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Task 9 Conducting research at Sector BI and the adjoined sewage treatment units |
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Completed in 2012
The delivery of Task 9 Conducting research at Sector BI and the adjoined sewage treatment units involved archaeological surveys as well as geological and hydrological surveys of Section BI, along with the adjacent site of the former sewage treatment plant.
I. Archaelogical survey
The archaeological survey under Task 9 is based on a detailed programme of archaeological excavations at Section BI, along with the adjacent site of the former sewage treatment plant of KL Auschwitz .II, involving the following site-related aspects:
- land sculpture before the camp was established and stratigraphic layers;
- location of the building and roads in the early 20th century;
- situation of brick residential barracks;
- location of wooden foundations of wooden residential barracks;
- location of brick barracks of sanitary facilities, kitchen and warehouses;
- location and outline of existing utility barracks and other structures;
- flooring in brick and wooden barracks;
- location of foundations of gate and fencing pillars;
- location of buildings outside the fence;
- the course and structure of camp roads and path;
- the course of rain drainage system and sewage system;
- water piping system;
- the course of unused ditches and culverts;
- the course of the draining system;
- identification of local embankments and ground hollows.
Field work began in October 2012. For 2 months a team of archaeologists from Łódź was trying to find an answer to questions asked in the programme of research at 104 excavation sites on a total area of ca. 980 m2.
Currently the analysis of archive materials and conservation of items which have been found is underway.
II Geology and hydrology survey
A site map was prepared with the proposed geological drilling locations, taking into account the underground systems identified to date. Thanks to the map the risk of affecting the historic underground systems during the surveys was minimised and the drilling locations optimised.
Field work began in November 2012 under archaeological supervision after geology survey plans were approved. Field research encompasses:
- geodetic measurements,
- small diameter drilling,
- static and dynamic probing,
- analysis of load bearing capacity indicator (CBR),
- revealing foundations,
- installation of piezometers, monitoring and measurement of groundwater level,
- laboratory analysis of soil and water samples.
As a result of research, geology & engineering and hydrological documentation will be compiled.
Archeaological, geology and hydrological surveys will provide valuable information which will help to verify not only the actual location of some underground installations, the former camp roads and wooden barracks, but also archive documents, plans and maps of camp buildings and the camp area.
The documentation will serve to prepare the water drainage system of the area under research, construction plans and conservation programmes for BI section structures and the adjoining area of the sewage treatment units of the former KL Auschwitz II – Birkenau.
Notice: The sole responsibility lies with the author and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. |
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Task 8 Conservation of suitcases and Jewish prayer shawls, conservation and scanning of archival |
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Completed in 2012
The task Conservation of suitcases and Jewish prayer shawls, as well as conservation and scanning of archival documents involves conservation efforts aimed at slowing the decay processes taking place in the documents and items which are a meaningful testimony to the tragic history of KL Auschwitz.
The following 4 tasks have been planned for the year 2012:
– conservation of 35–40 suitcases,
– conservation of 3–5 Death Books from 1943,
– deacidification of 26 Death Books from 1942,
– digitisation of 25–31 Death Books.
Conservation of 40 suitcases was completed in 2012. In the process of conservation, suitcases were disinfected and cleaned in such a way as to avoid affecting the historical layers which originated during camp operation, thus considered original. Secondary protective coats were removed and new applied where absolutely necessary to stop the deterioration advancing decay processes in all the suitcase elements.
The Death Books “Sterbebücher von Auschwitz” contained in the Museum Archives are books containing death certificates of nearly 69,000 inmates.
The condition of the 1943 registers was so bad that it rendered their use impossible. The pH of paper was at a level of 4.5-5. Urgent conservation work was needed due to such strong acidification.
Full conservation of the books involved:
– preparation of descriptive documentation of the preservation state prior to conservation;
– mechanical cleansing;
– checking the water resistance of the writing media;
– securing the writing media;
– paper bath and deacidification;
– restoration of missing parts;
– structural strengthening of the paper;
– ironing of the cards;
– binding cards into signatures;
– sewing cards into a block;
– making of the cover and suspending the block inside it;
– production of protective acid–free cardboard boxes;
- preparation of the final descriptive and photographic documentation.
By the end of 2012 full conservation of Books 1-5 , dating from 1943 and containing over 3000 leaves in total, was completed.
The 1942 books underwent conservation in the years 1995–99. Nevertheless they were the most acidified collection of archives kept in the Museum. Considering the pH of paper ranging from 3.5-5, it was decided that the deacidification process should start without delay. All the 26 books were deacidified in 2012, as planned.
All the books which underwent conservation, both in full and through deacidification, were digitalised in 2012. In addition three books of SS-Hygiene Institut which were planned for 2013, were also deacidified.
Notice: The sole responsibility lies with the author and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. |
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Task 7 Protecting and improving conditions of displaying original camp objects. |
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Completed in 2012
In November 2012, modernisation of showcases which secure original items on display at the permanent exhibition of Block no A-5, such as eye glasses and Jewish prayer shawls which belonged to deportees to Auschwitz, was completed. Modernisation and execution of new showcase windows increased the security of exhibits against stealing or acts of vandalism. In addition, it improved protection of original items against adverse external conditions, while at the same time serving as basic fire protection.
As the Museum decided to dismount and dispose of the existing platform on which Jewish prayer shawls are displayed, the condition of the original floor located underneath was checked. The Preservation Department was involved in this work. Having completed minor conservation work, which consisted of floor cleaning, the original floor was uncovered on the stands for display of tallits will be installed directly on the floor..
Considering the need to change the method of displaying prayer shawls, the Conservation Department developed guidelines on the basis of which design was made in the form of drawings and paper models. During the design due account was taken of parameters ensuring appropriate and safe display of original Jewish prayer shawls. The contractor who will execute the stands for displaying the prayer shawls was selected and the relevant contract signed.
Notice: The sole responsibility lies with the author and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. |
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Task 6 Purchasing equipment for conservation laboratories |
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Completed in 2012
In the first half of the year, tendering procedure was prepared and carried out for the purchase of an environmental chamber for ageing tests. As a result of the procedure, the supplier of the chamber was selected.
The chamber is necessary to carry out ageing tests for various materials used in conservation. Such tests can tell us whether a given material is resistant to atmospheric conditions and what happens with it under UV exposure. As a result, the agents which adversely affect the exhibits or show poor resistance to temperature and humidity leaps or UV exposure can be eliminated.
Currently, preparations are under way to purchase a portable XRF spectrometer. The person to prepare the description of the terms the tendering procedure was selected and research for potential manufacturers and suppliers of XRF spectrometers in the Polish market was carried out.
Notice: The sole responsibility lies with the author and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. |
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Task 5 Development of the long–term storage system of digital data and the Digital Repository. |
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Completed in 2012
1. Purchase of disk arrays
For the purposes of the project a market research and analysis were performed of the potential possibilities of having a disk array supplied and configured to work with the array already used by the Museum. The tendering procedure for the supply of the array was carried out and the agreement with the contractor signed. In September, the disk array was supplied, configured and initiated.
Thanks to the new disks in the array the space available for the storage of the Museum’s digital archives has grown (from 8 TB to 56TB after the project completion).. This mainly applies to the resources of the Digital Repository, which keeps data on former KL Auschwitz–Birkenau inmates. From now on the content of the disk array will be available to other selected Museum departments.
2. Expansion of Digital Repository software
The project involved a market research and analysis of the potential possibilities of upgrading the software of the Museum’s Digital Repository. Work was started to prepare the description of the subject of the contract to be granted by way of a tendering procedure aimed at selecting the contractor for the task. Once the contractor is selected, work on expanding functionalities of existing software will be executed.
Notice: The sole responsibility lies with the author and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. |
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Task 4 Modernisation of the storage areas for suitcases |
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Completed in 2012
Under the task titled Modernisation of the storage areas for suitcases comprehensive modernisation of storage areas for suitcases continued.
Once the design of the new cabinets for the suitcases was made and the available storage area assessed, it turned out that two storage facilities used so far are insufficient for storage of all suitcases. This is due to the change in the arrangement of the suitcases in the cabinets. Therefore it was decided that items from one of the storage facilities would be moved to another storage block to make room for the third warehouse for suitcases.
Items which were moved first, were to be measured in order to be able to plan the size of new, secure packaging and the arrangement of items on shelves which had been purchased to this end, to use the storage space to the maximum. Packaging was designed for each group of items to ensure optimum safety of museum collections. New acid-free cardboard boxes were designed and made; metal items were additionally secured and packed to prevent corrosion.
The condition of the collection was checked and items separated depending on the various materials of which they were made. First of all, plastic items were singled out to be moved to the warehouse where only plastic items are stored. The separation of the items was important, as decaying materials endanger the collections of items made of other materials.
In 2012, thanks to the preparation of the first room for storing suitcases, more than 22 500 items were secured in new packaging.
In 2012, the Museum carried out and finalised the tendering procedure for the production of suitcase cabinets. They will be locked, light, safe and made of materials which are fire–resistant and do not react with the suitcase material. For the storage area to be optimised, the height between the retractable perforated shelves will be chosen on an individual basis, depending on the size of each item.
Ultimately, the appearance of cabinets results from the analysis of preservation needs. Such aspects as the size of suitcases, the storage space available and the conservation of items were taken into account. This solution is special in that the cabinets were customised to accommodate the suitcases.
More than 1800 suitcases which area the most recognisable and inextricably connected with the history of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau will be secured under the project.
Notice: The sole responsibility lies with the author and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. |
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Preservation 
