A Study of Biodeterioration and Chromatic Alterations of Painted and Gilded Mummy Cartonnage at the Saqqara Museum Storeroom, Egypt

Bibliographic Data

ID8352111
AuthorsM F Ali (0000-0001-6631-5003, Conservation Department, Faculty of Archaeology Cairo University Giza 12613 Egypt), Maisa M A Mansour (0000-0002-6983-4789, Cairo University), Nour Mohamed Badr (0000-0003-4228-4497, Grand Egyptian Museum), Mohamed Z M Salem (0000-0002-3961-7935, Alexandria University, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume60
Issue4
Pages845-858
Publication date2018-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchaeometry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-813X • E-ISSN: 1475-4754
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/arcm.12340
OpenAlexW2765274652
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited35

Microbial biofilms have developed on the surfaces and within the painted and gilded layers of mummy cartonnage at the Saqqara museum storeroom in Giza, Egypt. SEM–EDX, XRD and FT–IR–ATR techniques were applied to analyse the coloured and gilded materials, ground layer, textile support and binder used for the cartonnage. Aspergillus niger (24.8%), Penicillium chrysogenum (21.5%) and a novel cartonnage‐biodegrading bacterium, Bacillus sonorensis (23.7%), were the most abundant microbes growing over the cartonnage surface. In addition, Aspergillus tamari (15.4%), A. fumigates (8.1%) and Fusarium solani (6.5%) were identified. The pigments comprised Egyptian blue (cuprorivaite), cinnabar (red), orpiment (yellow) and green pigment made from a mixture of cuprorivaite and orpiment. Gold leaf was used for the gilded layer, calcium carbonate and gypsum comprised the ground layer, gum arabic was the binding medium and the fibre base was a fine linen textile. Microbial colonization tests were performed on aged cartonnage replica samples made from linen and pigments of similar composition to ancient pigments found in the cartonnage. Each sample was inoculated separately with A. niger , P. chrysogenum and B. sonorensis . Yellow orpiment samples were the exception, as no colour change was detected after colonization by the examined micro‐organisms

Art · Biology · Botany · Penicillium chrysogenum · Building materials and conservation · Chemistry · Conservation Techniques and Studies · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis

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