The Department of Conservation has started to use two new methods for conservation of wet archaeological rope. Results from these methods show that the rope retains its original shape, color, and texture. The methods involve freezing the rope while it is still floating in liquid, to avoid compression caused by the rope's own weight. The first method is based on impregnating the rope with water-soluble materials, followed by freezing in organic solvent and freeze-drying at 50% relative humidity (RH). The second method begins with freezing the rope in pure water followed by freeze-drying at 50% RH. The dry rope is impregnated with polymers in nonpolar organic solvent.