A light and transmission electron microscopic investigation of an archaeological wood was undertaken to determine the cause of its deterioration. The wood came from a bulwark constructed in early 1100 in the lake Tingstäde Träsk on the island Gotland in Sweden. The samples of the wood, which was identified as Pinus sylvestris, were taken from a depth of 0.85 m below the bottom level. The wood was found to be heavily deteriorated, and from the micromorphology of decay observed under light and transmission electron microscopes it was concluded that the wood had been largely attacked by erosion bacteria. The degradation of wood components was quite variable, some cell structures/types showing greater resistance than others. The S2 wall layer of axial tracheids, which formed the bulk of the wood, was degraded most. In comparison, ray tracheids appeared completely resistant. Other cell structures/types, such as pit borders of axial tracheids and ray parenchyma cells, displayed features that were intermediate between the extremes noted above. These features are discussed in the light of available information on bacterial erosion of wood cell walls and on chemical composition of these cell structures/types in pine wood.

Download document (1.2 Mb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document