Conservation of a 4th century Coptic fragment

The Coptic textile discussed in this qualifying paper is owned by the textile dealer Craig Wallen. It was kept in storage due to its fragile and fragmented condition; the existing fibers run the gambit from extremely dry and disintegrating to extremely stiff and inflexible. The fragment is a combination of tabby and tapestry weave and makes use of the supplementary weft technique known as crapaud or ressort. Based on the level of staining, it is likely that the textile originates from a burial site; it is distinctive from many Coptic textiles in that it appears to have never been wet cleaned. This qualifying paper covers the research, identification, and conservation of this fragment. Additionally, it weighs the benefits of leaving an archaeological textile intact and avoiding more interventive treatment options such as wet cleaning or stitch mounting. The examination and interpretation of the textile is considered and equivalent material is presented. The decisions surrounding the treatment are discussed. Mechanical cleaning and humidification were selected in preference to wet cleaning in order to retain the archaeological context. A pressure mount was selected to consolidate the separated fragments into a visually cohesive whole and to prepare the fragment for display while minimizing the potential for further damage through handling or environmental factors. The qualifying paper concludes with the responses to a questionnaire sent out to a sampling of conservators and conservation scientists concerning current testing approaches for archaeological textiles with human related staining.