Evaluation of adhesive binders for the preservation of in-situ aboriginal surface finishes at Mesa Verde national park

566 Pages·2002·11.7 MB·English

by  Carr, Rebecca J

university
pennsylvania.
LIBRARIES

EVALUATION OFADHESIVE BINDERS FORTHE PRESERVATION OF
IN-SITU ABORIGINAL SURFACE FINISHES AT
MESAVERDE NATIONAL PARK
RebeccaJ. Carr
ATHESIS
Historic Preservation
Presentedtothe FacilitiesoftheUniversityofPennsylvania
in Partial FulfillmentoftheRequirements forthe Degreeof
MASTEROF SCIENCE
2002
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Supervisor Reader
FranK-o. Matero KathleenFiero
Associate ProfessorofArchitecture StabilizationArcheologist
MesaVerdeNational Park
National Park Service
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GradtfaTe\3roupChair
FranlcS-Matero
Associate ProfessorofArchitecture
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UNIVERSITY
OF
PENNSYLVANIA
LIBRARIES
ACKNOWEDGEMENTS
I wish to thank everyone who contributed to this work. Each ofyou has helped
meto combinemy guiding interests in art and archeology. Without all ofyourkindness,
patience and knowledge I could never have done this. Your contributions and
encouragementwillberemembered. I especiallywanttothankthe followingindividuals:
Kathy Fiero and Frank Matero for their sharing their guidance and knowledge; Larry
Nordby for his support while I conducted this research; Ellen Raiselis and Robert
Schetgen fortheirediting and encouragement; Mary Griffitts forherknowledge ofMesa
Verde geology; Paul Rogers, Deb Jenson, Liz Baur, Carolyn Landes, VictoriaAtkins and
Susan Thomas for allowing me access to archeological project reports; Angelyn Rivera
andMarySlaterforprovidingknowledgeandtraining, David Dyes forprovidingmewith
complimentary samples ofthe Rhoplex products analyzed in this thesis, Sally Cole for
her insight into traditional aboriginal practices; Alex Radin for helping me to conduct
mechanical testing at the Materials Testing Lab, Urs Mueller for providing laboratory
analysis, TerryKlein, Meta Gennowitz, George Miller and Steve Tull for supporting my
efforts toward continued education despite the effect that this had on mywork schedule,
Ed Morin, Ingrid Webber and Rick Affleck for sharing their personal libraries, Maribel
Beas for providing references and advise on mechanical testing methods; Richard
Raisellis, Cindy Macintosh, Suzanne Carol Don Schmidt, Doug Ramsey and Lee Jong
,
for their technical advice; Mesa Verde's Architectural Documentation Crew for sharing
forsharingtheirknowledge; SuzanneHyndman forhelpingmeto submitthisthesis long-
distance fromColorado.

1
TABLE OFCONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
1. 1
2. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 4
2.1 Researchgoals 5
3. PRINCIPLES OFADHESION 6
3.1 Introductionto EarthenSurfaceFinishTechnology 9
3.2 MesaVerdeAboriginal SurfaceFinishes 12
4. PRIORSURFACEFINISHES RESEARCHATMESAVERDE 16
4.1 MaterialsCharacterizationofSoilsand SurfaceFinishes 21
4.2 MortarAnalysis 22
5. PARTICLE SIZEANALYSIS OFSTABILIZATIONSOILS 28
5.1 Pre-SievedReddishBrown StabilizationSoil Sample(SY-3) 29
5.2 Yellow/VeryPaleBrownStabilizationSoil Sample(SY-2) 31
5.3 Test forSalts 35
5.4 ChemicalTesting forCalciumCarbonate 37
5.4.1 Test forCalcium 37
5.4.2 Test forCarbonates 40
6. PREPARATIONOFSAMPLES WITHUNIFORM THICKNESS 42
6. SubstratePorosity 46
6.2 Relative ShrinkageofReproduction SurfaceFinishes 48
6.3 RelativeWaterAbsorptionofReproductionSurface Finishes 49
7. ACCELERATEDWEATHERING-PRELIMINARYTESTING 52
7.1 FirstCycle 52
7.2 SecondCycle 52