Figure 3From: Micromorphological and chemical elucidation of the degradation mechanisms of birch bark archaeological artefacts a) SEM image of Sample 3 (archaeological birch bark, lower section, ice patch) radial cross-section showing intact cell walls; b) SEM image of Sample 2 (archaeological birch bark, middle section, ice patch) radial cross-section, extensive degradation of thin cell walls; c) SEM image of Sample 4 (archeological birch bark, waterlogged site) radial cross-section, cell walls became very brittle and fragile with many breakages. Back to article page