Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (14.2002(2003))

WEST SAQQARA

EGYPT

beside the southern wall, required
a slightly different putty composition.
This was a solution of PARALOID B-72 in
toluene (c. 8%), enriched with sand and
FUNCOSIL Kse FULLSTOFF A (mineral flour),
as well as FUNCOSIL Kse Fullstoff (quartz
powder), to which some pigments were
added as above.
Powdering spots of the polychrome
surface on the limestone slabs at the
southern end of the chapel's eastern wall
were secured with a solution of PARALOID
B-72 in toluene (c. 3%). A pressure-sprayer
was used for this purpose. A similar
procedure was applied in a process of
reinforcing peeling parts of the polychromy
on the ceiling, i.e., painted imitation of
Aswan granite, as well as on the upper part
of the walls, i.e., in the 20 cm high zone
adjoining the ceiling. In all these cases the
process of impregnation was preceded by
the damping of the polychrome surface
with ethyl alcohol.
On the lateral walls of the doorway
leading to the chapel, pasting with PRIMAL
E330 was accompanied by the removal of
streaks of gum substance and adhering dust

using tampons trickled with a 1:1 mixture
of acetone and ethyl alcohol.
Also subject to conservation treatment
this season was the decorated rock surface
separating the facade of Meref-nebePs
chapel from the facade of the unfinished
chapel to the south of it. It had been consol-
idated provisionally in 1997 in an effort to
prevent the eroded rock from falling; as the
solution of PARALOID B-72 used then turned
out be too thick, causing excessive tight-
ening of the pores in the rock, it proved
necessary to remove it at least in part.
The most weakened spots in this part of
the facade, including the lateral face with
representation of the vizier, were dripped
with Remmers Funcosil Kse 300E. Similar
treatment had been applied to the most
eroded parts of the rock in the central
section already during the 2001 campaign.
The detached parts of the rock were pasted
with a filler made on the base of FUNCOSIL
Kse 500 STE with Funcosil Fullstoff A
(mineral flour) and FUNCOSIL FULLSTOFF B
(quartz powder) added in proportions of
2:1, plus pure sieved sand with pigments
for assuring color uniformity.

OBJECTS DISCOVERED DURING THE CAMPAIGN

CARTONNAGE PIECES
An assemblage of dislocated and distorted
pieces (Inv. No. S/02/1) of the mask with
the face and forehead, the usekh-necklace,
and fragments representing the goddess
Nut. Binder degradation has resulted in
disintegration and powdering of sections of
the painted surface. The adhesion of the
layer of plaster to the canvas (made in
basket-weave technique) is extremely
weakened (numerous flakes). Another
fragment treated this season is a kind of
small rectangular plaque with a border
running around three sides (Inv. No.
S/02/22); its state of preservation was

similar and consequently the same
conservation procedures were applied.
The first step was to clean the pieces
mechanically with a soft brush-pencil.
This process removed the loosely sticking
dirt. Then the technological layers, such as
the linen, plaster and paint, had to be
consolidated. The object was trickled with
a 2-3% solution of Klucel GF in con-
centrated ethyl alcohol in order to protect
the powdering layer of paint and to
increase the elasticity of subsequent layers.
The detachments were gradually pasted
with a 4-5% solution of Klucel GF in
ethyl alcohol diluted with water in

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