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

Palabras clave: Oasis de Dakhla, tumbas rupestres de El-Muzzawaka, pinturas murales, SEM−EDS, XRD, FT−IR, deterioro, restauracion

Resumen

El presente estudio demuestra procedimientos científicos aplicados al estudio de pinturas murales en dos tumbas grecorromanas en El-Muzzawaka, Dakhla Oásis, Egipto. Primero, se aplicó una serie de métodos analíticos para determinar la composición química y mineralógica de las muestras de pigmento y yeso recolectadas de las tumbas estudiadas. Los análisis se realizaron mediante microscopía óptica digital (OM), microscopía de luz polarizada (PLM), microscopía electrónica de barrido acoplada a un detector de microanálisis de rayos X (SEM-EDS), análisis de difracción de rayos X (XRD) y infrarrojo por transformada de Fourier. espectroscopia (FT-IR). El análisis de las muestras de pigmento reveló azul egipcio, verde egipcio, tierra verde, magnetita negra y ocre rojo / amarillo. Las pinturas se aplicaron sobre una gruesa capa de yeso a base de yeso, anhidrita, calcita y cuarzo. La capa de preparación estaba compuesta por dos fases de sulfato de calcio (yeso y anhidrita). Además, la detección de un aglutinante orgánico, la goma arábiga, confirma la aplicación de la técnica de revenido. Los resultados mostraron que las muestras de lecho rocoso contienen cantidades variables de cuarzo, anhidrita, montmorillonita, caolinita, yeso y cloruro de sodio (halita). Las observaciones in situ mostraron varias formas de deterioro en las pinturas murales estudiadas. La condición climática destructiva de la región y los defectos en la estructura de la roca han contribuido seriamente al proceso de deterioro. Sobre la base de pruebas experimentales, se aplicaron múltiples procedimientos de restauración en forma de limpieza, reposición de escamas de pintura, aplicación de juntas en capas desprendidas, reconstrucción de partes faltantes en el yeso, reparación de grietas abiertas y consolidación protectora final de superficies pintadas. Además, se discutieron recomendaciones para minimizar cualquier daño futuro.

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Biografía del autor/a

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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