Are these real tusks? Research in the conservation lab is often focused on identifying materials lik

Are these real tusks? Research in the conservation lab is often focused on identifying materials like ivory and bone. It can be difficult to determine the source of decorative material once it has been incorporated into a work of art but protections and regulations on the transport of these materials have made it increasingly important that they are correctly identified by museums.This Pacific Island headdress features curved tusks that have been integrated into the design. Because the tusks are whole and incorporated in their entirety, tracing their origin is relatively straightforward. Conservators work with a reference library of materials to compare under the microscope. More advanced analytical techniques can be used in some instances to provide more specific information on the species of animal the materials came from. X-rays show the inner structure of the tusks, which are actually large teeth, and have hollow interiors where the blood and nerves once were. These tusks likely came from wild boar on the island of Tomman where this headdress was made.Posted by Kate Wight Tyler -- source link
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