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Conservation Research Laboratory Reports

Conserving a dugout canoe
Nautical Archaeology Program, Texas A&M University

In 1998, R. Christopher
Goodwin & Associates
contracted the Conservation
Research Laboratory at
Texas A&M University to
conserve the waterlogged
remains of a dugout canoe.
The canoe was found by U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers
personnel at Old Hickory
Lake near Nashville,
Tennessee. Upon initial
recovery, the canoe was
allowed to dry out, but it was
later placed in a container of
water and ethanol for
rehydration. Fortunately, no
serious warping or collapse
of the wood is apparent,
although it is likely that
damage to the cellular
structure of the wood did
occur.

The canoe was sent to CRL in

July 1998 and was
subsequently stored in a vat
of water. Due to the fragile
state of the wood, it has
been extremely important to
keep the canoe wet at all
times.

A complete set of
photographs (color and black
& white) was taken of the
canoe. Detailed drawings,
Drawing of the dugout canoe by Adam Kane. including a three-dimensional
Click on the image for a full page view. AutoCad image, were made
by students Adam Kane and
Peter Fix. The drawing at left
shows profiles, plan views
and sections of the vessel.
Visible tool marks were also
carefully recorded.

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/crl/Report14/index.htm 04/02/2011
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The wood has been

considerably damaged by
erosion and insects. One
side of the canoe was
especially weakened, so a
cradling frame was
designed to support the
vessel during conservation
and transportation. In this
way, the canoe can be
picked up using the cradle
rather than through direct
handling. The canoe will
stay in the cradle
throughout the
conservation process and it
will be used as a shipping
container.

Dendrochronological
samples were taken of the
canoe to allow accurate
dating. Samples for wood
species identification have
also been taken.

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/crl/Report14/index.htm 04/02/2011
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The canoe now sits in a vat

undergoing conservation
treatment with
polyethylene glycol (PEG).
The estimated treatment
time is two to three years;
however, this is subject to
the ability of the wood to
absorb the PEG. This in
turn is dependent on a
number of variables, such
as the porosity of the wood
and the degree of
waterlogging.

Citation Information:
Donny L. Hamilton
2002, Conserving a Dugout Canoe, Conservation Research Laboratory Research Report #14,
World Wide Web, URL, http://nautarch.tamu.edu/crl/Report14/index.htm, Nautical Archaeology
Program, Texas A&M University.

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http://nautarch.tamu.edu/crl/Report14/index.htm 04/02/2011