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Preserving the skeletons in our historic closet

Bibliographic Details
Title: Preserving the skeletons in our historic closet
Authors: Licari, James
Publisher Information: National Museum of Natural History and Heritage Malta Publishing
Publication Year: 2025
Collection: University of Malta: OAR@UM / L-Università ta' Malta
Subject Terms: National Museum of Archaeology (Valletta, Malta), Excavations (Archaeology) -- Malta, Museums -- Curatorship -- Malta, Museums -- Collection management -- Malta, Human remains (Archaeology), Archaeology and history -- Research -- Malta
Description: Historical collections frequently contain artefacts composed of bone, including significant osteological collections such as those housed at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, Malta. This paper introduces the scope of these Maltese collections, which range from ‘elongated skulls’ to bone-clad artefacts and modern artistic pieces. It primarily discusses the conservation and ethical considerations pertinent to human bone recovered from archaeological contexts, with recommendations applicable to all skeletal materials (bone, ivory, antler, etc.). The composition and structure of bone are reviewed alongside common deterioration factors. Emphasis is placed on the crucial need for improved documentation, storage, and handling protocols, stressing the role of the archaeological conservator in minimising post-excavation decay. Finally, the paper details recommended environmental parameters and scientific analysis techniques essential for the long-term preservation and sustainable access to these valuable historical remains. ; peer-reviewed
Document Type: article in journal/newspaper
Language: English
Relation: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142478
Availability: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142478
Rights: info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; The copyright of this work belongs to the author(s)/publisher. The rights of this work are as defined by the appropriate Copyright Legislation or as modified by any successive legislation. Users may access this work and can make use of the information contained in accordance with the Copyright Legislation provided that the author must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the prior permission of the copyright holder.
Accession Number: edsbas.20B99232
Database: BASE
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  – Url: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142478#
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Preserving the skeletons in our historic closet
– Name: Author
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Licari%2C+James%22">Licari, James</searchLink>
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  Data: National Museum of Natural History and Heritage Malta Publishing
– Name: DatePubCY
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: University of Malta: OAR@UM / L-Università ta' Malta
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22National+Museum+of+Archaeology+%28Valletta%22">National Museum of Archaeology (Valletta</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Malta%29%22">Malta)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Excavations+%28Archaeology%29+--+Malta%22">Excavations (Archaeology) -- Malta</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Museums+--+Curatorship+--+Malta%22">Museums -- Curatorship -- Malta</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Museums+--+Collection+management+--+Malta%22">Museums -- Collection management -- Malta</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+remains+%28Archaeology%29%22">Human remains (Archaeology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Archaeology+and+history+--+Research+--+Malta%22">Archaeology and history -- Research -- Malta</searchLink>
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  Data: Historical collections frequently contain artefacts composed of bone, including significant osteological collections such as those housed at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, Malta. This paper introduces the scope of these Maltese collections, which range from ‘elongated skulls’ to bone-clad artefacts and modern artistic pieces. It primarily discusses the conservation and ethical considerations pertinent to human bone recovered from archaeological contexts, with recommendations applicable to all skeletal materials (bone, ivory, antler, etc.). The composition and structure of bone are reviewed alongside common deterioration factors. Emphasis is placed on the crucial need for improved documentation, storage, and handling protocols, stressing the role of the archaeological conservator in minimising post-excavation decay. Finally, the paper details recommended environmental parameters and scientific analysis techniques essential for the long-term preservation and sustainable access to these valuable historical remains. ; peer-reviewed
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  Data: info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; The copyright of this work belongs to the author(s)/publisher. The rights of this work are as defined by the appropriate Copyright Legislation or as modified by any successive legislation. Users may access this work and can make use of the information contained in accordance with the Copyright Legislation provided that the author must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the prior permission of the copyright holder.
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      – Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Museums -- Collection management -- Malta
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      – SubjectFull: Human remains (Archaeology)
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      – TitleFull: Preserving the skeletons in our historic closet
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