Olariu, Gheorghina (szerk.): Sesiunea Internaţională de Restaurare - Conservare (Satu Mare, 1997)
Investigaţii, conservare
It is also true that , one century later the town Baia was no longer included among the big urban centers, being left behind by Iaşi, Suceava , Vaslui,Huşi, Cotnari, Roman a.s.o.6. We ennumarated these towns to which could add some others, to underline that this trade of obtaining, preparing and manufacturing leather objects had known a large extension on the Eastern Romanian teritories. Through specialized studies affirm that we are facing an ancient trade in continous improvement generating its own tec o ogies and branches, especially during the Middle Age shoemakers, bootsmakers, shirkers peasant ,s sandal makers, harness makers, saddlers, futuriers, skinners, tanners, leather dresser a.s o In the case of objects discovered at Baia, these were remains of some footwears made of dressing bovine leather dyed in black. The whole material comes from different pieces and it was thrown for 600 years in a manure deposit. The preservation of leather during burial is determined by several factors: 1. The humidity of the soil. Very dry or watterlogged conditions are to be prefered. Constantly frozen are also very good. 2. The values of the pH of the soil. No leather can survive in alkaline conditions. At pH values higher than 6,5 the deterioration will accelerate. 3. The geological composition of the soil. The chances of good preservation are best in soils rich in clay. 4. The original tanning process, vegetable - tanned and oil - tanned leather has the best chances of survive. 5. The high or too low humidity. At relative humidities below 50% the leather becomes brittle and dry. At too high relative humidities the leather, might be attack by mould and, if the pH values are too low, the collagen can suffer a hydrolitic break - down. 6. Air pollution. The fragments from Baia were discovered in a soil rich in clay 7, at the end of the spring, and they stayed for two weeks on the archaeologycal site. After that, they were introduced in a polyethene bag and were brought at the Regional Laboratory of Iasi. After a hasty classifications, they were introduced in sodium pentachlorophenol.and 79
