Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

NAQLUN

EGYPT

weave being applied in parts of the silk
decoration executed on a linen warp. The
decoration consists of two bands of
a golden color, one 2.3 cm and the other
5.5 cm wide, sandwiched between sets of
cream, pink and black stripes. Interspaced
on these bands are single and double
medallions of pink, green and blue, filled
with schematic representations of birds. In
the case of the wider band, the medallions
are framed with black bands, on which
Arab inscriptions have been embroidered
in cream. A side band of black wavy lines
on a yellow background constitutes the
border along the long edges.
Upon discovery in 2000, the textile
was cleaned mechanically and with the
aid of fine brushes and a mini vacuum
cleaner.2) It was then moistened with
distilled water, permitting the creased
fabric to be stretched out on a glass pane
and the spaces between the fibers to be
cleaned.

In 2001, the first task was a prophy-
lactic disinfecting of the textile with
Lichenicide 264, the remains of which
were then removed from the surface of the
fabric with a mini vacuum cleaner. This
step was required as it was decided not to
immerse the piece in water. Once the disin-
fecting had been completed, the textile was
doubled on crepeline making sure the line
of the warp and weft threads matched.3)
The doubling was accomplished with silk
yarn using thin specialist needles at
intervals of 3.0-5.0 mm under a lamp
equipped with 5x magnifying glass.
The last step was to place the protected
fabric on a piece of cardboard, 50 by 50 cm
in size, covered with acid-free paper, the
doubling material being tightened on it by
pulling the edges together on the reverse
with cotton thread. Acid-free Japanese
tissue paper on top and an acid-free paper
envelope were used to ensure stable storage
conditions.

TEXTILE ND.00197

Found in three pieces, this linen textile
comes from grave T. 179 (excavated in
2000). It represents a plain tabby weave
with silk decoration executed in tapestry
weave technique (Fig. 2). The design
consists of two bands, each 4.6 cm wide,
separated by a linen plain tabby section,
which is 1.1 m wide. Each of the bands is
filled with medallions containing bird
motifs in cream against a pink ground,
surrounded with a cream circle setting off

the representation from the blue or green
color of the medallion itself. An Arab
inscription runs above the medallions.
The poor condition of the textile
precluded full immersion in water, hence it
was only slightly moistened and stretched
on a glass plate, after which it was
disinfected with a Lichenicide solution.
The textile was doubled on crepeline, care
being taken to judge, which side is the
right side up. The Arab inscription was

2) Washing in water is not always recommended due to the fragile condition of some textiles, which could disintegrate
completely in consequence. The brittleness of two of the textiles treated this year precluded their complete submersion in
water. However, as always in the case of newly excavated textiles, the fabric needed to be cleaned and straightened out. This
is possible only once the fabric has been moistened gently.
3) Damaged places of the textile were protected with a laid stitch used to protect damaged places of the doubled textile,
either by couching (parallel threads attached to the ground at intervals) or by attaching with thread the edges of holes and
tacking down any damaged or separate parts.

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