kevin_sullivan•3mo ago

I used to just brush dirt off finds in the field, but a volunteer at the Fort Vancouver dig showed me a better way last summer.

3 comments

3 Comments

richard_mason3mo ago

What's the better way then?

michael8801mo ago

Funny you mention that @theagarcia, because it reminds me of this time I watched a guy at a flea market trying to clean an old bottle with vinegar and a toothbrush. He was so proud of himself until someone pointed out that the vinegar was eating the patina off the glass. That's when I learned that sometimes the gentlest stuff isn't even safe. I think for most things, a dry toothpick or bamboo skewer works better than any liquid because you can physically nudge the dirt out without adding moisture. But yeah, it really depends on what you're cleaning.

theagarcia3mo agoMost Upvoted

Remember seeing a volunteer at a state park clean a pottery shard with a soft brush and water. It looked gentle, but the park ranger later told our group that even water can damage some materials over time. He said for dry, stable finds, a soft artist's brush is often best to just loosen the dirt without pushing it in. Makes you think about how careful you need to be, right @richard_mason? That dig volunteer probably had a similar point about using the right tool for the job, not just what's handy. It changed how I look at even the simple task of cleaning something old.