APRIL 
               Archaeological Preservation Research Laboratory 

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C. Waynesmith 
Director 
            Nautical Archaeology Program-College of Liberal Arts 
  Texas A&M University

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Through the Archaeological Preservation Research Laboratory (APRL), students are given the opportunity to learn the latest advancements in archaeological preservation technologies as well as participate in the development of new applications for academic and industrial use. In conjunction with Dow Corning Corporation, research at APRL, has focused on the development of organo-silicone chemistry and polymers and their application in conserving organic archaeological artifacts. The driving forces of research at APRL are: 

* to contribute new and alternative methods for the conservation of 
  organic material/culture materials 

* to develop the science of organo-silicone chemistry for use in academic
institutions and industry 

* to identify new areas of study and application in archaeology and industry

* to conduct interdisciplinary research at TAMU for the enrichment and
development of advanced technologies 

* Working in close association with the Conservation Research Laboratory,
Texas A&M University and Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, Michigan,
research has included the conservation of artifacts from numerous
archaeological sites. 

* Port Royal Project-Artifacts from the l7th century provenance of Port
Royal, Jamaica, include waterlogged wood, glass, leather, canvas, basketry
seeds and bone have been conserved using a range of silicone oils and other
polymers. 

* La Belle Shipwreck - Working in conjunction with the Texas Historical
Commission and Barto Arnold, CRL and APRL conservators are conserving
artifacts from the La Salle's ship, La Belle. 

* Contract Conservation using traditional processes and polymer
technologies. 

APRL-Preserving history-advancing the science of archaeological
conservation.