Investigation of Biological and Thermal Deterioration
Restoration of a Wooden Statue from the Bubasteum Archaeological Site in Saqqara, Old Kingdom in Egypt
In: Acta ArchaeologicaSearch for other papers by Medhat Abdallah Abd Elhamid in
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Abstract
Biological and thermal deterioration represent the primary degradation factors affecting buried organic artefacts within the Saqqara necropolis. The examined wooden statue, originating from the Old Kingdom (2575–2134 BCE), was excavated at the Bubasteum archaeological site in Saqqara. During its interment, the artefact underwent thermal decomposition and extensive insect infestation. This study aims to evaluate the condition of both the wooden substrate and the painted layer, as well as to document the conservation interventions undertaken. Analytical techniques employed included visual inspection, USB digital microscopy, optical microscopy (OM), fungal isolation and identification, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The results indicate significant degradation of the statue due to biological infestation and thermal deterioration, manifesting in multiple forms of structural and surface damage. Restoration procedures were meticulously implemented to stabilise and reinforce the artefact. The selected materials and methodologies proved effective in ensuring the statue’s structural integrity. An innovative loss compensation technique was developed to reattach the statue to its pedestal, resulting in the successful conservation of the coffin, which is now prepared for either museum display or archival storage.
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Investigation of Biological and Thermal Deterioration
Restoration of a Wooden Statue from the Bubasteum Archaeological Site in Saqqara, Old Kingdom in Egypt
In: Acta ArchaeologicaSearch for other papers by Medhat Abdallah Abd Elhamid in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Mohamed Moustafa in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
Biological and thermal deterioration represent the primary degradation factors affecting buried organic artefacts within the Saqqara necropolis. The examined wooden statue, originating from the Old Kingdom (2575–2134 BCE), was excavated at the Bubasteum archaeological site in Saqqara. During its interment, the artefact underwent thermal decomposition and extensive insect infestation. This study aims to evaluate the condition of both the wooden substrate and the painted layer, as well as to document the conservation interventions undertaken. Analytical techniques employed included visual inspection, USB digital microscopy, optical microscopy (OM), fungal isolation and identification, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The results indicate significant degradation of the statue due to biological infestation and thermal deterioration, manifesting in multiple forms of structural and surface damage. Restoration procedures were meticulously implemented to stabilise and reinforce the artefact. The selected materials and methodologies proved effective in ensuring the statue’s structural integrity. An innovative loss compensation technique was developed to reattach the statue to its pedestal, resulting in the successful conservation of the coffin, which is now prepared for either museum display or archival storage.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 227 | 185 | 10 |
| Full Text Views | 21 | 19 | 3 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 64 | 57 | 7 |
