Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (15.2003(2004))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

EGYPT

recommendations, of white cement results
in occasional surface cracking.
We have also refrained from restoring
partly surviving wall plaster for reasons
both technical and aesthetic. As the
ancient method of plastering using a clay
undercoating on the wall face is highly
inconvenient to modern conservators,
a special method had to be developed. It
was applied this year on a section of
geometrically ornamented wall plaster in
room 3 of House H 10A The first step was
a mechanical removing with simple tools,
like a brush, trowel and air pump, of the
debris and remains of clay undercoating
from the edges of the plaster. The voids
were then filled with lime mortar enriched
with white cement (sand-to-lime-to-
cement ratio 6:3:1) and a 1% solution of
Primal AC 33 was applied. Wherever

replacement of the clay undercoating was
impossible, the surfaces were reinforced
with Primal AC 33. The next step was to
clean the top surfaces of both mural and
stone from salt efflorescence using a wire
brush and a special bristle brush. A 7%
solution of Paraloid B-72 was used to
reinforce the surface of the plaster. Fol-
lowing that, Funcosil Steinfestiger 300
(Remmers) was used to saturate the wall
surfaces, but this did not give full solidi-
fication of the binder. The colors initially
became clearer, but considerable salt
efflorescence appeared later. This had to be
removed mechanically with scalpel and
brush.
Building conservation activities mostly
consisted of building up walls and
protecting their structure from rainfall
erosion. Walls are usually restored to


Fig. 2. House H 10“E”. Complete plan following the 2003 season
(Drawing S. Medeksza)
4) Conservator M. Ujma was responsible for developing the method and its application.

94