Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

SHEIKH ABD EL-GURNA

EGYPT

which is not restorable to the original form
of a card, it was decided to remove it
mechanically. This was done by pricking
and removing the black deposits.
The method for separating cards
required a preparation needle to be
inserted in order to bring in as much air as
possible between the cards. After about 48
hours of repeating this action, the amount
of air between cards in a given part of the
block was sufficient for a broad tool to be
inserted in a noninvasive way. Levering
this tool up to one side and then to the
other allowed the block to be separated
into two parts [Fig. 2]. This was repeated,
each time separating the outer card. The
end result were 52 cards.
The cards were deformed and had very
brittle edges. A special Gore-tex chamber


Fig. 1. Parchment block after detaching from
wooden board (Photo D. Kordowska)

was prepared to moisten and straighten each
card, following a standard procedure of
moistening from a distance, which was
determined to be appropriate and effective
in this case. The objective was to relax
parchment fibers and thus straighten the
deformed and folded card surfaces {Fig. 3}.
Upon removing from the chamber, each
card was immediately cleaned of the
remains of sticky melted parchment. The
moistened card was placed on a thin acidless
cardboard, delicately stretched with
Filmoplast P and left to dry freely.


Fig. 2. Parchment block during separation of
particular cards (Photo D. Kordowska)


Fig. 3- Separated parchment cards during the
moistening process (Photo D. Kordowska)

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