The Wooden Artifacts Group (WAG) and Archaeological Heritage Network (AHN) seek proposals for the 2026 Annual Meeting in Montréal that reflect the preservation of archaeological wooden artifacts. These fragile materials bring together a wide range of challenges and opportunities, from excavation to long-term storage and display. Archaeological wooden artifacts also demand careful planning, creative problem solving, and collaboration across specialties. This joint session, hosted by WAG and AHN, creates a shared space to explore how conservators, archaeologists, and collections professionals are working together to meet these challenges. Papers should share practical case studies and innovative approaches, with special consideration given to talks that reflect the larger meeting theme of "Conservation at the Intersection of Innovation and Tradition." Suggestions for topics include:
- The treatment and care of waterlogged wood
- Preservation and stabilization of built structures
- Collaboration with traditional and knowledge holders and Indigenous communities
- Repurposing/reinvention of tools, techniques, and technologies for use with archaeological wood
Abstract submission deadline is Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 through Oxford Abstracts. Abstract submission guidelines can be found here. Please tag submissions with both WAG and AHN to be considered for this session. Abstracts should be no longer than 500 words and be accompanied by author(s) bios of 300 words or less. Please contact Elly Davis (WAG Program Chair) at elly@ellydavis.com and/or Alyssa Rina (AHN Assistant Program Chair) at alyssarina@gmail.com with any questions.
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Alyssa Rina (she/her)
Objects Conservator at Western Archeological and Conservation Center
M.S. in Art Conservation | Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation
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