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Acta Universitatis Nicolai Copernici [Heritage Studies and Conservation Science]

Conservation of the Skeleton of the Palaeoloxodon antiquus Forest Elephant (aged 80 000–100 000) from the Collection of District Museum in Konin – the Research and Conservation Practice
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Conservation of the Skeleton of the Palaeoloxodon antiquus Forest Elephant (aged 80 000–100 000) from the Collection of District Museum in Konin – the Research and Conservation Practice

Authors

  • Aleksandra Gralińska-Grubecka The Department of The Conservation-Restoration of Architecture and Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7566-4747
  • Tomasz Kozłowski The Anthropology Department, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5242-6095
  • Izabela Lorek The District Museum, Konin
  • Piotr Niemcewicz The Department of The Conservation-Restoration of Architecture and Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4123-5319
  • Katarzyna Polak The Department of The Conservation-Restoration of Architecture and Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń
  • Krzysztof Stefaniak Department of Paleozoology, Wrocław University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4116-7275

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/AUNC_ZiK.2019.004

Keywords

conservation, consolidation, archaeological bone, the skeleton of a forest elephant, paleontology

Abstract

The article presents the exploratory and conservation-wise problematic aspects of the bones obtained from the skeleton of a forest elephant Palaeoloxodon antiquus (Falconer & Cautley, 1847), that lived during the Eemian Interglacial period 80–100
000 years ago. This preserved skeleton, currently in the collection of District Museum in Konin, is particularly valuable due to being one of the largest skeletons in Europe that remained almost complete. The necessity of undertaking conservation processes has been caused by the poor state of its preservation – partly because of degradation of the materials applied during conservation in the 80s of the 20th century and later on, as well as numerous bone tissue damages; there also emerged a possibility of using materials and treatments improving value of the object, aesthetically and exhibition-wise. The publication presents the history of the skeleton and its conservation, the condition, the outline of its bone structure, and the results of instrumental research (ATR-FTIR) of derivative materials composition. Moreover, it shows the assumptions for and course of conservation and restoration works. The performed procedures allowed to stabilize the skeleton, reduce formation of new cracks and cavities, and to restore didactic and exhibition value, enabling the skeleton to be returned to a permanent museum exhibition. The works were twice awarded the 1st prize in the category – conservation and protection of cultural heritage in the prestigious competition Museum Event of the Year “Izabella 2018” and “Izabella 2019” organized by the Wielkopolska Museum Foundation under the patronage of the Marshal of the Wielkopolska Province.

References

Bochenek, Adam, i Reicher, Michał. Anatomia człowieka, t. 1. Warszawa: PZWL, 1990.

Ciabach, Jerzy. Badania nad przemianami żywic termoplastycznych pod wpływem promieniowania nadfioletowego. Toruń: UMK, 1982.

Gordon, Claire, C., i Buikstra, Jane, E. ”Soil, pH, bone preservation, and sampling bias at mortuary sites,” American Antiquity, Vol. 46, No. 3, (1981): pp. 566–571.

Gralińska-Grubecka, Aleksandra, Niemcewicz Piotr, Polak Katarzyna, „Dokumentacja prac konserwatorsko-restauratorskich kości należących do szkieletu słonia leśnego Palaeoloxodon antiquus (80-100 000 lat temu) ze zbiorów Muzeum Okręgowego w Koninie (I etap).” Conservator's documentation, Toruń 2017, District Museum in Konin.

Gralińska-Grubecka, Aleksandra, Niemcewicz Piotr, Polak Katarzyna, „Dokumentacja prac konserwatorsko-restauratorskich przy siedmiu kręgach należących do szkieletu słonia leśnego Palaeoloxodon antiquus (80-100 000 lat temu) ze zbiorów Muzeum Okręgowego w Koninie” (conservator's documentation, Toruń 2018, District Museum in Konin).

Jakubowski, Gwidon. Stanowisko słonia leśnego - Palaeoloxodon antiquus (Falconer & Cautley, 1847) w górnym plejstocenie odkrywki Jóźwin kopalni węgla brunatnego „Konin”. Konin: Muzeum Okręgowe w Koninie, Zeszyty Muzealne 2, 1988.

Johnson, Jessica, S. ”Consolidation of archaeological bone: a conservation perspective”, Jornal of field archaeology Vol. 21, No.2 (1994).

Larramendi, Asier. “Shoulder height, body mass, and shape of proboscideans”. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 61 (3) (2016): 537–574.

Stefaniak, Krzysztof. Analiza konserwatorska szkieletu słonia leśnego Palaeoloxodon antiquus (Falconer & Cautley, 1847) ze zbiorów Muzeum Okręgowego w Koninie. Wrocław: Department of Paleozoology, the Institute of Environmental Biology, University of Wrocław, H. Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław, 2017).

Stodder, Ann., L., W. “Taphonomy and the Nature of Archaeological Assemblages,” w: Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton, red. A. Katzenberg, S. Saunders, Second Edition. Wiley – Liss, 2008.

Szczepińska, Kinga. Historycznie stosowane impregnaty do wzmacniania zniszczonego drewna polichromowanego – próba przeglądu. Część II: Impregnaty syntetyczne. Toruń: AUNC Zabytkoznawstwo i Konserwatorstwo XLVI, 2015.

Acta Universitatis Nicolai Copernici [Heritage Studies and Conservation Science]

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Published

2021-04-27

How to Cite

1.
GRALIŃSKA-GRUBECKA, Aleksandra, KOZŁOWSKI, Tomasz, LOREK, Izabela, NIEMCEWICZ, Piotr, POLAK, Katarzyna and STEFANIAK, Krzysztof. Conservation of the Skeleton of the Palaeoloxodon antiquus Forest Elephant (aged 80 000–100 000) from the Collection of District Museum in Konin – the Research and Conservation Practice. Acta Universitatis Nicolai Copernici [Heritage Studies and Conservation Science]. Online. 27 April 2021. Vol. 50, pp. 113-144. [Accessed 7 July 2025]. DOI 10.12775/AUNC_ZiK.2019.004.
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Vol. 50 (2019)

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