Gamma irradiation, which is an easy, fast and effective method for wood sterilisation, changes molecular structures not only in pest cells, but also in wood cell walls. Radiation-induced depolymerisation causes significant changes in some properties of wood crucial for restoration and for laboratory testing of wood-preservative effectiveness, as demonstrated by experimental data. The influence of gamma radiation on maximum swelling (a MAX ), resistance to impact milling (RIM), and the total amount of water-soluble carbohydrates (TSC) was investigated. Cobalt ( 60 Co) was used as a gamma source and Scots pine wood (Pinus sylvestris L.) was irradiated at doses of 30, 90 and 150 kGy. A strong linear correlation was found between TSC and radiation dosage. Leached irradiated specimens showed significantly greater TSC content than non-irradiated controls. RIM decreased significantly and linearly with increasing radiation dosage. After leaching, the linearity between these parameters improved. Gamma radiation had no significant effect on a MAX and the time elapsed after irradiation did not influence a MAX , RIM or TSC.

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• The article presents preliminary results of the biological durability of oil heat treated (OHT) alder wood (Alnus glutinosa) against pure cultures of rot fungi (Postia placenta and Trametes versicolor) in lab conditions. The modifi cation was performed by heating of specimens immersed in soya oil

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The aim of this study was to test the value of computed tomography (CT)-guided endoscopy in the scientific study of mummified remains and the recovery of unidentified objects from ancient mummified remains. CT-guided endoscopy was performed on an Egyptian mummy from the Late Period to help retrieve an unidentified object from its skull. The combined use of CT and endoscopy facilitated the recovery of the object, minimizing further damage to the remains and to the object itself. The successful recovery of the brittle object allowed detailed analysis of the item to be performed in an attempt to determine the nature of its presence in the cranial cavity. It was confirmed that the object was a monocotyledon stem fragment. Relying on the existing literature on mummification and excerebration methods in ancient Egypt, we concluded that the stick was probably used for transnasal removal of the brain. The results of this study demonstrate the great potential of CT-guided endoscopy for minimally invasive recovery of small unidentified items from mummies that could yield important information about mummification procedures and the materials used to preserve bodies.