International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Impact Factor (2012): 3.358 Volume 3 Issue 9, September 2014 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Museum as a Savior of Cultural Heritage: Special Perspective on Deterioration and Conservation of Objects Garima Bharti Research Scholar, Department of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India Abstract: Our incredible India is amalgamated with lots of Archaeological, Historical and Cultural heritages. It is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generation. That makes the world heritage exceptional in its universal applications. Among all of them, which our ancestor left behind, nothing is more evocative and auspicious than their signature as a form of architecture, sculpture, coins, epigraphs, paleograph, treasure, artifacts. Which introduced the story of past. However, flourishment of our past is depend upon this thing that how do we conserve the artifacts of our nostalgia because these opulent heritages are the mirror of our precious history. Keywords: Deterioration of museum objects, scientific conservation of museum objects. 1. Introduction Every culture represents a unique and irreplaceable body of value as tradition and form of expression are its most effective means of demonstrating its presence into the world and museum is an institution for the preservation of those object which best illustrate the phenomena of nature and the work of man for the utilization of these in the increase of knowledge and for the culture and enlightenment of the people. The source of culture property is varied. The object may come in the museums through exploration, excavation, treasure trove findings, through purchase, gifts, transfer, loan etc. but most important thing who will do care of it. Because when they brought to museum, they are very fragile and brittle, so in this way museum takes preventive action to cure and conserve it. It will not wrong and exaggerated if we say that museums are the savior of cultural heritage because the existence of any cultural object is depends upon how we conserve that object and museum played a very vital role in it. For better conservation of the cultural property, a systematic strategy is to be adopted by museum. Therefore, I would like to describe some important measure, which are using by museum to conserve cultural objects. There are several steps for the conservation measures point of view like:- 1. Know the collection 2. Categories and identify the aggressors 3. Avoid the aggressors 4. Block the aggressors 5. Check or monitor the aggressors 6. React against the aggressors 7. Communicate Depending upon the type of treatment to be given to the objects they can be classified as follows: 1. Metals 2. Organic Objects 3. In-Organic Objects 4. Paintings 1. Metal Metals and alloys from major portion of museum collection. They seem to be stronger but not durable. They are mostly archaeological collection, are exposed to air from ground, and are found to be corroded mostly. In the ancient times object made out of gold, silver, copper, lead, iron etc. the corrosion products either should be removed or stabilized to extend the life expectancy of the objects as well as to provide maximum message from the object. 2. Organic Objects Material derived from living organism such as plants, animal etc, are called organic objects. Textiles, ropes, paper, palm, leaves, wooden objects, leather, feather, bone, ivory etc, are some of the example. Organic object are the weakest among all of museum objects. 3. In – Organic Objects The objects which are not organic are called in-organic objects. Mostly they are earthen matters. They include stone objects, terracotta objects, glass beads, stone implements, etc. they are composite in nature and are durable when compared to the other types of objects. Due to the long burial in the earth most of them weathered, absorbed salts, crumbled, and many have survived the ages. 4. Paintings Paintings are complex in nature. There are different types of paintings they are : cave paintings, wall paintings, oil paintings, miniatures etc. whatever may be medium, type and variety, the paintings are multi layered and therefore, they require special study. But to save these cultural objects it is important to conserve these objects form deterioration process. There are lots of deterioration causes which are atmospheric, light heat, air pollution sound and vibration, bio deterioration and many others. Paper ID: SEP14600 2183