In November 1983 archaeologists recovered an almost complete Romanesque tabula set from a rubbish pit on the site of Gloucester Castle. The gaming pieces and board fragments, made from antler pedicle, skull, scapulae and ribs, were recovered in a wet condition and heavily disfigured by surface accretions. The bone was cleaned mechanically and the pieces were then dried through baths of alcohol of increasing concentration. The precise techniques employed are described.