Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

SAQQARA

EGYPT

CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES
SAQQARA 2006
Zbigniew Godziejewski

THE ROCK-HEWN OLD KINGDOM CULT CHAPELS

The deterioration of the condition of
decorated walls in the cult chapels of
Merefnebef and Nyankhnefertem due to
heavy rains in early 2005, noted during the
previous season, prompted a thorough
examination of the chapels and the
anonymous Chapel 16 (cf. Mysliwiec 2004:
112, Fig. 1) at the beginning of the present
season. Fortunately, rains had not been as
severe earlier this year. Even so, the state of
preservation differed in the three chapels.
Salt concentration on the walls of the
chapel of Merefnebef was insignificant,
localized in various parts of the structure,
including the fagade and unfinished chapel
located to the south of it. They do not
constitute any danger to the preservation
of the polychromy. Nearly no salt
concentration appeared in Chapel 16. In
Chapel 15 (Nyankhnefertem), however,
a layer of salt 2 cm thick covered the
surface of the southern part of the west
wall, to the right, behind the entrance.
Considerable salt concentration was noted
also on the other walls, particularly in the
30 cm zone immediately below the ceiling
and in the 1.00-1.20 m zone above the
floor. The concentration of salt on the
ceiling does not appear to have changed,
but it was still very dense, the salt crystals
impossible to remove without damaging
the polychromy. Detachment of the

painting layer was observed on large parts
of the ceiling. The conservation treatment
applied in 2005, aimed at saving the
decoration of the ceiling, has obviously
been insufficient and had to be continued
in the present campaign.
It is now clear that the heavy rains which
lasted for several days in February 2005 are
still having an effect. Water had gathered
excessively in a hole above the roof of
Chapel 15, seeping deeply into the rock, the
structure of which, as well as the many rifts
in its thickness have facilitated absorption
in considerable quantity. Protection
introduced by the mission in the previous
and present campaigns — roofing over the
chapel (in 2005), refilling of all rock cavities
with sand, evaporation of excessive
humidity inside the chapels — should help
to normalize the situation. Still, there is
a positive aspect: the high concentration of
salt in the atmosphere inside the chapels
allows no mildew fungi to grow.
METHOD APPLIED IN THE CHAPELS
Salt from the walls of Chapel 15 was
removed mechanically with thick brushes
and scalpels. Soft brushes were used on salt
appearing on the surface of the painting.
The salt was not allowed to fall to the floor
and was subsequently taken out of the
chapel.

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