Diagnostic Precedence 实证诊断先行
Conservation treatments are formulated only after rigorous anatomical, physical-mechanical, and chemical characterization of the artifact’s degradation state and burial environment.
DISCIPLINE // ARCHAEOMETRY
科技考古与文化遗产保护科学
Material science for the preservation and study of archaeological heritage.
Vaciov Labs is a scientific archaeology and conservation laboratory (科技考古实验室). Our work centers on the condition assessment, stabilization, and restoration of wooden cultural heritage (木质文物保护与修复), complemented by compositional and microstructural analysis of archaeological pottery and ceramics (陶器科学分析与检测).
FIG. 01 // MULTI-SCALE DIAGNOSTIC SCHEMATIC
SCALE: MACRO → μm
Empirical material inquiry grounded in conservation ethics.
以材料科学与显微诊断为基础，连接出土文物劣化机理研究与规范化保护修复实践。
DISCIPLINE
Archaeometry (科技考古)
PRIMARY DOMAIN
Wooden Heritage (木质文物保护)
ANALYTICAL DOMAIN
Archaeological Ceramics (陶器分析检测)
Vaciov Labs is an independent scientific archaeology and conservation research laboratory (科技考古与文物保护实验室). We investigate the physical, chemical, and microstructural state of archaeological materials to guide conservation treatment and reconstruct ancient material technologies.
Archaeological objects recover from burial environments in delicate, altered equilibria. Waterlogged wooden structures suffer from cell-wall hydrolysis and mineral accumulation; ancient earthenwares and high-fired ceramics carry complex thermal histories and burial crusts. Effective stewardship requires diagnosing these transformations at the cellular and crystalline scale before any intervention is undertaken.
Our primary work focuses on the conservation and restoration of wooden cultural heritage (木质文物保护与修复)—spanning condition assessment, deterioration pathways, consolidation, and documentation. Alongside organic conservation, we conduct scientific analysis of pottery and ceramics (陶器科学分析与检测) to characterize elemental composition, mineral phases, firing regimes, and petrographic fabrics.
Minimal Intervention & Compatibility 最小干预与材料相容
Consolidants and structural repairs are selected for physico-chemical compatibility, long-term stability, and retreatability, preserving original toolmarks and archaeological evidence.
Archival Traceability 全流程科学记录
Every sampling locus, analytical spectrum, pathology map, and treatment parameter is documented in structured conservation dossiers for permanent institutional reference.
Core laboratory capabilities across organic conservation and inorganic archaeometry.
Structured research and technical services supporting archaeological excavations, museums, and heritage conservation institutions.
DIR-01 // WOOD DIAGNOSTICS
木质文物病害评估与劣化研究
Condition Assessment & Deterioration Study
Taxonomic wood identification, cell-wall decay staging, moisture and basic density profiling, and analysis of microbial erosion or iron-sulfur salt accumulation in waterlogged and dry timber.
DIR-02 // WOOD CONSERVATION
木质文物脱水加固与修复
Consolidation & Structural Restoration
Desalination and iron-extraction pre-treatments, consolidant penetration optimization, controlled dehydration to prevent cellular collapse, and reversible structural reassembly of fragile wooden objects.
DIR-03 // CERAMIC ARCHAEOMETRY
陶器科学分析与检测
Scientific Analysis of Pottery & Ceramics
Compositional, mineralogical, and microstructural characterization of archaeological pottery sherds, clay matrices, slips, and glazes using spectroscopy, diffraction, and microscopy.
DIR-04 // ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTATION
保护档案记录与预防性保护
Conservation Documentation & Stewardship
Standardized pathology mapping, graphic documentation of toolmarks and surface stratigraphy, comprehensive treatment dossiers, and microclimatic guidelines for post-treatment curation.
WOODEN CULTURAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION & RESTORATION 木质文物保护与修复
Stabilizing fragile lignocellulosic structures from cellular wall to artifact form.
Excavated wooden artifacts—whether waterlogged timber from saturated sediments (饱水木质文物) or desiccated, biologically degraded structural members (干缩糟朽木器)—face irreversible shrinkage, cell-wall collapse, and chemical acidification upon exposure. Vaciov Labs integrates wood anatomy, polymer diffusion chemistry, and conservation mechanics to preserve both structural integrity and surface historical information.
SPECIMEN MODULE // LIGNOCELLULOSIC CONSERVATION
木材显微诊断与保护分层示意
Interactive Conservation & Diagnostic Layers
01
Condition Assessment
保存状况评估与物理力学诊断
Systematic evaluation of structural coherence and physical state prior to intervention. We perform microscopic wood species identification (木材解剖与树种鉴定 across transverse, radial, and tangential planes), determine Maximum Water Content (最大含水率) and residual basic density (基本密度), and map surface fissures, biological galleries, and mechanical deformation.
02
Deterioration Study
降解机理与劣化病理研究
Characterization of chemical and biological decay pathways in buried and exposed timber. Through compositional and microscopic analysis, we assess preferential holocellulose hydrolysis versus residual lignin networks (纤半素水解与木质素残留比), identify bacterial or fungal decay micromorphology (细菌侵蚀与真菌腐朽形态), and detect soluble salts or reduced iron-sulfur compounds (铁硫化合物与酸化隐患) that threaten post-excavation stability.
03
Consolidation & Restoration
脱水定型、加固保护与结构修复
Custom-designed stabilization treatments tailored to wood permeability and decay grade. Workstreams encompass chelating or desalination pre-treatments (脱铁与脱盐清洗), graded consolidant impregnation (梯度渗透加固) to bulk weakened cell walls and support lumina against capillary drying stress, controlled dehydration or freeze-drying protocols, and reversible structural reassembly (可逆性粘接与结构补配).
04
Conservation Documentation
数字化病害测绘与保护修复档案
Complete graphic, photographic, and metrological recording across every stage of conservation. We compile standardized pathology diagrams (病害分布图谱), record historical fabrication toolmarks and joinery details (古代加工与榫卯痕迹记录), track dimensional stability curves during treatment, and deliver archival dossiers with preventive environmental parameters.
SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF POTTERY & CERAMICS 陶器科学分析与检测
Compositional, mineralogical, and microstructural characterization of ancient ceramics.
Complementing our conservation work on organic heritage, Vaciov Labs conducts laboratory analysis of archaeological pottery, earthenwares, and early vitreous materials (古代陶器与早期釉陶). By combining spectroscopy, diffraction, and microscopy, we examine clay procurement, paste tempering, firing regimes, and burial alteration.
XRF
X射线荧光光谱分析
Elemental Compositional Profiling
Non-destructive and micro-sample X-ray fluorescence analysis quantifying major, minor, and trace elemental oxides across ceramic bodies (胎体化学组成), slips, and mineral pigments to investigate raw material recipes and geochemical groupings.
XRD
X射线衍射物相分析
Crystalline Phase & Firing Regime Study
Identification of primary clay minerals, high-temperature neo-formed crystalline phases (高温新生物相 such as mullite, spinel, or cristobalite), and secondary burial salts—providing constraints on ancient firing temperatures and kiln atmospheres.
Optical / SEM
光学与扫描电镜显微结构
Microstructure & Interface Observation
Stereomicroscopic and scanning electron microscopic examination of ceramic cross-sections to evaluate sintering and vitrification stages (烧结与玻化程度), pore morphology, slip or glaze bonding layers, and micro-domain elemental distribution.
Petrography
陶瓷薄片岩相学分析
Mineral Inclusions & Paste Technology
Polarized-light microscopy of ceramic thin sections (偏光显微薄片观察) characterizing non-plastic mineral and rock inclusions, grain size sorting (羼和料分选与磨圆度), void orientation, and clay matrix optical activity.
A structured four-phase laboratory protocol.
From initial examination to archival documentation, every conservation treatment and archaeometric inquiry follows a transparent, reproducible sequence.
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PHASE I 无损调查与病害测绘
Non-Invasive Examination & Condition Mapping
Visual and optical inspection, structural stability assessment, burial environment review, and graphic mapping of surface pathology, fabrication traces, and previous interventions before any sampling or treatment.
Output: Baseline Condition Report & Pathology Map -
PHASE II 微损取样与多维实验诊断
Micro-Sampling & Analytical Diagnostics
Under strict minimum-sampling ethics, we conduct wood anatomical identification, moisture/density metrology, and chemical decay assays—or ceramic XRF, XRD, optical/SEM, and petrographic characterization.
Output: Material Characterization & Diagnostic Dataset -
PHASE III 方案验证与保护修复实施
Treatment Validation & Controlled Stabilization
Formulation of compatible conservation protocols—including desalination/de-ironing, consolidant diffusion, controlled dehydration, and reversible structural joinery—monitored continuously against physical benchmarks.
Output: Stabilized Artifact & Treatment Monitoring Log -
PHASE IV 科学档案归档与预防性保护
Archival Dossier & Preventive Stewardship
Compilation of complete analytical spectra, micrographs, before-and-after metrological records, and preventive environmental recommendations (relative humidity, temperature, mount support) for long-term curation.
Output: Complete Conservation & Archaeometry Dossier
Discuss a conservation project or archaeometric inquiry.
Vaciov Labs collaborates with archaeological institutes, museums, conservation centers, and researchers on wooden cultural heritage conservation (木质文物保护与修复) and ceramic scientific analysis (陶器科学分析与检测). For direct inquiries, please reach out by email with a brief overview of the material context and objectives.
Helpful context for initial correspondence:
- Material classification & burial or storage state (e.g., waterlogged wood, desiccated timber, pottery assemblage)
- Scope of inquiry (condition assessment, consolidation/restoration, or compositional/microstructural analysis)
- Institutional context, regulatory requirements, and desired timeline