Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

OLD DONGOLA

SUDAN

CONSERVATION IN THE ANNEX AND SW BUILDING

The state of preservation of the uncovered
structures left much to be desired. Repeated
flooding by rains attacked the bottoms of
mud-brick walls and destroyed most of the
entrances, seriously affecting the vaults.
Indeed, one such attempt to prop up vaults
threatening to collapse, made sometime in
the 13th or 14th century, can be seen in
room 6. Excavations could be completed
only after parts of walls and most of the
entrance arches were built up. All recon-
struction was done with original building
material (red and mud-brick) using special
mortar: mud (or qurba) and sand mixed


Fig. 18. Restorer Wojciech Chmiel with an
assistant at work in room 6 of the SW
Annex (Photo J. Swigcicki)

with water-diluted PVA. Vertical cracks in
the walls were filled in with mud and sand
(1:1) mixed with 10% polyvinyl acetate in
water. Plaster was readhered to walls with
homogeneous injections of 10% hydropro-
pylocellulose (KLUGEL G) mixed with water
and mud. Surface damage to the paint and
whitewash, resulting in flaking, was treated
with 15% hydropropylocellulose in ethanol.
Painted surfaces were cleaned mechanically
with Wishab sponges and glass-fiber brushes.
Painted surfaces were twice protected with
an application of 2% polyvinyl acetate in
ethanol (Movilith 50).
Traditional roofing of the same kind as
was built over the Northwestern Annex
previously, was introduced over the entire
excavated area of the building.11 Windows
and doorways were blocked with reused
brick, rendering the structure inaccessible
until the next season of work.

11 Cf. PAM XII. Reports 2000 (2001), 278.

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