That time a forum comment made me stop brushing pottery shards with water

I used to clean every sherd I found with a soft brush and water until a random user blasted me for destroying residue evidence. Apparently that water can wash away tiny food traces or tool marks that could tell us way more about the site. Has anyone else had a basic cleaning habit totally wrecked by feedback from a pro?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_julia2mo ago

Oh wow, my buddy scrubbed a whole jar clean before someone told him he ruined the residue evidence.

maxb462mo ago

Honestly though, maybe your buddy did the right thing. If that jar had something nasty in it, better safe than sorry with cleanup.

gavin_allen481mo ago

Washing it just makes more work later.