Displaying Mistakes that may damage your artifacts
    There are a few methods of creating a display that you must avoid when displaying artifacts.  These methods are used quite frequently, but will damage your artifacts.

     The first one I discussed in the attaching section.  Never use wire to attach your artifacts.  This is the fastest way to chip, break, and damage an artifact.  Not only does this method damage your artifacts, it also detracts from the beauty of the artifact itself.

     Another displaying method that is used frequently is the use of laquer.  In many of these displays, artifacts are attached to a board.  This board is either painted or stained.  Artifacts are attached and the whole thing is lacquered.  This has to be one of the worst things you can do to an artifact.  Lacquer is a thick substance that will fill in the flaking of projectile points and detract from the artifact itself.  I have heard people who have done this say that it will come off, but that is not always the case.  Even if the artifact is a durable material the lacquer may not be able to be removed.  If the artifact is made from a porous material then it could absorb the lacquer.  I have many projectile points that are made from a porous enough material that lacquer could not be removed if it was placed on the artifact.  I have also seen people who lacquer non-durable material artifacts.  For these artifacts the lacquer will never be able to be removed without destroying the artifact itself. 

     Remember that the display should accentuate your artifacts and not detract from them.  You should also strive to preserve artifacts and not destroy them.  Whatever method you use to display an artifact make sure that it will not detract from, or destroy the artifact.
Return to Main Menu
Return to Tips Page