Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

WEST SAQQARA

EGYPT

CONSERVATION WORK, SAQQARA 2001

Zbigniew Godziejewski

This year, as in previous seasons, the
funerary chapel of the vizier Meref-nebef
continued to be the focus of our
conservation efforts. Data on temperature
and humidity taken every two hours for the
past year by a Rotronic thermohygrometer,
installed by the mission in the chapel
doorway in October 2000, at the end of the
season, has confirmed the extensive
influence external atmospheric factors
continue to have on the climatic conditions
inside the chapel. There have been abrupt
changes of humidity from about 30% to
almost 75% in November and December
2000 (heavy rains) and in March 2001.
Changes of temperature throughout the
year have been equally dynamic, from
12.5°C-17.5°C in January-February up to
over 29°C in August and September.
CONSERVATION OF THE
A check on the condition of the decoration
inside the chapel revealed no substantial
losses during our absence. Some detaching
of the painted surface has occurred, but it
was neither as numerous nor as sizeable as
in previous years. The mortar ground layer
also showed some detaching from the rock.
The southern wall of the chamber is
believed to constitute the biggest problem,
but even there most of the multiple cases
of peeling and detachment have been
stabilized and are under control. Urgent
intervention is required only on the lower
part, the leveling stratum in particular.

Furthermore, on-site observations carried
out in the course of the conservation work
have confirmed the existence of some
differences in the climatic conditions
(mainly of the humidity) between the
inside of the funerary chapel and the area
immediately outside it, but within the
confines of the shelter constructed by the
mission.
The essential thing is to stop these
tendencies and stabilize conditions. Hence,
all ventilation holes have been veiled at the
close of the season, and the skylights
covered with stone slabs and sand on top.
The thermohygrometer remains in place to
collect data during the period until the
next campaign; the results will then be
compared with those obtained during the
past year.
PAINTED DECORATION
Many tiny new concentrations of salt
have been observed. The salt that crystal-
lizes under the layer of polychromy causes
cracks and detachments, and subsequently
disintegration of the painted layer.
A larger salt accumulation in the form
of white down covering 20 by 10 cm has
appeared in the northern part of the eastern
wall, about a meter above the floor, near
the feet of a figure representing the
deceased (the second figure from the
north). There being no polychromy in this
spot, it was possible to remove the salinity
with a soft brush.

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