the naiveté of Suiko faith, yet already swelling with the maturity of Tempyō". Conservation To avoid anistropic shrinkage and cell collapse during the drying of the waterlogged wood recovered, the architectural members were treated with polyethylene glycol (PEG), a Synthetic fiber polymer used gradually to replace the water content before permanent hardening. This treatment methodology was introduced in the late 60s and early 70s in Denmark to conserve the Skuldelev ships and in Sweden for the Vasa. In Japan it was used first on wooden tablets from Gangō-ji and then in 1972 on parts from the Kodera dam site in Matsuyama. Although this treatment is irreversible and leads to visual darkening, consolidation with PEG also makes the wood inedible thus helping prevent biodeterioration; since Japanese Buddhist architecture makes use of joinery rather than metal pins, the incompatibility of PEG with associated metal components was not a concern; PEG is the most common choice of consolidant for such applications, and has since been used on the Bremen cog and Mary Rose. Since PEG has an affinity with water, it is necessary to maintain artefacts treated in this way in a stable low-humidity environment. Designated an Important Cultural Property, the excavated artefacts are now stored and displayed at the Asuka Historical Museum. See also Asuka-Fujiwara List of National Treasures of Japan (sculptures) List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments List of Important Cultural Properties of Japan (Asuka period: structures) Conservation Techniques for Cultural Properties Japanese Buddhist architecture References External links Yamada-dera(Asuka Historical Museum) Yamada-dera(Asukanet) BCIN Conservation Bibliographic Database (search term: waterlogged wood) CiNii article finder (search term: 山田寺) Buddhist temples in Nara Prefecture Buddhist archaeological sites in Japan Special Historic Sites Buddhism in the Asuka period Former Buddhist temples Religious buildings and structures completed in 641 7th-century Buddhist temples