The Forensic Lifecycle of a Sunken Veteran: Interdisciplinary Conservation of an 18th Century Hussar Sword
Title: Conservation Studies of the Hussar Sword from the Yevstafiy Shipwreck (Yevstafiy Batığı Süvari Kılıcının Konservasyon Çalışmaları)
Role: In this multi-disciplinary project, I served as both the lead conservator-practitioner and the principal project coordinator, managing the forensic workflow between archaeological inquiry and advanced technological diagnostics. Event:Proceedings of the 32nd International Symposium on Archaeometry, (May 23-27, 2016, Edirne), Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums Publications. Year: 2017
From Strategic Risk Assessment to Digital Resurrection
“The recovery of a Russian cavalry officer’s sword from the wreck of the Yevstafiy (sunk in 1770) presented one of the most complex challenges in maritime conservation. Fused into a single mineralized mass by over two centuries of marine corrosion, the artifact demanded more than just a repair; it required a Forensic Life-Cycle Management approach.
As the principal investigator, I initiated the project with a comprehensive SWOT Analysis, evaluating the institutional and material risks before any physical intervention. By advancing from traditional flat-panel imaging to Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), we achieved a ‘virtual unsheathing’ of the sword, mapping the internal structural damage and the galvanic decay caused by the brass-steel interaction. This project stands as a landmark in Turkish conservation history, integrating wood anatomy, polymer chemistry, and 3D digital craftsmanship to preserve the authentic narrative of the Battle of Cesme.
Key Highlights & Impact
Strategic Decision Making: Utilizing SWOT analysis as a mandatory forensic step to balance the ‘urge to intervene’ with the ‘necessity to preserve.’
Diagnostic Innovation (CBCT): Pioneering the use of dental-grade 3D imaging to overcome the ‘masking effect’ of brass, revealing the hidden, spongy state of the internal steel.
Material Intelligence: Identifying the scabbard as Linden wood (Tilia) through microscopic anatomy, leading to a customized stabilization protocol using polymer.
Digital Craftsmanship: Implementing Experimental Restoration by 3D scanning the hilt and using PLA printing to recreate missing components based on historical catalogs (Kulinsky).
Holistic Museum Presentation: Proposing a ‘total interpretation’ model where the 3D-printed replica and radiographic data are displayed alongside the original, ensuring the ‘invisible’ history is made visible to the public.
This complex conservation project was made possible through the dedicated collaboration of multiple institutions and specialists. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to:
Çeşme Museum Directorate for their trust and institutional support throughout the process.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şinasi Ekinci (CNAEM) for his invaluable expertise in radiographic imaging.
Asım Horasan and the TEKNOGEM team for their pioneering contribution to Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) analysis.
Prof. Dr. Ünal Akkemik (Istanbul University) for the meticulous wood species identification.
Conservator Esra Altınanıt for her expert guidance on polymer stabilization.
Special thanks to conservators Fatih Şahin, Serdar Yasar and Ebru Aksel Arnavutoğlu for their excellence in 3D modeling and digital craftsmanship.
I would also like to extend my special thanks to Conservator Buket Aladağ (Izmir Regional Laboratory) for her critical initial assessment and logistical coordination, and to my colleague Conservator Tuğçe Pamuk for her dedicated support during the p-XRF elemental analysis phase.
This project stands as a testament to the power of collective expertise in safeguarding our maritime heritage.
Citation
Genç, U. (2017). “Conservation Studies of the Hussar Sword from the Yevstafiy Shipwreck” (Yevstafiy Batığı Süvari Kılıcının Konservasyon Çalışmaları). 32. Arkeometri Sonuçları Toplantısı, (23-27 Mayıs 2016, Edirne), T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı Yayınları, pp. 269-282.
