The Museum of Cultural History (KHM), University of Oslo invites applications for two (2) postdoctoral research fellowships in the Saving Oseberg Project. The museum houses the extensive and highly-valued Oseberg collection which is one of the most comprehensive collections of Viking Age wooden objects in the world. The artefacts are severely threatened by a slow but on-going deterioration process caused by a conservation treatment applied one hundred years ago. In addition, the artefacts have been restored to such a degree, that reversing or removing these treatments would irreversibly damage the artefacts. In order to develop a preservation strategy for these highly complex and degraded artefacts, the museum launched the research project Saving Oseberg.
Saving Oseberg is financed by the Ministry of Research and Higher Education and the University of Oslo, Norway, and will take place under the auspices of the KHM Conservation Department within a network of international research institutions.

Post-doctoral position 1: Development of methods to neutralize archaeological wood and to remove harmful metal ions from wood
After conservation treatment, the highly fragmented artefacts were assembled using metal pins and screws. Some objects are also decorated with Viking era iron nails. The metal is now corroding, resulting in a release of copper, zinc and iron ions. As initial experiments have shown, sulphuric acid is formed during the alum conservation process. The presence of sulphuric acid and metal ions is assumed to be the greatest cause for the active deterioration of alum-conserved wood. In this post-doctoral project, methods for neutralization of archaeological wood and the removal or inactivation of harmful ions will be studied. This includes an evaluation of existing methods as well as the development of new ways to influence the pH value and ion content of wood. Interactions of possible neutralization agents with wood and different consolidating substances for re-treatment will have to be studied. Application studies considering the complex situation of the Oseberg find are also part of the work.

Post-doctoral position 2: Development of bio-inspired materials for wood conservation
The Saving Oseberg Project aims to develop a new generation of materials for wood conservation, based on the idea of using a biomimetic approach. Suitable bio-inspired materials will be synthesized and their application in wood conservation will be studied. This includes organic compounds, inorganic structures and composite materials. Biotechnological techniques should also be considered.

The positions are for a period of two (2) years and should start at the latest on January 1st 2014.

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