Salvageable documents

[lfightgloves]

Hi. My name's Ben. I'm just curious if anyone knows if documents like manuscripts, books, and other papers can be salvaged from a wreck.

I am writing a story, which involves a man diving into a wreck from 1914 to recover a manuscript and I was wondering if this was just impossible, or if there is a chance something like that could be preserved and therefore salvageable.

Thanks a lot!

Ben

 

[pheraghty]

The "METHODS OF CONSERVING ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIAL FROM UNDERWATER SITES" written by DONNY L. HAMILTON (dlhamilton@tamu.edu) does not mention paper in the TOC. However, the folks to ask this question to are at:

CONSERVATION RESEARCH LABORATORY

Nautical Archaeology Program
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas 77843-4352

Phone: 979-845-6354
FAX: 979-845-6399
E-mail: crl@tamu.edu

If it is possible they would know.

 

[Sideband]

You could always place the documents into a water proof container, such as a safe, then have the safe recovered and opened on land. Could even be something like a small wall safe from a state room. I kind of doubt those would actually be designed to be water proof, but you never know. The literary license there would be small if it turns out that unprotected documents would be unrecoverable.

Joe

 

[Steve Lawson]

It's certainly possible. I once recovered a book from a WWII wreck. The edges of the pages were eaten away, but otherwise the pages were in great shape and easily readable.

Paper can last decades if not centuries underwater, providing it's not eaten by marine organisms. So, your manuscript should be found in areas void are with minimal marine life, such as an area with no light and contained, sealed, or buried. So, a scenario could be that your character found a manuscript in a briefcase, carrying case, satchel, etc. partially buried way down inside of a wreck. The paper would be relatively protected, especially if the case filled with mud or silt.

Steve