Material characterization and restoration of mural paintings of El-Muzzawaka Tombs, Dakhla Oases, Egypt

Mona Ali; Hanaa Shawki; Hussein  Marey Mahmoud

doi:10.37558/gec.v18i1.773

Mona Ali Department of Conservation, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6631-5003
Hanaa Shawki Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Cairo, Egypt
Hussein Marey Mahmoud Department of conservation, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University, Egypt http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1598-1580

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37558/gec.v18i1.773

Keywords: Dakhla Oases, El-Muzzawaka Rock Tombs, Mural Paintings, SEM−EDS, XRD, FT−IR, Deterioration, Restoration

Abstract

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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Author Biographies

Mona Ali, Department of Conservation, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University

Mona Fouad Alì received her BA in 1982 and MA in the same discipline in 1989 with the highest marks. PhD in Conservation & Restoration of Antiquities in 1994. Assistant professor at the University of Cairo since 1999. She served as Head of Conservation Dept. in the Faculty of Archaeology and Director of the Conservation Centre. Since 1987 she has carried out and supervised more than 30 research projects on the conservation and restoration of various types of work of art (frescoes, wall paintings, mosaics, wood structures, etc.) with application on real CH structures. She has carried out teaching activities at Cairo University, the Fayome Branch&El Menia University, Alexandria University. She has published several papers in International Conferences and Journals She has participated in several international activities: ICR-Rome; 14^th International Course on the Technology of Stone Conservation (ICCROM-UNESCO); and scientific mission: Moscow (2004), China (2006), Bosnia (2007), Warsaw Poland (2008). Permanent member of the Committee of the conservation of paintings in the Supreme Council of Antiquities since 1995. Member in Supreme Council of Culture since 2007 and in Supreme Council of Antiquities since 2008.

Hanaa Shawki, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Cairo, Egypt

Hanaa Shawki received her BA and Master from the department of Conservation of Cairo Univeristy. She is a conservator at the ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt. Currently, she is working on her Phd thesis on the conservation of composite artefacts.

Hussein Marey Mahmoud, Department of conservation, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University, Egypt

Hussein Marey Mahmoud received his Master in conservation of mural paintings from the depertment of conservation of Cairo Univeristy, in 2005. In 2009, he received his PhD degree from the interdepartmental postgraduate programme on the protection of cultural heritage, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Currently, he is working as an associate professor at the Department of Conservation, Faculty of Archaeology of Cairo University, Egypt. He is author for more than 39 article published in peer-reviewed journals. Also, he served as a reviewer for some journals published by ElSevier and Springer.

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