Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (19.2007(2010))

DEIR EL-BAHARI

EGYPT

1.1. SUN ALTAR
In the Great Sun Altar, many of the previous
fillings have been changed. In different
parts of the altar, over twenty fragments
missing from the stone blocks were restored
with patches of new local limestone. The
reconstructed elements were fixed mainly
with mortar (composed of lime, white
cement and sifted medium sand).2 For the
biggest pieces, especially from the cavetto
and cornice, a polyester resin was used
because of its short binding time permitting
precise fittings. Gaps between original stone
blocks were filled with new mortar
containing two parts white cement, two
parts white mineral dust (fine sieved), one
part red mineral dust (fine sieved), and one
part sand (fine sieved). Standard procedures
for differentiating the new surfaces from old
ones were applied.
The goal being to show the building
history of the complex, which in the case of
the Altar comprises at least three separate
undertakings during the reign of
Hatshepsut, the conservators prepared an
exposition of elements belonging to the
different building stages. In effect, the
southeastern corner of the so-called Small
Altar can now be viewed in relation to the
masonry from the next two stages of the
altar’s construction \Fig. 2\. The blocks,
which were in poor condition, had to be
reinforced with a silica binder FUNCOSIL
Steinfestiger 300 and 500 by Remmers.
Layers of plaster no longer adhering to stone
surfaces were consolidated with PRIMAL
AC33 (5% water-diluted). Parts of mortar
in the upper surface of the Altar were
reinforced with injections of PRIMAL AC33
(15% water-diluted).

1.2. NORTH AND SOUTH WALLS OF
THE COURTYARD
Continued work on the north and south
walls of the Courtyard covered pointing of
the joints and cleaning and consolidation of
ancient (original) mortar fillings using
Funcosil Steinfestiger 500 KSE
by Remmers with an addition of mineral
filler aggregate. Plaster coatings were
consolidated with Primal AC33 (5% to
15% water-diluted).


Fig. 2. Inside the masonry of the Great Altar:
visible southeastern corner of the Small
Altar (Photo M. Jawornicki)

2 All remarks concerning restoration activities draw upon the unpublished report from the season’s works by the conservator
in charge, Izabela Uchman-Laskowska; all mission reports are kept in the PCMA archives in Warsaw.

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Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007