DOI Heft:
Sudan
DOI Artikel:Jakobielski, Stefan: Old Dongola: fieldwork in 2002
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41370#0233
OLD DONGOLA
SUDAN
sand, powdered mud brick and chalk
consolidated with 2% hydropropylocel-
lulose. This agent served also to fasten
flaking paint. The mural surface was then
treated with a 3% solution of PARALOID B-
72 in toluene.
The painting of the Trinity on the west
wall posed more problems and was in
relatively worse condition, having been
painted on a third successive thin layer of
plaster, composed mainly of mud, which
covered two layers of lime-plaster coating
the red-brick wall. Insufficiently slaked
lime resulted in the loosening of the layer
of whitewash together with the paint,
bringing to the surface eruptions of CaCCL
from earlier layers. After preliminary
cleaning of the painting, the loosened
flakes were glued with polyvinyl acetate
diluted in water. Holes in the surface were
filled with a similar mixture but glued
with gum Arabic. The surface was then
treated again with polyvinyl acetate diluted
in water. This operation was not fully suc-
cessful, although the effect is not entirely
displeasing; it is advisable, however, to
exercise caution in using chemicals diluted
in water in such cases.18)
Recent activity of the subterranean ter-
mites noted in the previous season in a part
of the Northwestern Annex necessitated
action to protect the preserved murals. All
the endangered areas were treated with
poison (Protector N including xirene
and other components) by means of
injections to every corridor in the wall left
by the insects, no matter whether recent or
old. This large-scale operation was sup-
plemented with the application of other
poisons (CHLORAMINE B and pure formal-
dehyde, separately), left in all the rooms of
the Annex in small containers to evaporate
slowly in order to create an unpleasant
environment for both insects and bats. As
these poisons may be harmful to humans as
well, the Annex was closed and all the
windows were walled up, so that it could
not be entered for a time.
18) The section concerning mural preservation based on the report of restorer Gabriela Chmiel.
229
SUDAN
sand, powdered mud brick and chalk
consolidated with 2% hydropropylocel-
lulose. This agent served also to fasten
flaking paint. The mural surface was then
treated with a 3% solution of PARALOID B-
72 in toluene.
The painting of the Trinity on the west
wall posed more problems and was in
relatively worse condition, having been
painted on a third successive thin layer of
plaster, composed mainly of mud, which
covered two layers of lime-plaster coating
the red-brick wall. Insufficiently slaked
lime resulted in the loosening of the layer
of whitewash together with the paint,
bringing to the surface eruptions of CaCCL
from earlier layers. After preliminary
cleaning of the painting, the loosened
flakes were glued with polyvinyl acetate
diluted in water. Holes in the surface were
filled with a similar mixture but glued
with gum Arabic. The surface was then
treated again with polyvinyl acetate diluted
in water. This operation was not fully suc-
cessful, although the effect is not entirely
displeasing; it is advisable, however, to
exercise caution in using chemicals diluted
in water in such cases.18)
Recent activity of the subterranean ter-
mites noted in the previous season in a part
of the Northwestern Annex necessitated
action to protect the preserved murals. All
the endangered areas were treated with
poison (Protector N including xirene
and other components) by means of
injections to every corridor in the wall left
by the insects, no matter whether recent or
old. This large-scale operation was sup-
plemented with the application of other
poisons (CHLORAMINE B and pure formal-
dehyde, separately), left in all the rooms of
the Annex in small containers to evaporate
slowly in order to create an unpleasant
environment for both insects and bats. As
these poisons may be harmful to humans as
well, the Annex was closed and all the
windows were walled up, so that it could
not be entered for a time.
18) The section concerning mural preservation based on the report of restorer Gabriela Chmiel.
229