Microfauna in Anglo-Saxon graves: entomological evidence at Boss Hall and the Butter Market, Ipswich

摘要: Preservation of organic matter in intimate contact with corroding metal can occur in two separate ways although in some cases both mechanisms are seen on the same artefact. In the case of copper alloy objects (or more rarely silver objects) wood, leather or textile may be preserved by virtue of the fungicidal/antibacterial action of copper salts in solution. In such cases the organic matter is preserved in a condition close to its original state and textiles preserved in this way may remain flexible. However, this manner of preservation is relatively rare and it is much more common to find organic material completely mineralized and adhering to the corroded object. Although organic remains do occasionally appear as mineralized pseudomorphs on copper alloy objects, with their morphological (as opposed to chemical) characteristics preserved in corrosion products, they are most often seen on iron objects or associated …