Use of Cotton in Storage of Archaeological Collections

[Kristy Sorensen]

Does anyone know the current consensus on the use of commercial cotton balls/cotton batting to cushion archaeological materials and organics for long-term storage? Many curation guidelines I have been reading recommend that cotton NOT be used as a cushioning material (in favor of acid free tissue or polyester batting), though they do not explain why. I have found that the fibers are very difficult to remove from corn cobs, seeds, and fragmented bone, but are there other concerns about the use of cotton for long-term storage? Thanks!

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