Micromorphological and chemical alterations of sea-waterlogged woods obtained from the ship-wrecked materials which had been submerged in Yellow Sea for over 700 years were investigated. The woods were deteriorated in varying degrees by marine organisms depending on species and parts of the woods. Under the light and scanning electron microscope the morphological characteristics of deteriorated woods were granular in appearance, erosion troughs in S3, separation of secondary wall from compound middle lamella and hole formation. Destruction occurred preferentially in S2 layer, followed S3 and middle lamella which was hardly deteriorated. Chemical analysis showed that lignin was more and holocellulose was less in the degraded than in the normal wood. The ratio of extracts by alkaline compared to hotwater and that of holocellulose were also markedly lower. These results suggest that microorganisms decomposing carbohydrates were the primary agents causing deterioration of sea-waterlogged woods.

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