Founded in 1996 by Dr. C. Wayne Smith at Texas A&M University, the Archaeological Preservation Research Laboratory (APRL for short) has quickly risen through the ranks of conservation laboratories worldwide for breaking new ground in this relatively young science through the use of passivation polymer technology.

Dr. Smith established APRL with two main goals in mind. First, he envisioned an academic environment where, in conjunction with Dow Corning Corporation, scholars could develop preservation strategies using silicone oils and resins for archaeological, biological, and industrial applications. Having conducted his post-doctoral research at Dow Corning, Dr. Smith realized passivation polymers' tremendous potential in the conservator's toolkit. With the establishment of APRL, many postulations as to how effective these new materials could be in stabilizing artifacts were put to the test. Through the course of experimentation, the APRL team has worked on such varied artifacts and materials as 300-year-old glass from the sunken English pirate community of Port Royal, Jamaica, leather shoes and fiber rope from La Salle's ill-fated ship La Belle which sank off the Texas Coast in 1686, and canvas sails removed from the hold of Sweden's ancient warship Wasa. Furthermore, it was found that all of these objects could be preserved in a fraction of the time that would be required using more traditional methods. Passivation polymer technology has also been employed at APRL with great success in the preservation of biological materials for medical research, including advancements in plastination, veterinary cadaver preservation, and human tissue research. For this work, the APRL director has been awarded three international patents for organic material conservation.

Dr. Smith's second intent was to augment, refine, and improve upon existing conservation strategies. Following this avenue, APRL techs have expanded upon the long-trusted use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the preservation of fragile waterlogged wood by adding cross-linkers to the waxy material, polymerizing it. The glycol has been used for years on its own to bulk the cellular structure of wood that has been weakened by centuries under the waves - quite successfully for that matter. The new APRL method simply provides the conservator with a new method for stabilizing the PEG in artifacts. The polymerized PEG leaves the artifacts dry, safee to touch and naturally colored. This method was used to re-treat a number of wooden sabots recovered from Lake Champlain, Vermont with promising results.

Recently, APRL researchers, under the direction of Dr. Smith, have moved on to new horizons in conservation. Strategies are being developed for the use of silane technologies in the preservation of organic and inorganic artifact conservation. Up to now, inorganic artifacts have remained out of reach for new APRL techniques, so this is an excellent development. In the future, Dr. Smith hopes to continue his study and expand the conservator's knowledge even further as he draws in new and fresh ideas from incoming students and visiting scholars.