Table 5 Potential risks and mitigation strategies in the conservation of the Bala Shanghaya PLM

Cleaning and Stain Removal

1. Improper handling leading to physical scratches and abrasion.

2. Improper use of cleaning agents causing ink bleeding and fading of inscriptions.

3. Warping and deformation of the palm leaf during wet cleaning due to excessive moisture.

1. Simplify the cleaning process by avoiding excessive cleaning and large-scale treatments. Cleaning tools should be chosen carefully, ensuring they are soft and non-invasive.

2. Use cleaning agents with caution, conducting prior tests to assess their effects on ink, the water resistance of pigments, and the resistance to organic solvents. Only proceed once safety has been confirmed.

3. Immediately follow wet cleaning with appropriate flattening and drying procedures to prevent warping. Control temperature and humidity to maintain the stability of the palm leaf.

Repair and Strengthening

1. Improper repair procedures leading to further physical damage to the palm leaf.

2. Repair materials covering the text, affecting the readability of the manuscript.

3. Excessive repair intervention compromising the integrity and authenticity of the manuscript.

4. Inappropriate material selection accelerating aging or causing repair-induced damage.

1. Conduct thorough preliminary tests before selecting repair materials to ensure that their thickness, color, texture, and other properties closely match the original, allowing for a natural transition without compromising the readability of the text.

2. Use adhesives that adhere to the principles of reversible conservation, ensuring that their color, concentration, and tackiness are appropriate to minimize repair traces and material burden.

3. Strictly control the extent of repair intervention, following the “minimum intervention” principle to preserve the original information of the manuscript.

4. Avoid the use of incompatible materials that could exacerbate damage, and select stable, acid-free, and non-toxic materials for repairs.

Flattening Treatment

1. Improper control of flattening pressure, leading to mechanical damage such as brittleness and fracture of the palm leaf.

2. Ink and pigments experiencing bleeding and diffusion due to uncontrolled temperature and humidity conditions.

1. During flattening, apply appropriate pressure based on the fragility of the palm leaf to avoid mechanical damage. Gradually adjust the pressure in stages to ensure safety.

2. Control the temperature and humidity of the working environment to prevent high humidity from causing bleeding or diffusion of water-sensitive pigments and ink, ensuring pigment stability during the flattening process.

3. Use non-heated flattening devices or low-temperature treatments to avoid the impact of high temperatures on the structure of the palm leaf.

Binding Restoration

1. Inappropriate material selection, using harmful materials that compromise the long-term preservation of the palm leaf manuscript.

2. Failure to restore the manuscript according to its original binding method, damaging the integrity and historical authenticity of the artifact.

1. Restore the manuscript as closely as possible to its original binding form, using binding materials that match the texture, color, and size of the original, and avoid the use of acidic or harmful substances.

2. During the binding process, pre-treat and test the stability of the new binding materials to ensure their safety and durability.

3. Retain the original binding materials that are replaced (such as old threads) and store them alongside the conserved manuscript, keeping detailed records to ensure the integrity of future research and traceability.