Dear Mike,
I would worry more about the effects of anaerobic bacteria on
the wood material after it has been exposed to oxygen and then
reburied. Our tests on the reburied DEFENCE wood (which had been in
very good shape after burial in muck for 200 years) showed marked
degradation after 15 years of reburial. See: Riess, Warren and
Geoffrey Daniel, "Evaluation of Preservation Efforts for the
Revolutionary War Privateer Defence," International Journal of
Nautical Archaeology, 26.4, 1997, 330-338. I would look for a very
cold environment to slow down any degradation.
Cheers, Warren
--
Warren C. Riess
Research Associate Professor
History & Marine Sciences
Darling Marine Center
University of Maine
Walpole, ME 04573
phone: 207-563-3146 ext.244
Email: [log in to unmask]
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