Historical conservation treatments in palaeontology: the geo-palaeontological collection of the Geology and Palaentology Museum of the University of Turin managed by the Piedmont Council Museum of Natural Science of Turin

The change of environmental conditions following the discovery of fossils and mechanical stresses during the excavation phase can raise the already grave fragility of the findings. As a consequence, fractures, detachments and powdering phenomena can appear and a conservation treatment is required to restore the objects and preserve them from further degradation. Traditionally, scientists have been using products of natural origin (animal glues, resins or gums) as consolidants and adhesives, but in the course of the last century these materials have been often replaced by synthetic products. In this survey part of the geo-palaeontological collection of the Geology and Palaeontology Museum of the University of Turin managed by the Piedmont Council Museum of Natural Sciences in Turin has been evaluated by considering the efficacy of the consolidation treatments and the products employed over the years.