Material characterization and restoration of mural paintings of El-Muzzawaka Tombs, Dakhla Oases, Egypt
The present study demonstrates scientific procedures applied to study mural paintings in two Graeco-Roman tombs of El-Muzzawaka, Dakhla Oases, Egypt. First, a series of analytical methods was applied to determine the chemical and mineralogical composition of pigment and plaster samples collected fro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Grupo Español del IIC
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Ge-conservación |
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| Online Access: | https://ge-iic.com/ojs/index.php/revista/article/view/773 |
| _version_ | 1811158859876663296 |
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| author | Mona Ali Hanaa Shawki Hussein Marey Mahmoud |
| author_facet | Mona Ali Hanaa Shawki Hussein Marey Mahmoud |
| author_sort | Mona Ali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present study demonstrates scientific procedures applied to study mural paintings in two Graeco-Roman tombs of El-Muzzawaka, Dakhla Oases, Egypt. First, a series of analytical methods was applied to determine the chemical and mineralogical composition of pigment and plaster samples collected from the studied tombs. The analyses were performed by means of digitalized optical microscopy (OM), polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy attached with X-ray microanalysis detector (SEM−EDS), X−ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT−IR). Analyses of the pigment samples revealed Egyptian blue, Egyptian green, green earth, black magnetite, and red/yellow ochres. The paintings were applied on a coarse plaster layer made of gypsum, anhydrite, calcite, and quartz. The preparation layer was made of two phases of calcium sulphate (gypsum and anhydrite). Further, the detection of an organic binder, of gum Arabic, confirms the application of tempera technique. The results showed that the bed rock samples contain variable amounts of quartz, anhydrite, montmorillonite, kaolinite, gypsum, and sodium chloride (halite). In situ observations showed several deterioration forms on the studied mural paintings. The destructive climatic condition of the region and the defects of the rock structure have contributed seriously in the deterioration process. Based on experimental tests, multi restoration procedures were applied in form of cleaning, reattaching paint flakes, applying injection grouts to detached layers, reconstruction of missing parts in the plaster, repair of wide-open cracks, and final protective consolidation of the painted surfaces. Further, recommendations to minimize any future damage were discussed.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T05:30:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e3c69b1d1ad4e308cc9f0234638412c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1989-8568 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T05:30:21Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Grupo Español del IIC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ge-conservación |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e3c69b1d1ad4e308cc9f0234638412c2023-03-07T08:34:16ZengGrupo Español del IICGe-conservación1989-85682020-12-011810.37558/gec.v18i1.773Material characterization and restoration of mural paintings of El-Muzzawaka Tombs, Dakhla Oases, EgyptMona Ali0Hanaa Shawki1Hussein Marey Mahmoud2Department of Conservation, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Cairo, EgyptDepartment of conservation, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University, EgyptThe present study demonstrates scientific procedures applied to study mural paintings in two Graeco-Roman tombs of El-Muzzawaka, Dakhla Oases, Egypt. First, a series of analytical methods was applied to determine the chemical and mineralogical composition of pigment and plaster samples collected from the studied tombs. The analyses were performed by means of digitalized optical microscopy (OM), polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy attached with X-ray microanalysis detector (SEM−EDS), X−ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT−IR). Analyses of the pigment samples revealed Egyptian blue, Egyptian green, green earth, black magnetite, and red/yellow ochres. The paintings were applied on a coarse plaster layer made of gypsum, anhydrite, calcite, and quartz. The preparation layer was made of two phases of calcium sulphate (gypsum and anhydrite). Further, the detection of an organic binder, of gum Arabic, confirms the application of tempera technique. The results showed that the bed rock samples contain variable amounts of quartz, anhydrite, montmorillonite, kaolinite, gypsum, and sodium chloride (halite). In situ observations showed several deterioration forms on the studied mural paintings. The destructive climatic condition of the region and the defects of the rock structure have contributed seriously in the deterioration process. Based on experimental tests, multi restoration procedures were applied in form of cleaning, reattaching paint flakes, applying injection grouts to detached layers, reconstruction of missing parts in the plaster, repair of wide-open cracks, and final protective consolidation of the painted surfaces. Further, recommendations to minimize any future damage were discussed. https://ge-iic.com/ojs/index.php/revista/article/view/773Dakhla OasesEl-Muzzawaka Rock TombsMural PaintingsSEM−EDSXRDFT−IR |
| spellingShingle | Mona Ali Hanaa Shawki Hussein Marey Mahmoud Material characterization and restoration of mural paintings of El-Muzzawaka Tombs, Dakhla Oases, Egypt Ge-conservación Dakhla Oases El-Muzzawaka Rock Tombs Mural Paintings SEM−EDS XRD FT−IR |
| title | Material characterization and restoration of mural paintings of El-Muzzawaka Tombs, Dakhla Oases, Egypt |
| title_full | Material characterization and restoration of mural paintings of El-Muzzawaka Tombs, Dakhla Oases, Egypt |
| title_fullStr | Material characterization and restoration of mural paintings of El-Muzzawaka Tombs, Dakhla Oases, Egypt |
| title_full_unstemmed | Material characterization and restoration of mural paintings of El-Muzzawaka Tombs, Dakhla Oases, Egypt |
| title_short | Material characterization and restoration of mural paintings of El-Muzzawaka Tombs, Dakhla Oases, Egypt |
| title_sort | material characterization and restoration of mural paintings of el muzzawaka tombs dakhla oases egypt |
| topic | Dakhla Oases El-Muzzawaka Rock Tombs Mural Paintings SEM−EDS XRD FT−IR |
| url | https://ge-iic.com/ojs/index.php/revista/article/view/773 |
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