Biodeterioration Assessment of a Unique Old Pharaonic Kingdom Wooden Statue Using Advanced Diagnostic Techniques
A recently discovered Egyptian wooden statue of King Djedefre was studied together with some surrounding burial soil samples for assessing the statue biodeterioration. The wooden morphological characterisation identified the hardwood <i>Acacia nilotica</i> as the wood type. X-ray diffrac...
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/14/7020 |
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| author | Dina M. Atwa Shimaa Ibrahim Chiaramaria Stani Giovanni Birarda Nehal Ali Emam Abdullah Lisa Vaccari Paola Grenni Andrea Visca Yehia Badr Wafaa Soliman |
| author_facet | Dina M. Atwa Shimaa Ibrahim Chiaramaria Stani Giovanni Birarda Nehal Ali Emam Abdullah Lisa Vaccari Paola Grenni Andrea Visca Yehia Badr Wafaa Soliman |
| author_sort | Dina M. Atwa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A recently discovered Egyptian wooden statue of King Djedefre was studied together with some surrounding burial soil samples for assessing the statue biodeterioration. The wooden morphological characterisation identified the hardwood <i>Acacia nilotica</i> as the wood type. X-ray diffraction, micro-FT-IR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with an X-ray spectrometer were used to evaluate the wood deterioration degree and the soil contribution in wood biodeterioration. Microbiological analyses (fluorescent in situ hybridisation and polymerase chain reaction) were also performed to detect the microbial attack on the statue. The prolonged interaction of the statue with the burial environment caused a strong wood decay due to biotic (fungi and bacteria) and abiotic factors (e.g., humidity fluctuations of the burial environment), which caused the severe cracking and collapsing of the wood structures. The analyses of the burial soil mineral composition were relevant for obtaining an overall picture of the statue deterioration. The results are useful for planning the right conservation procedures for this very particular and important wooden statue. Furthermore, analysis of the woody cell wall will help in the selection of appropriate consolidation and recovery treatments. Because the statue is a unique single piece of wood, and the morphological observations indicated that it is a bald woman in a sitting position, this statue will provide new and interesting knowledge of Egyptian culture. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:18:24Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:18:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4452edc96b54db6b8a62830258ee7852023-11-30T22:44:07ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-07-011214702010.3390/app12147020Biodeterioration Assessment of a Unique Old Pharaonic Kingdom Wooden Statue Using Advanced Diagnostic TechniquesDina M. Atwa0Shimaa Ibrahim1Chiaramaria Stani2Giovanni Birarda3Nehal Ali4Emam Abdullah5Lisa Vaccari6Paola Grenni7Andrea Visca8Yehia Badr9Wafaa Soliman10Department of Laser Interaction with Matters, Laser Institute for Research and Applications, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef P.O. Box 62517, EgyptDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza P.O. Box 12613, EgyptCERIC-ERIC—Central European Research Infrastructure Consortium, S.S. 14-km 163.5, AREA Science Park, Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, ItalyElettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., S.S. 14-km 163.5, AREA Science Park, Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Physics and Mathematics, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Tanta P.O. Box 31527, EgyptStorages Museum of Pyramids Area, Projects Sector, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Giza P.O. Box 12556, EgyptElettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., S.S. 14-km 163.5, AREA Science Park, Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, ItalyNational Research Council, Water Research Institute, Via Salaria km 29.300, Monterotondo, 00010 Rome, ItalyNational Research Council, Water Research Institute, Via Salaria km 29.300, Monterotondo, 00010 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Laser Sciences and Interactions, National Institute of Laser Enhanced Science, Cairo University, Giza P.O. Box 12613, EgyptDepartment of Laser Sciences and Interactions, National Institute of Laser Enhanced Science, Cairo University, Giza P.O. Box 12613, EgyptA recently discovered Egyptian wooden statue of King Djedefre was studied together with some surrounding burial soil samples for assessing the statue biodeterioration. The wooden morphological characterisation identified the hardwood <i>Acacia nilotica</i> as the wood type. X-ray diffraction, micro-FT-IR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with an X-ray spectrometer were used to evaluate the wood deterioration degree and the soil contribution in wood biodeterioration. Microbiological analyses (fluorescent in situ hybridisation and polymerase chain reaction) were also performed to detect the microbial attack on the statue. The prolonged interaction of the statue with the burial environment caused a strong wood decay due to biotic (fungi and bacteria) and abiotic factors (e.g., humidity fluctuations of the burial environment), which caused the severe cracking and collapsing of the wood structures. The analyses of the burial soil mineral composition were relevant for obtaining an overall picture of the statue deterioration. The results are useful for planning the right conservation procedures for this very particular and important wooden statue. Furthermore, analysis of the woody cell wall will help in the selection of appropriate consolidation and recovery treatments. Because the statue is a unique single piece of wood, and the morphological observations indicated that it is a bald woman in a sitting position, this statue will provide new and interesting knowledge of Egyptian culture.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/14/7020micro-FT-IRfluorescent in situ hybridisationweathering effectcrystallinity of celluloseAbu-Rawash statueburial soil analyses |
| spellingShingle | Dina M. Atwa Shimaa Ibrahim Chiaramaria Stani Giovanni Birarda Nehal Ali Emam Abdullah Lisa Vaccari Paola Grenni Andrea Visca Yehia Badr Wafaa Soliman Biodeterioration Assessment of a Unique Old Pharaonic Kingdom Wooden Statue Using Advanced Diagnostic Techniques Applied Sciences micro-FT-IR fluorescent in situ hybridisation weathering effect crystallinity of cellulose Abu-Rawash statue burial soil analyses |
| title | Biodeterioration Assessment of a Unique Old Pharaonic Kingdom Wooden Statue Using Advanced Diagnostic Techniques |
| title_full | Biodeterioration Assessment of a Unique Old Pharaonic Kingdom Wooden Statue Using Advanced Diagnostic Techniques |
| title_fullStr | Biodeterioration Assessment of a Unique Old Pharaonic Kingdom Wooden Statue Using Advanced Diagnostic Techniques |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biodeterioration Assessment of a Unique Old Pharaonic Kingdom Wooden Statue Using Advanced Diagnostic Techniques |
| title_short | Biodeterioration Assessment of a Unique Old Pharaonic Kingdom Wooden Statue Using Advanced Diagnostic Techniques |
| title_sort | biodeterioration assessment of a unique old pharaonic kingdom wooden statue using advanced diagnostic techniques |
| topic | micro-FT-IR fluorescent in situ hybridisation weathering effect crystallinity of cellulose Abu-Rawash statue burial soil analyses |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/14/7020 |
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