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6845

THE CONSERVATION OF AN EGYPTIAN POLYCHROME WOOD COFFIN FROM LATE PERIOD

Article

Last updated: 22 Jan 2023

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Abstract

This paper describes the treatment and conservation of the polychrome wooden coffin for the
unknown mummy of the late period that was in Saqqara stepped pyramids` stores. It suffered
from aspects of damage represented in damaging into large fragments, infecting by microorganism,
accumulation of dusts and cracks that are varied in shapes and sizes in the
different layers of painting. The components of the polychrome wooden coffin were studied
through investigation and using various analysis methods such as X-Ray diffraction (XRD),
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), light Optical microscope (LOM) and Scanning
electron microscopy with energy-dispersive analysis of elements (SEM-EDX). The results
indicated that the type of the coffin wood is Cypress (Cupressussempervirens), and there are
five types of fungi that had been grown on it. They are Aspergillusniger, Aspergilusflavus,
Alternaria alternate, Emericella nidulans and Penicillium steckii. The ground layers consisted
of two layers; coarse layer (clay plaster) and finer coat (lime plaster).The black, pink, and
yellow pigments consisted of Pyrolusite, Hematite mixed with Gypsum and Goethite
consecutively. The medium color was animal glue. Therefore, the current study included
making conservation and maintenance of the coffin, mechanical and chemical cleaning,
fixation of the paint layer flakes, facing (surface protection), sterilization, reinforcement...etc.

DOI

10.21608/ejars.2016.6845

Keywords

Saqqara, Polychrome, Coffin, Pigments, Animal glue

Authors

First Name

Salem

Last Name

R.

MiddleName

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Affiliation

Conservation dept., Faculty of Fine Arts, Minia Univ., Minia, Egypt

Email

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City

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Orcid

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First Name

Owais

Last Name

A.

MiddleName

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Affiliation

Conservation site, Saqqara, Ministry of antiquities, Egypt

Email

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City

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Orcid

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First Name

Salama

Last Name

R.

MiddleName

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Affiliation

Conservation site, Saqqara, Ministry of antiquities, Egypt

Email

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City

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Orcid

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Volume

6

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

1279

Issue Date

2016-06-01

Receive Date

2018-05-10

Publish Date

2016-06-01

Page Start

23

Page End

37

Print ISSN

2090-4932

Online ISSN

2090-4940

Link

https://ejars.journals.ekb.eg/article_6845.html

Detail API

https://ejars.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=6845

Order

4

Type

Original Article

Type Code

575

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Journal of Archaeological and Restoration Studies

Publication Link

https://ejars.journals.ekb.eg/

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Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023