Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (15.2003(2004))

NAQLUN

EGYPT

NAQLUN 2003
FROM SCRAPS TO TUNIC

Barbara Czaja-Szewczak

During the exploration of the cemetery on
kom A in 2000, several scraps of a de-
corated woolen textile (Nd.00.083) were
uncovered in grave T. 165.15 The burial
was found disturbed, both the skeleton of
a man and the furnishings being in-
complete. Long exposure had done
considerable damage to the textile and the
surviving scraps were soiled and deformed.
The fibers had been overdried, setting in
wrinkled and deformed position.
Immediately after discovery, a mini-
vacuum cleaner was used to clean the
surface of the fabric mechanically. Some
flexibility and resilience was restored to
the woolen fibers by soaking the scraps
with a lanolin solution. This was followed
by a water bath containing washing and
softening agent Pretepon G. The scraps
were then tamponed gently to remove the
soiling from between the fibers. The last
stage consisted of disinfection with
Preventol added to the final bath. The
scraps were then spread out on glass panes
and left to dry.
Upon close examination the fragments
revealed many elements useful in
identifying the textile and the actual
position of particular scraps. Lined edges
were found, seams joining the separate

pieces and a part of the “bateau”-shaped
neck opening. The ornaments also seemed
to follow a certain rhythm, repeating
patterns and colors.
On the grounds of this evidence a re-
construction of the shape, dimensions and
decoration of the textile was undertaken.


Fig. 1. Scraps of the tunic (Nd. 00.083)
after cleaning
(Photo B. Czaja-Szewczak)

1) W. Godlewski, “Naqlun excavations, 2000”, PAM XII, Reports 2000 (2001), 160; id., “Les textiles issus des fouilles
recentes de Naqlun”, in: Egypte, la trauma de l'histoire, ed. M. Durand and F. Saragoza (Paris 2002), 203, fig. 1.
2) Bag-shaped tunics were made of a rectangular piece of cloth folded in half and sown at the long edge, leaving openings
for the arms, and with a boat-shaped slit as neck opening. For a discussion of various kinds of tunics, cf. B. Czaja-Szewczak,
“Burial tunics from Naqlun”, PAM XIV, Reports 2002 (2003), 177-184 and esp. Fig. 1.

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