 2-CM Program Ref. S2013/MIT-2914 (Comunidad de Madrid). A. Crespo acknowledges MINECO for the doctoral grant BES-2015-071472 and Sagrario Martinez for her help with the Raman analysis.

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Strategies for Preserving Layers of History on Apollo-Era Flown engines

Conference presentation titled: Strategies for Preserving Layers of History on Apollo-Era Flown e... more

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The use of subcritical fluids for the stabilisation of archaeological iron: an overview

Corrosion and Conservation of Cultural Heritage Metallic Artefacts, 2013

Abstract: This chapter reviews and summarises the results of experiments using a new technique kn... more Abstract: This chapter reviews and summarises the results of experiments using a new technique known as ‘subcritical’ for the stabilisation of archaeological iron. Five case studies are presented that illustrate the capacity of this technique to rapidly remove entrapped chloride ions from unstable metal with minimal observable changes to the objects’ integrity. This overview focuses on the effectiveness of this treatment from a conservation and preservation perspective. The benefits and current limitations of the technique are identified, as well as important areas where there is a need for further research.

Hunting Free and Bound Chloride in the Wrought Iron Rivets from the American Civil War Submarine H. L. Hunley

Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 2004

The stereo vision results from the interaction between geometrical optics and visual psychology. ... more The stereo vision results from the interaction between geometrical optics and visual psychology. Large depth will bring discomforts for the results of ghosting and °icker. The relevance of the ratio of jumping out depth (RJD) and electroencephalogram (EEG) gravity frequency (GF) was explored to re°ect human health under di®erent three-dimensional (3D) depth information (mainly the negative disparity) displayed on a three-dimensional television (3D-TV) with shutter glasses. EEG was obtained from 10 volunteers when they were watching 3D ¯lm segments with di®erent negative disparities. The brain GF map shows that the depth information has a stronger in°uence on the frontal lobe than on the occipital lobe. For regression analysis, nonlinear curve ¯ttings of GF to RJD in Fp1, F3, O2 and T5 channels were mainly performed when RJD ranged from 0 to 3.4, while linear ¯ttings were performed in some special RJD ranges. It also con¯rms that RJD above 2.2 may lead to discomfort to human body. Finally, it suggests a suitable RJD range for people to watch from the objective method. The outcomes can be used as a guidance to decrease human discomforts induced by 3D production.

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Conservation of Structural Ironwork from a Large Downdraft Kiln at the Former Western Clay Manufacturing Company site in Helena, Montana, USA

Conference presentation titled: Conservation of Structural Ironwork from a Large Downdraft Kiln a... more

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Epave du CSS Alabama - Conservation du canon RML Blakely

https://hal.science/hal-02495211/, 2020

Aluminum: History, Technology, and Conservation

Smithsonian Contributions to Museum Conservation

The current volume brings together papers presented at the 2014 “Aluminum: History, Technology an... more The current volume brings together papers presented at the 2014 “Aluminum: History, Technology and Conservation” conference held at the Smithsonian Institution’s American Art Museum; the conference was followed by a hands-on workshop held at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, which utilized the museum’s collections to illustrate aluminum’s use, conservation challenges, and repair techniques as well as to introduce participants to analytical techniques such as X-ray fluorescence for the identification of aluminum alloys and finishes. The three day international conference and two-day workshop were co-hosted with the Smithsonian Institution, the Foundation for the American Institute for Conservation and the International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation Metals Working Group. An unprecedented group of speakers, organizers, and sponsors made possible the first ever conservation conference solely dedicated to aluminum. The conference featured pr...

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When Corrosion Science Meets an Icon of Maritime History

... Paul Mardikian HL Hunley Project Warren Lasch Conservation Center 1250 Supply Street. ... The... more

L'épave romaine de marbre de Porto Novo

Journal of Roman Archaeology, 1998

The Boneyard: The World's Largest Military Aircraft Repository

Aluminum: History, Technology, and Conservation (Proceedings from the 2014 International Conference). Chemello, Claudia; Collum, Malcolm; Mardikian, Paul; Sembrat, Joe; Young, Lisa. Smithsonian Institution.., 2019

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) in Tucson, Arizona, United States, is home to a unique and sta... more Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) in Tucson, Arizona, United States, is home to a unique and staggeringly vast collection of aerospace vehicles. The Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) was originally created as a repository for the long-term storage of a growing number of surplus United States military and government aircraft after World War II. Over fifty years of preservation techniques and methodology development has recently drawn the attention of conservators interested in the facility’s impressive results. Its location, geology and environment play key roles in the successful maintenance of thousands of aircraft. The AMARC serves as a large-scale preservation laboratory with implications and useful data for aerospace museums facing the challenge of conserving their collections, particularly those containing functional objects.

Keywords: Aluminum, Aircraft, David-Monthan Air Force Base, preventive conservation

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Conservation of a Vietnam-era Aluminum Swift Boat for the National Museum of the United States Navy

Preserving US Military Heritage: World War II to the Cold War Fredericksburg, Texas, June 4-6, 2019, 2019

This paper describes the challenge of conserving of a 50-foot long Alclad aluminum Patrol Craft F... more This paper describes the challenge of conserving of a 50-foot long Alclad aluminum Patrol Craft Fast for the National Museum of the United States Navy on static display at the Washington Navy Yard. The failed coating was removed using ultra-high pressure waterjetting to NACE WJ-2/SSPC-SP standards at pressures between 30,000 and 40,000 psi, a technique that it is non-abra- sive to aluminum, non-toxic and environmentally safe. Following waterjetting, corrosion mitigation of the hull, and bilge examination, the Swift Boat received a new high performance coating. This paper outlines the challenges, methodology and techniques employed to preserve the original fabric of this large historic vessel and the plans to ensure its long-term stability.

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Conservation and Investigation of Cometh the Sun: A Monumental Weathering Steel Sculpture

METAL 2019 - PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERIM MEETING OF THE ICOM-CC METALS WORKING GROUP EDITED BY CLAUDIA CHEMELLO, LAURA BRAMBILLA, AND EDITH JOSEPH, 2019

In 2016, Terra Mare Conservation, LLC, was contracted by the City of Atlanta, Georgia, to underta... more In 2016, Terra Mare Conservation, LLC, was contracted by the City of Atlanta, Georgia, to undertake conservation of Cometh the Sun, a monumental sculpture fabricated in weathering steel by artist Curtis Patterson. The collaborative project involved conservators, metal fabricators, metal trades, city public art officials, and the artist. The sculpture has a combined weight of 5.7 tons, and is 15.2 meters in length, 6 meters in width, and 4.5 meters in height. Conservation efforts involved disassembly, replacement of 40 severely corroded areas of steel, artificial patination, sealing of moisture-prone areas, drainage enhancement through the installation of new anchors and footers and a concrete slab, and reassembly. Samples of the original weathering steel patina and new artificially patinated samples of A588 weathering steel were assessed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) using a gel-polymer electrolyte cell. Composition of the natural and artificial patinas was assessed by Raman spectroscopy, and thickness and color were measured. Analytical results demonstrated that the poor performance of the natural patina was not attributable to pollutants but to improper development in areas prone to water retention. These findings highlight the need to follow manufacturers’ specifications when using weathering steel to prevent failure of the protective patina.

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Challenges and Solutions for Conserving Non-Separable Marine Archaeological Composite Objects

METAL 2019 - PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERIM MEETING OF THE ICOM-CC METALS WORKING GROUP EDITED BY CLAUDIA CHEMELLO, LAURA BRAMBILLA, AND EDITH JOSEPH, 2019

This paper discusses the conservation of three non-separable marine composite artifacts treated o... more This paper discusses the conservation of three non-separable marine composite artifacts treated over the last 25 years by the author: a flushable toilet made of ceramic, lead, brass, cast iron and wood recovered from the Confederate raider CSS Alabama (1864); a steel and tin canteen with a cork stopper and shoulder strap made of hemp rope from the H.L. Hunley Civil War submarine (1864); and a fuel injector made of copper, chrome and 3xx series stainless steel recovered from one of the Apollo 11 Saturn V rocket engines (1969). Treatment of the objects comprised chemical or electrochemical cleaning and stabilization techniques in various solutions, including tri- sodium citrate, alkaline Rochelle salts, ammonium hydroxide and non-vacuum freeze-drying. This paper demonstrates that conserving complex multicomponent objects is possible by fine-tuning traditional techniques and adapting new ones. In particular, the use of ammonium hydroxide for the conservation of certain metal/organic materials should offer a new and valuable alterative to conservators.

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18 Tons of Roman Glass under the Sea: A Complex Conservation Puzzle

Proceedings of the Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Glass & Ceramics Working Group, Corning New York, USA 3-6 October 2010. Ed. H. Roemich. , 2010

This paper discusses the discovery, excavation, technical analysis, and conservation of a large c... more This paper discusses the discovery, excavation, technical analysis, and conservation of a large collection of glass ar-tifacts recovered from the Ouest-Embiez 1, a third-century A.D. Roman shipwreck discovered off the coast of Pro-vence, France, in 1993. The shipwreck was surveyed by the Underwater Archaeology Department of the French Ministry of Culture in 1995 and excavated between 2001 and 2004. Glass objects retrieved from the wreck include pieces of architectural glass, raw glass blocks, and manufactured glass vessels. Compositional information was obtained by using various techniques. Studies were also undertaken to compare the effectiveness of six consolidants on the unstable waterlogged glass. The results of the review highlight the critical need for a more standardized approach to the treatment of the glass from this wreck, as well as the importance of on-site and post-excavation conservation by archaeological conservators.

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Searching for a Diamond in the Rust: A Review of Large-Scale Archaeological Iron Conservation Projects, 1980-2006

Iron, Steel & Steam, Fremantle, Australia, June 26-27 2006. Special publication, Australian National Centre of Excellence for Maritime Archaeology No. 13. Ed M. McCarthy. , 2009

Nearly 140 years after its historic naval engagement with the Union sloop-of-war USS Housatonic, ... more Nearly 140 years after its historic naval engagement with the Union sloop-of-war USS Housatonic, the American Civil War submarine H.L. Hunley was successfully recovered in its entirety from the Atlantic Ocean in August 2000. This historic vessel was immediately brought to the Warren Lasch Conservation Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina to be excavated and conserved in a controlled environment. One of the most significant challenges facing the conservation team responsible for H.L. Hunley’s stabilization will be the effective removal of chloride from the submarine’s heavily corroded iron hull. Because H.L. Hunley’s size and complexity make it a particularly unique case within the discipline of archaeological conservation, Hunley Project scientists compiled and reviewed the relatively small number of pre-existing conservation projects of comparable scale to help them identify major technical issues that could arise during ongoing treatment of the submarine. This article will examine technical and ethical issues that have arisen from past efforts to conserve large-scale iron archaeological objects recovered from marine environments, and address the practical implications these precursors have had on H.L. Hunley’s Conservation Plan.

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New perspectives regarding the stabilization of terrestrial and marine archaeological iron

Iron, Steel & Steam, Fremantle, Australia, June 26-27 2006. Special publication, Australian National Centre of Excellence for Maritime Archaeology No. 13. Ed M. McCarthy. , 2009

For decades, the conservation of archaeological iron has challenged conservators. A variety of te... more For decades, the conservation of archaeological iron has challenged conservators. A variety of techniques have been used in an attempt to mitigate the negative effects of chloride ions on the corrosion of iron artifacts and prevent deterioration. This article briefly reviews important milestones in the history of iron conservation as well as major issues regarding treatment and stabilization. Current iron conservation research undertaken at the newly formed Clemson Conservation Center, home of the H.L. Hunley submarine (1864) in Charleston, South Carolina is also discussed.

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Re creation of a Roman stone working hammer excavated as a marine concretion void

Metal 2013, Proceedings of the Interim Meeting of the International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation Metal Working Group, Edinburgh, Scotland, September 16-20, 2013, Historic Scotland., 2013

A first century AD Roman shipwreck was discovered near Porto Novo off the coast of Corsica, Franc... more A first century AD Roman shipwreck was discovered near Porto Novo off the coast of Corsica, France in 1991. The 25-metre long vessel was carrying about 140 tons of white marble from Carrara, Italy. Numerous calcium carbonate concretions were recovered from underneath and between the marble slabs. X-radiography of the concretions revealed cavities in the shapes of stone-working tools, including a hammerhead and an oak-wood handle fragment. After careful excavation of the concretion, a silicone cast was made of the cavity followed by an epoxy replica. This work was carried out by P. Mardikian (author 2). The hammer, or massette in French, proved to be unique in shape and design with no other known examples apart from carved representations. Notably, the hammer is large and ‘waisted’, narrow in the middle and broad at the faces, which angle downwards. The top edges are chamfered. In 2011 the epoxy cast was used as a template by J. Thornton (author 1) to forge an iron reproduction of the hammerhead to a shape that matched the epoxy replica. This paper explores the forging, hafting and actual use of the Porto Novo hammer. Only methods available to ancient smiths were used. Conjectural design of the handle was based on the shape of the Porto Novo hammer and the needs of actual use. The reproduction hammerhead was lashed onto an oak handle using goatskin thongs. This method of hafting was suggested by the chamfers present on the top face of the hammer, and by the fact that the eye hole is widest at the handle and tapers towards the top face (unlike modern hammers), making the handle impossible to wedge. The reproduction is elegant, ergonomic and effective in use, having apparent advantages over modern stone-working hammers. The short handle produces a short arc of swing that centres the faces on the tool head. The broad face never misses the tool and is ‘pre-mushroomed’ to compensate for deformation during use, but without the usual curling and fragmentation at the face periphery. The ‘waisted’ shape maximises metal at the faces, where is it needed most. This paper illuminates Roman iron-smithing and stone-working methods.

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Show me the money: the conservation of ancient coins from terrestrial and marine sites

The conservation of coins is one of the most important tasks that conservators face when treating... more The conservation of coins is one of the most important tasks that conservators face when treating archaeological finds. Coins are used as primary dating evidence for site interpretation and are considered among the most important finds on archaeological excavations. Numismatics is also a fundamental part of many museum and research collections and is an important source of information about metallurgy, economy, politics art and technology.
Conserving these unique finds can be extremely challenging and painstaking work for a conservator, particularly when faced with factors such as rarity, the absence of other datable contextual evidence, previous inappropriate treatment, extreme deterioration or all of the above. Achieving legibility is usually the most important issue facing the conservator when dealing with excavated coins, together with stabilisation of the metal, when required. Conservation of coins
can often be described as a micro-excavation to reveal and uncover complex burial stratigraphy. In some cases,
the information on the coin may be more important than the object itself; nevertheless, an attempt must be made to preserve both. Conservators work collaboratively with specialists from the fields of archaeology, numismatics and scientific research, to uncover the ‘life’ of the coin.
In this paper, several approaches to the conservation and interpretation of ancient coins from terrestrial and underwater contexts are discussed through a number of case studies. Examples include coinage made of gold, silver, copper alloy, and composite metals, some of which were found to be forged currency, from individual coins to coin hoards. The value of the archaeological and historical context of the coin is contrasted with their function and appeal as cultural artefacts, and the conservator’s contribution to this dialogue is highlighted.

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