The wood was very degraded, so the object had to be immersed in a solution of polyethylene glycol, a water-soluble polymer that gradually displaced the ground water holding it together. Once dry, the polymer hardened, strengthening the fragile cell structure of the wood. The bone mounts needed little treatment other than mechanical cleaning. The box lid was then carefully mounted on a sheet of clear acrylic to provide support during study.

After 15 years in store, this special object was chosen for the new display in JORVIK. The old acrylic mount, which was putting pressure on the fragile wooden lid, was removed and the bone and wood elements cleaned carefully using cotton wool swabs soaked in industrial methylated spirits. Loose fragments were re-adhered and a more sympathetic support was made using plastazote foam to match the background of the display case.