UCLA

The word traditional calls to mind something immutable, unbroken, or even stagnant. However, traditional methods of caring for cultural heritage should instead be considered as culturally conscious, sustainable, and practical conservation tools. Plants that naturally kill or repel insects, or botanical pesticides, have been used by communities throughout the world for centuries to protect valued belongings, including cultural items, from insect damage. Time-tested tools for pest management that utilize locally available plants are part of the shared, intergenerational wisdom, or traditional knowledge, of communities. Today, staff at museums in India have adapted the traditional practice of storing dried neem leaves with cultural items, primarily textiles, to keep insects that can feed on and damage these materials safely at bay.

This dissertation examines a traditional method of pest management, neem, that is presently used in museums in Rajasthan, a state in Northwest India. The neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, where its pesticidal properties have been understood and utilized for centuries. All parts of the neem tree contain the active ingredient Azadirachtin, an insect repellent and insect growth regulator. Neem leaves are collected from abundant local trees and prepared on-site to be stored with collections, making it a sustainable and resource-efficient pest management tool. This research begins with conversations with staff at museums in India where neem is used to protect textile collections from insect damage. These conversations inform further research to assess the effectiveness of neem on museum pests and the effects of neem on collections, including experiments to assess how neem affects the eating habits of varied carpet beetle larvae, Oddy Testing, and artificial aging experiments.

This doctoral research is a direct response to the need for increased accessibility and sustainable practice in conservation that can be met by promoting preventive conservation and giving due consideration to traditional methods of caring for cultural heritage. Looking to traditional knowledge for pest management strategies that are locally available and culturally relevant meets the needs of stewards and contributes to a shift in the field of conservation toward more inclusive and sustainable practice.