Virtually every excavation produces artifacts that require immediate care. The fragile state of most archaeological finds, special conditions affecting preservation, and the need to address stability problems during recovery are among the reasons why conservation is taken to the field. The unstable state of most waterlogged finds magnifies these factors at an underwater excavation. They create an immediate need to handle, identify, and suitably store a large volume of diverse material. In addition, an on-site conservator should aim at starting long-term conservation procedures. These normally include the removal of marine growth and heavy concretions from objects; decanting, sieving, and floating amphora contents; and transition desalinization from seawater.

The conservation of the artifacts raised form the wreck took place at the on-site conservation facility that was built at Tektaş Burnu. The ‘One-Rock-Cape’ (as it is translated from the Turkish) is exposed to strong winds and open sea waves. It has no convenient moorings or shallow beach to allow for unloading supplies. Steep rocky slopes terminating in a sheer drop of five to sixty meters into the Aegean characterized the terrain above the wreck. The site has no fresh water source or electricity and is accessible only by a forty-minute boat ride from the small village of Zeytineli.

We decided to construct the excavation camp on the slopes above the wreck site. From the beginning, we integrated a conservation laboratory into the design. The conservation facility was incorporated into the diving platform, thus saving on building materials and reducing the need to transfer artifacts to a separate part of the camp.

The conservation working area was on three levels. We used the lowest platform primarily to support the diving operation, but also as the artifact recovery point. To facilitate the recovery of items carried by surfacing divers, we fitted an electric crane with a rotating arm. This safely lifted both heavy amphoras and fragile materials from the sea.

The second platform was set back and slightly raised above the dive platform. We used it primarily for processing, cleaning, and storing amphoras. It was equipped with work benches, a pneumatic chisel (air scribe), and work stations. Custom-made suspended sieves aided in decanting, floating, and sieving the sediment found in many of the ceramic jars. We dedicated the third platform, located directly above the second, to registration and recording (including digital photography) and to the conservation and storage of objects.

In order to support conservation work on all three levels, two separate supply systems were designed to provide fresh and salt water. The sea water supply system, which was rigged to an electric pump located on the dive platform, allowed an unlimited supply at various pressures. We used this for cleaning, decanting, and temporarily storing artifacts during their initial processing stages. The fresh water supply system depended on the expedition reverse-osmosis machine. It was used (conservatively, due to a limited output) for tastes such as the gradual desalination of artifacts.

Once we filled the storage capacity of the camp, we shipped the processed amphoras to INA’s permanent conservation facility in Bodrum. This allowed us to retrieve a new batch of amphoras from a temporary depot located near the wreck on the seabed. The assembly of artifacts was moved smoothly to Bodrum, where work continued with little disruption of routine.

- Text taken from Oron, A. 2001. “Conservation on the Rocks at Tektaş Burnu.” INA Quarterly, Volume 28 No. 2.