The International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA Zadar) is once again organising courses in the restoration and conservation of underwater archaeological finds to be held in Zadar, Croatia in the period from March - April 2023.
This international course is targeted to the practical and theoretical training of candidates for independent work in the restoration and conservation of underwater archaeological finds.
The courses will consist of practical work under the supervision of a mentor at the workshops of the ICUA Zadar. Candidates will have the opportunity to work on the various materials treated at the three main workshops that deal with metal, ceramic and glass, and organic finds. Training will be provided by ICUA Zadar staff, pursuant to the course programme manual and the standards valid for the ICUA/UNESCO advanced course staged in 2011.
We are planning a two-week Introductory Courses that will involve work in all three workshops.
At the end of the course candidates will take an exam on the theoretical and practical segments, after which they will be entitled to a certificate confirming that they have passed our Centre's course for specialised conservators/restorers of underwater archaeological finds.
Participation costs:
Introductory Course on the Conservation and Restoration of Archaeological Finds from Underwater Environments
Duration: 14 days, price: EUR 500,00
The price includes accommodation at the ICUA dormitory, the restoration textbook, work smock and shirt.
Applicants that do not require accommodation in our dormitory can attend the course at a discounted price.
Application process
Candidates applying are kindly requested to submit a request, indicating the period during which they wish to take the course, and their curriculum vitae (CV). Please direct applications and any questions you may have by e-mail to workshop head Antonija Jozi? at
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. Deadline for application is 17th February 2023.
Number of students is limited. Applications will be assessed and selected based on the professional and educational profiles as presented in the application documents. Priority will be given to applicants coming from public institutions (either at local or at central level) competent for the safeguarding and management of cultural heritage. Possible letters of support from the respective national Commission for UNESCO, and/or the Ministry of Culture, and/or the parent institution competent for the safeguarding of cultural heritage will be considered as an added value.
Course Programme
Introductory Course on the Conservation and Restoration of Archaeological Finds
The two-week course on the conservation and restoration of underwater archaeological finds provides an introduction to conservation-restoration. During the course participants will be acquainted with work on all materials and spend a few days in each of the workshops. The training consists of a theoretical and practical segment, with the possibility of placing greater focus on a given segment, depending on the wishes, capabilities and knowledge of the applicant. The programme will be conducted along the same points as the one-month course, but in lesser scope, based on the time available. In the practical segment applicants will have the opportunity to try their hand on the phases of conservation-restoration work that can be executed in the available time. Within these time constraints conducting all phases of conservation-restoration work on a single object is impossible and participants will therefore have the opportunity to work on phases of conservation-restoration work on various smaller objects. The goal of this brief course is to either acquaint participants with conservation and restoration as a method of protecting archaeological finds or to acquaint more experienced conservators-restorers with the specifics pertaining to the treatment of archaeological finds originating from wet environments.
The Conservation and Restoration of Underwater Archaeological Finds made of Ceramic and Glass - programme
Prepared by: Martina ?urkovi? Madiraca
Introductory Course
Documenting the initial condition
Evaluating the state of conservation and establishing a plan of conservation-restoration work
Cleaning the artefact
A brief introduction to the desalination procedure
Consolidation
Bonding and gluing fragments
Small integrations of missing sections
Retouching
Final protection
The Conservation and Restoration of Underwater Archaeological Finds made of Metal - programme
Prepared by: Antonija Jozi?
Introductory Course
Getting acquainted with the types and causes of the deterioration of archaeological metal
Getting acquainted with the phases of conservation-restoration operations
Getting acquainted with the procedure for the desalination of underwater archaeological artefacts made of metal
Mechanical cleaning of underwater archaeological artefacts made of metal
The micro sandblasting procedure
The use of various hand and power tools
Getting acquainted with the methods of actively stabilising metal artefacts
Applying final protection substances
The Conservation and Restoration of Waterlogged Archaeological Wood and other Underwater Organic Finds programme
Prepared by: Anita Jeli?
Introductory Course
Documenting the initial condition of the artefact
Preliminary inspection of the artefact and establishing a plan of conservation-restoration work
Mechanical cleaning of the artefact
Introduction to the desalination of underwater archaeological artefacts
Introduction to the methods of impregnation and removing excess of impregnation substances
Introduction to the drying process
The importance of compiling documentation and of the adequate storage of restored artefact
