Susan Braovac

Academic Interests
Conservation of archaeological wood, research into the deterioration of alum-treated wood, climate in museums.
Teaching
- I teach a wood technology course through the Conservation Studies program at UiO.
Higher education and employment history
I have a bachelor degree in biochemistry from McGill University, Montreal, Canada (1989) and a Master degree in Object Conservation from Queen's University, Kingston, Canada (1993). I have a PhD (2015) on the deterioration and reconservation of alum-treated wood through the School of Conservation, Copenhagen, Denmark. Since 1995, I have worked as a conservator at the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo. In the Saving Oseberg project I work as a conservation researcher.
Collaboration
Please see the Saving Oseberg website: https://www.khm.uio.no/english/research/projects/saving-oseberg/
Publications
- McQueen, Caitlin; Mortensen, Martin Nordvig; Caruso, Francesco; Mantellato, Sara & Braovac, Susan (2020). Oxidative degradation of archaeological wood and the effect of alum, iron and calcium salts. Heritage Science. ISSN 2050-7445. 8(1) . doi: 10.1186/s40494-020-00377-0 Full text in Research Archive.
- McQueen, Caitlin; Lucejko, Jeannette J.; Flåte, Ingrid; Modugno, Francesca & Braovac, Susan (2019). Ammonium alum in alum-treated wooden artefacts: discovery, origins and consequences. Heritage Science. ISSN 2050-7445. 7(1), s 1- 11 . doi: 10.1186/s40494-019-0321-7 Full text in Research Archive.
- Andriulo, Fabrizio; Giorgi, Rodorico; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Braovac, Susan (2018). Nanotechnologies for the restoration of alum-treated archaeological wood, In Emily Williams & Emma Hocker (ed.), Proceedings of the 13th ICOM-CC Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Florence 2016. International Council of Museums, ICOM. ISBN 978-92-9012-436-8. -. s 176 - 183
- Braovac, Susan; McQueen, Caitlin; Sahlstedt, Malin; Kutzke, Hartmut; Łucejko, Jeannette J. & Klokkernes, Torunn (2018). Navigating conservation strategies: linking material research on alum-treated wood from the Oseberg collection to conservation decisions. Heritage Science. ISSN 2050-7445. 6:77, s 1- 16 . doi: 10.1186/s40494-018-0241-y Full text in Research Archive.
- Dionisi-Vici, P; Braovac, Susan; Hauer, David & Jensen, Maria Malherbes (2018). Measuring stress levels of archaeological samples from the Oseberg ship under fluctuating relative humidity - preliminary results, In Emily Williams & Emma Hocker (ed.), Proceedings of the 13th ICOM-CC Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Florence 2016. International Council of Museums, ICOM. ISBN 978-92-9012-436-8. -. s 333 - 337
- Emanuelsson, Emma & Braovac, Susan (2018). Re-conservation of glycerol-conserved ropes from the Viking Age Oseberg ship, In Emily Williams & Emma Hocker (ed.), Proceedings of the 13th ICOM-CC Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Florence 2016. International Council of Museums, ICOM. ISBN 978-92-9012-436-8. -. s 379 - 382
- Lucejko, Jeannette J.; La Nasa, Jacopo; McQueen, Caitlin; Braovac, Susan; Colombini, Maria Perla & Modugno, Francesca (2018). Protective effect of linseed oil varnish on archaeological wood treated with alum. Microchemical journal (Print). ISSN 0026-265X. 139, s 50- 61 . doi: 10.1016/j.microc.2018.02.011 Full text in Research Archive.
- McHale, Emily; Braovac, Susan; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Benneche, Tore (2018). Consolidation of waterlogged wood with lignin-like oligomers, In Emily Williams & Emma Hocker (ed.), Proceedings of the 13th ICOM-CC Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Florence 2016. International Council of Museums, ICOM. ISBN 978-92-9012-436-8. -. s 184 - 192
- McQueen, Caitlin; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Narygina, Olga & Braovac, Susan (2018). Temperature- and humidity-induced changes in alum-treated wood: a qualitative X-ray diffraction study. Heritage Science. ISSN 2050-7445. 6:66, s 1- 11 . doi: 10.1186/s40494-018-0232-z Full text in Research Archive.
- McQueen, Caitlin; Tamburini, Diego & Braovac, Susan (2018). Identification of inorganic compounds in composite alum-treated wooden artefacts from the Oseberg collection. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 8 . doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-21314-z Full text in Research Archive.
- McQueen, Caitlin; Tamburini, Diego & Braovac, Susan (2018). Identification of metal compounds in alum-treated wood from the Oseberg collection, In Emily Williams & Emma Hocker (ed.), Proceedings of the 13th ICOM-CC Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference: Florence 2016. International Council of Museums, ICOM. ISBN 978-92-9012-436-8. Article. s 162 - 168 Full text in Research Archive.
- Andriulo, Fabrizio; Giorgi, Rodorico; Baglioni, Piero; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Braovac, Susan & Kutzke, Hartmut (2017). Hybrid nanocomposites made of diol-modified silanes and nanostructured calcium hydroxide. Applications to Alum-treated wood. Pure and Applied Chemistry. ISSN 0033-4545. . doi: 10.1515/pac-2016-1014
- Andriulo, Fabrizio; Giorgi, Rodorico; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Kutzke, Hartmut; Baglioni, Piero & Braovac, Susan (2017). Hybrid nanocomposites made of diol-modified silanes and nanostructured calcium hydroxide. Applications to Alum-treated wood. Pure and Applied Chemistry. ISSN 0033-4545. . doi: /10.1515/pac-2016-1014
- McQueen, Caitlin; Tamburini, Diego; Łucejko, Jeannette Jacqueline; Braovac, Susan; Gambineri, Francesca; Modugno, Francesca; Colombini, Maria Perla & Kutzke, Hartmut (2017). New insights into the degradation processes and influence of the conservation treatment in alum-treated wood from the Oseberg collection. Microchemical journal (Print). ISSN 0026-265X. 132, s 119- 129 . doi: 10.1016/j.microc.2017.01.010 Full text in Research Archive.
- Andriulo, Fabrizio; Braovac, Susan; Kutzke, Hartmut; Giorgi, Rodorico & Baglioni, Piero (2016). Nanotechnologies for the restoration of alum-treated archaeological wood. Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing. ISSN 0947-8396. 122(4) . doi: 10.1007/s00339-016-9833-0
- Andriulo, Fabrizio; Braovac, Susan; Kutzke, Hartmut; Giorgi, Rodorico & Baglioni, Piero (2016). Nanotechnologies for the restoration of alum-treated archaeological wood. Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing. ISSN 0947-8396.
- Braovac, Susan; Tamburini, Diego; Łucejko, Jeannette Jacqueline; McQueen, Caitlin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Colombini, Maria Perla (2016). Chemical analyses of extremely degraded wood using analytical pyrolysis and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Microchemical journal (Print). ISSN 0026-265X. 124, s 368- 379 . doi: 10.1016/j.microc.2015.09.016
- McHale, Emily; Braovac, Susan; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Gillis, Richard B; Adams, Gary; Harding, Stephen E; Benneche, Tore & Kutzke, Hartmut (2016). Synthesis and characterisation of lignin-like oligomers as a bio-inspired consolidant for waterlogged archaeological wood. Pure and Applied Chemistry. ISSN 0033-4545. 88(10-11), s 969- 977 . doi: 10.1515/pac-2016-0814 Full text in Research Archive. Show summary
- Bader, Thomas; de Borst, Karin; Fackler, Karin; Ters, Thomas & Braovac, Susan (2013). A nano to macroscale study on structure-mechanics relationships of archaeological oak. Journal of Cultural Heritage. ISSN 1296-2074. 14(5), s 377- 388 . doi: 10.1016/j.culher.2012.09.007
- Kutzke, Hartmut & Braovac, Susan (2013). Conservation of archaeological wood: the Oseberg find, In John Rennie; Jonathan Weil; David Blumel; Stefan Malmoli & Hilary Maybaum (ed.), Yearbook of Science and Technology 2013. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-071801-40-9. artikkel. s 89 - 92
- Braovac, Susan; Hjulstad, Guro & Storbekk, Elin Christine (2012). Decisions about moving collections – where do conservators fit in? How can we contribute?, In Ida Antonia Tank Bronken; Susan Braovac; Tone Marie Olstad & Anne Apalnes Ørnhøi (ed.), Moving Collections. Processes and Consequences. Archetype Publications Ltd.. ISBN 978-1-904982-84-5. artikkel. s 175 - 184
- Braovac, Susan & Kutzke, Hartmut (2012). The presence of sulfuric acid in alum-conserved wood – origin and consequences. Journal of Cultural Heritage. ISSN 1296-2074. 13(3), s 203- 208 . doi: 10.1016/j.culher.2012.02.002
- Braovac, Susan (2002). Samlingene på Vikingskipshuset: tilstand og vurdering. Skrifter - Universitetet i Oslos kulturhistoriske museer. ISSN 1503-0792. 1, s 31- 40
- Bronken, Ida Antonia Tank; Braovac, Susan; Olstad, Tone Marie & Ørnhøi, Anne Apalnes (red.) (2012). Moving Collections. Processes and Consequences. Archetype Publications Ltd.. ISBN 978-1-904982-84-5. 220 s.
- Braovac, Susan; Bader, Thomas; Fackler, Karin & Hofstetter, Karin (2011). Stiffness properties of the archaeological oak wood from the Oseberg ship. Fraunhofer IRB Verlag. ISBN 9783816785606. 310 s.
- Braovac, Susan; Fackler, Karin; Ters, Thomas & Bader, Thomas (2011). Chemical composition of the archaeological oak wood from the Oseberg ship. Fraunhofer IRB Verlag. ISBN 9783816785606. 310 s.
- Braovac, Susan & Andriulo, Fabrizio (2020). Applying alkaline nanoparticles to deacidify alum-treated wood.
- Braovac, Susan & Viestad, Vibeke Maria (2020, 09. juni). Arkeologi på rappen 3-4: Susan Braovac on Saving Oseberg and cross-disciplinary research (podcast). [Radio]. Primitive tider Arkeologi på rappen 3-4.
- Braovac, Susan (2019). Practical experiences with cross-disciplinary research - the case of Saving Oseberg. Primitive tider. ISSN 1501-0430. 21, s 143- 148 Full text in Research Archive.
- Braovac, Susan; Sahlstedt, Malin & Wittköpper, Markus (2019). Retreatment testing of alum-treated woods from the Oseberg collection – results from first trials.
- Lucejko, Jeannette J.; McQueen, Caitlin; Braovac, Susan; Sahlstedt, Malin; Modugno, F; Caruso, Francesco; Mantellato, Sara & Colombini, Maria Perla (2019). Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of paper in contact with acidic wood.
- Lucejko, Jeannette J.; Sahlstedt, Malin; McQueen, Caitlin; Modugno, F & Braovac, Susan (2019). Comparative chemical investigations of alum treated archaeological wood from different museum collections.
- McQueen, Caitlin; Braovac, Susan; Lucejko, Jeannette J. & Modugno, F (2019). Unexpected ammonium compounds in alum-treated wood from the Oseberg collection.
- Wakefield, Jennifer M.K.; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Piva, Eleonora; Stockman, R; Adams, Gary; Heinze, T; Braovac, Susan & Harding, Stephen Ernest (2019). Investigation of natural polymers for treatments of Oseberg artifacts-review of lab degraded and archaeological wood.
- Lucejko, Jeannette J.; Braovac, Susan; McQueen, Caitlin; Modugno, F & Colombini, Maria Perla (2018). The catalysing effect of alum in degradation processes of carbohydrates in archaeological wood.
- McQueen, Caitlin; Steindal, Calin Constantin & Braovac, Susan (2018). Temperature- and RH-induced changes in materials related to alum-treated wood – a qualitative X-ray diffraction study.
- McQueen, Caitlin; Tamburini, Diego & Braovac, Susan (2017). FTIR microscopy for analysis of treated archaeological wood samples.
- Andriulo, Fabrizio; Giorgi, Rodorico; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan & Baglioni, Piero (2016). Nanotechnologies for the restoration of alum-treated archaeological wood.
- Braovac, Susan; McQueen, Caitlin; Andriulo, Fabrizio; McHale, Emily & Steindal, Calin Constantin (2016). The Saving Oseberg Project – Chemistry for the salvation of Viking Age wooden artefacts.
- McHale, Emily; Braovac, Susan; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Benneche, Tore (2016). Consolidation of waterlogged archaeological wood with lignin-like oligomers.
- McHale, Emily; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Braovac, Susan; Gillis, Richard; Adams, Gary; Benneche, Tore & Kutzke, Hartmut (2016). Synthesis and characterisation of lignin-like oligomers as a bio-inspired consolidant for waterlogged archaeological wood.
- McQueen, Caitlin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Braovac, Susan (2016). Identification of metal compounds in alum-treated wood from the Oseberg collection.
- Amberger, Maria Laura; Christensen, Mikkel; Hauer, David; McQueen, Caitlin; Braovac, Susan; Kutzke, Hartmut; Hjulstad, Guro; Helgeland, Kirsten Jensen; Teigen, Mårten; McHale, Emily; Steindal, Calin Constantin & Andriulo, Fabrizio (2015). Saving Oseberg Forskningsprosjekt.
- Hauer, David; Andriulo, Fabrizio; McQueen, Caitlin; Braovac, Susan; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Rustad Carlsen, Marianne (2015, 19. november). Håper at vikingskattene kan reddes. [TV]. NRK Dagsrevuen.
- McHale, Emily; McQueen, Caitlin; Christensen, Mikkel; Braovac, Susan; Næss, Ellen Marie & Hauer, David (2015). Barnesøndag: Oseberglaboratoriet (Family day: The Oseberg Laboratory).
- McQueen, Caitlin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Braovac, Susan (2015). Metal ions in archaeological wood from the Oseberg find – a complex issue?.
- Tamburini, Diego; Braovac, Susan; Lucejko, Jeannette J.; Modugno, Francesca; McQueen, Caitlin; Kutzke, Hartmut & Colombini, Maria Perla (2015). Chemical analysis of degraded wood by Py-GC/MS and ICP-AES.
- Tamburini, Diego; Lucejko, Jeannette J.; Modugno, Francesca; Colombini, Maria P.; Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan; Mortensen, Martin; Chaumat, Gilles & Gambineri, Francesca (2015). PY-GC-MS with in situ silylation to the analysis of treated composite archaeological wood artifacts - the ArCo project.
- Tamburini, Diego; Lucejko, Jeannette J.; Modugno, Francesca; Colombini, Maria Perla; Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan; Mortensen, Martin; Chaumat, Gilles & Gambineri, Francesca (2015). The ArCo Project - Ageing Studies of Treated Composite Archaeological Waterlogged Artefacts - preliminary results.
- McHale, Emily; Benneche, Tore; Kutzke, Hartmut; Christensen, Mikkel & Braovac, Susan (2014). Preservation of archaeological wood: a challenge for biomimetic materials.
- Braovac, Susan; Bill, Jan & Løchen, Ragnar (2013, 06. oktober). Åndenes Makt. [TV]. TVNorge.
- Braovac, Susan; Lucejko, Jeanette J.; Tamburini, Diego; Kutzke, Hartmut & Colombini, Maria P. (2013). Saving Oseberg - Research for Preservation. Analysis of Highly Deteriorated Archaeological Wooden Objects by Py (HMDS) - GC/MS.
- Braovac, Susan; Kutzke, Hartmut; Jørgensen, Sissel; Bouzga, Aud Mjærum; Hansen, Eddy Walther & Arstad, Bjørnar (2012). ALUM-TREATED WOOD: CHARACTERIZATION USING INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY AND SOLID STATE NMR.
- Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan; Christensen, Mikkel & Gjengedal, Kjerstin (2012, 10. februar). Nasjonalskatt går i oppløysing. Apollon.
- Kutzke, Hartmut; Christensen, Mikkel & Braovac, Susan (2012). Hvor fortid og fremtid møtes - med forskerlupe i Osebergfunnet.
- Bisulca, Christina; Odegaard, Nancy; Braovac, Susan & Kutzke, Hartmut (2011). Consolidation of Alum-Treated Wood with Alkoxysilanes.
- Braovac, Susan; Jensen, Maria; Aarseth, Bjarte Einar; Bill, Jan; Hjulstad, Guro; Løchen, Ragnar; Storbekk, Elin Christine; Dionisi Vici, Paolo & Allegretti, Ottaviano (2011). Long term responses in archaeological wood to ambient temperature and relative humidity – case study: the Oseberg Ship. Show summary
- Braovac, Susan; Kutzke, Hartmut; Jørgensen, Sissel; Bouzga, Aud Mjærum; Arstad, Bjørnar & Hansen, Eddy Walther (2011). Alum-treated wood: characterization using infrared spectroscopy and solid state 1h and 13C NMR. Show summary
- Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan & Christensen, Mikkel (2011). Kunsten å bevare vikingkunst - ingen enkel kunst. Preserving the objects from Oseberg.
- Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan; Christensen, Mikkel & Hansen, Finn Knut (2011). Old treatments – new solutions? Summary of activities of the Alum Research Group.
- Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan & Euler, Harald (2011). The behaviour of alum in alum-conserved wooden objects.
- Lehmann, Eberhard; Mannes, David; Hunger, K.; Wörle, Marie; Braovac, Susan; Kutzke, Hartmut & Christensen, Mikkel (2011). Wood investigations by means of radiation transmission techniques in the analysis of cultural heritage objects of different size scale.
- Braovac, Susan; Christensen, Mikkel; Kutzke, Hartmut; Hartmann, Stefan; Mokso, Raimund & Lehmann, Eberhard (2010). Looking inside! 3D imaging experiments on alum-conserved archaeological wood.
- Braovac, Susan; Christensen, Mikkel; Kutzke, Hartmut; Hartmann, Stefan; Mokso, Rajmund & Lehmann, Eberhard (2010). Looking inside! 3D imaging experiments on alum-conserved archaeological wood.
- Braovac, Susan & Kutzke, Hartmut (2010). Past Conservation Treatments and their Consequences – the Oseberg Find as a case study.
- Christensen, Iben V.; Ottosen, Lisbeth M.; Jensen, Poul; Bojesen-Koefoed, Inger; Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan; Christensen, Mikkel & Sandstrøm, Tom (2010). The use of an electric field for the removal of alum from treated wooden objects.
- Dionisi Vici, Paolo; Aarseth, Bjarte Einar; Bill, Jan; Hjulstad, Guro; Jensen, Maria Malherbes; Løchen, Ragnar; Storbekk, Elin Christine; Uzielli, Luca & Braovac, Susan (2009). In-situ deformation measurements on a large wooden archaeological artefact: the Viking Age Oseberg ship.
- Braovac, Susan & Kutzke, Hartmut (2009). The Presence of Sulfuric Acid in Alum-conserved Wood – Origin and Consequences.
- Christensen, Iben V.; Ottosen, Lisbeth M.; Jensen, Poul; Bojesen-Koefoed, Inger; Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan; Sandstrøm, Tom & Christensen, Mikkel (2009). The use of an electric field for the removal of alum from treated wooden objects.
- Kutzke, Hartmut; Braovac, Susan & Christensen, Mikkel (2009). Historische Konservierungsmethoden als neue Herausforderung fuer die Archaeometrie: Die alaunbehandelten Holzobjekte des Osebergfundes.
- Braovac, Susan (2008). History of the Viking ship collections and their conservation challenges.
- Braovac, Susan (2008). Rescuing the Oseberg Find, a Project in Progress. Alum-conserved Wood - Mechanisms of Deterioration and Development of Preservation Strategies.
- Braovac, Susan (2007). The Viking Ship finds: Preservation Challenges and the search for potential solutions.
- Braovac, Susan & Olstad, Tone Marie (2007). Braovac, Susan, Tone Olstad, How to Move a Viking Ship: two conservators’ perspectives on the process leading to a decision.
- Braovac, Susan; Huth, Nadine & Løchen, Ragnar (2006). Rescuing the Oseberg Find, a project in progress: Alum-conserved wood – mechanisms of deterioration and development of preservation strategies.
- Vedeler, Marianne & Braovac, Susan (2003). Nytt liv i gamle magasiner. Museumsnytt. ISSN 0027-4186. 52(3)