Our most recent graduates were invited to present their work on the conservation of Battery Jasper at the 1st International Conference on Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and Archaeology (SEAHA) this July at the University College London.
The conservation of Battery Jasper represents the first collaborative effort between the Clemson University/College of Charleston Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, an innovative research facility that specializes in the conservation of metal artifacts, and the United States National Parks Service. This project was the culmination of the materials conservation segment of a two-year Master’s program. The project consisted of devising and executing a stabilization plan for the cast iron and steel components of Battery Jasper in Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. Battery Jasper, an example of an Endicott coastal defense system, dates from 1896 and is currently owned and operated by the U.S. National Parks Service. Endicott System batteries are an often-undervalued and underfunded component of cultural heritage in the United States, a concern that is compounded by the difficulties that surround their conservation. Conservation efforts focused on the unstable metal components of the battery’s shell hoist system, the most significant portion of the battery. Previous protective coatings failed due to continual exposure to the coastal environment. The chosen treatment method utilized the ThermaTech high-pressure steam system, a tool developed for use on masonry but used successfully by the Warren Lasch Conservation Center on metal objects in similar contexts. The ThermaTech system effectively removes existing coatings without damaging the corroded metal’s fragile surface. The bare metal was recoated with an epoxy base and polyurethane finish coat. The successful conservation of Battery Jasper is a step forward in the development of relationships between academic, scientific, and governmental heritage institutions.