Bags

​

Grip-seal polyethylene bags: re-sealable polyethylene bags with a tongue-and-groove closure at the top. Various trade names in common use. They are available in a variety of sizes; some also have white write-on panes on one side. The closure system can fail if opened and closed frequently.

​

Suppliers: online

 

​

Open top bags, clear 500 gauge: where used instead of grip-seal bags, these need to be stapled shut. Labels are attached by staples.

​

Suppliers: online

 

​

Hole punches for perforating bags: the following can be used to create holes in bags - leather punch, paper hole punch, pastry picker, spiked stitching roulette as used for leatherwork, a nail block made by driving 3-4mm diameter nails through a block of wood.

​

Suppliers: craft and haberdashery shops

​

 

Cushioning

​

Acid free tissue paper: most common types of paper will give off harmful vapours. Acid free tissue paper is made and treated in such a way as to remove the source of these acid vapours. If acid free tissue is stored in poor (e.g., damp) conditions, then it will begin to degrade and no longer be acid free, so use and store stocks of tissue paper in the recommended environments.

​

Suppliers: conservation suppliers / some stationers

 

​

Jiffy® foam: a corrugated polyethylene foam plastic in sheet form, available in several thicknesses. Can be cut to size easily to fit inside bags and boxes.

​

Suppliers: online

 

​

Plastazote: generic name for a rigid, inert closed-cell polyethylene foam, available as blocks or sheets in a variety of densities and colours. Useful for all types of artefact storage. Grade commonly used is LDPE, LD24, fine cell, low density. A range of colours is available: black, blue and white are most popular.

​

Suppliers: online

​

 

Containers

​

Polystyrene ‘Crystal’ boxes: for small finds, ‘fit on’ lids preferred to hinged lids; fewer suppliers now available for larger sizes; smaller sizes are currently provided by Measom Freer.

​

Suppliers: online

​

 

Polypropylene or polyethylene ‘food storage’ boxes: for larger finds, groups of finds and wet storage; these are chemically inert plastics that will not ‘off gas’ harmful compounds. They must have a good airtight snap seal or locking lid with locks on all sides.

​

Those using plastic boxes for storage of archaeological finds are recommended to check for updates on suitability of various boxes for this purpose in the conservation literature, and via the Cardiff University website, Heritage Preservation Guidance. The recommended standard for sizing is Gastronorm, a modular system used in the food industry.

​

Suppliers: online

​

 

Light weight plastic boxes: these can be useful for items that do not require well sealed conditions. Really Useful Boxes® are a good source of these and are modular.

​

Suppliers: online

​

 

Corrugated plastic box: corrugated plastic board, such as Corex® can be used to make boxes to a required size. They are splash proof but not watertight. Available in different grades and colours.

​

Suppliers: online / hardware stores

​

 

Cardboard boxes: normal cardboard has the potential to give off organic acid vapour, both from wood pulp and from adhesives or coatings used in their manufacture. These vapours can be damaging to artefacts. Two types of cardboard boxes are offered for archival storage:

 

For individual finds requiring acid free conditions e.g., textiles - acid free cardboard boxes have been constructed using techniques and materials that eliminate these harmful emissions. The boxes are usually stapled together to avoid using potentially harmful adhesives in their construction.

​

Suppliers: conservation suppliers / some box suppliers

 

For bulk finds/groups of finds - archival quality cardboard boxes are more economical than acid free boxes, these are low acid (pH 6.5 – 8), kraft lined both sides and stapled. The recommended thickness is 1900 micron. Suppliers such as Ryder and Nuttall are widely used.

​

Suppliers: conservations suppliers / some box suppliers

​

​

Conditioned storage (buffering agents)

​

Silica gel: is a highly porous form of crystalline silicon dioxide which acts as a high-capacity moisture absorbent, desiccant or buffer. It is sold loose or in sachets, which can be semi-transparent or dyed with a moisture sensitive indicator; see Cardiff University website, Heritage Preservation Guidance, for information on silica gel use.

​

Suppliers: online

​

 

Art Sorb®: a moisture sensitive silica material which absorbs and desorbs moisture to offset changes in relative humidity. It provides over five times the moisture buffering capacity of regular density silica gel. Art Sorb is available in several forms, as loose beads, in sheets or contained in cassettes.

​

Suppliers: conservation suppliers

​

 

Metallised packing film: this laminated packing film is composed of a polymer coated with a thin layer of aluminium. It is resistant to water vapour and other atmospheric gases. The material is available in different roll sizes and gauges and can be heat-sealed to form bags.

​

Suppliers: some packaging suppliers

​

 

Humidity indicator strips: cards which are impregnated with coloured spots or bands of humidity-sensitive salt such as cobalt chloride. Typically, the colour will range from pink (damp) to blue (dry) and will give an approximate relative humidity reading. The cards can be attached to the interior of translucent storage boxes so that they are visible from the outside. The cards have a limited lifespan, and spare stock should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. For guidance, see Cardiff University website, Heritage Preservation Guidance.

​

Suppliers: conservation suppliers

​