Preservation of Metal Artifacts at Hazara University Museum: A Strategic Approach to Prolong the Life of Cultural Heritage for Future Generations

Abstract

The study is discussing the strategic approach for preservation of a number of metal artifacts housed in the Hazara University Museum. The artifacts include utensils, locks, weapons, jewelry, lamps, coins and nails made up of various metals like brass, silver, copper and iron. The analysis and data tabulation revealed that most of the artifacts possess corrosion effects where, some were effected fully and some were partially corroded. A number of strategies have been proposed to prevent the artifacts from further corrosion and deterioration. The suggested strategies are classified as per metal or alloy from which the artifacts had been made. More emphasize has been given on the strategies that are mostly reversible, non-destructive and preventive so that the chances of deterioration are minimized and long-term preservation is achieved. By the end of each process, the proper technique for coating of the artifact is proposed to mitigate the threats that might be caused by environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity and pollution.

Key words: Preservation, Artifacts, Corrosion, Museum, Environment.