Analysis and Restoration of Greco-Roman Pottery in Egypt

Abstract

The research aims to identify features of the industry and assess the pottery damage through various examinations and analyses, such as examination by polarised microscope (PLM), examination by Scanning Electron Microscope with Energy Dispersive X-ray unit "SEM-EDX", analysis by X-ray diffraction powder XRD, and thermal analysis TGA. Archaeometric features of archaeological pottery were identified. The used clay is Nile Clay; the additives are sand, limestone powder, pottery powder (grog), and straw. The moulding technique is the hand and potter wheel technique. The surface treatment is a red wash and slip layer. The burning atmosphere is oxidising for the first and second pottery pieces and reducing for the third and fourth pottery pieces. The burning temperature is about 816°C for the first sample, 887°C for the second sample, 706°C for the third sample, and 651°C for the fourth sample. The texture is medium to coarse fabric for the first sample; the second sample fabric is fine; and the third and fourth samples have a coarse texture. The research proved that the pottery objects suffer from some different damage aspects such as fracture, loss of some parts, lack of strength, weakness, cracking, soil sediments, soot spots and black core, and salt crystallisation (chloride, sulphate, carbonate, and phosphate salts). The research proved the use of a mixture of distilled water, acetone, and ethyl alcohol at a ratio of 1:1:1, respectively, for removing clay soil deposits. EDTA is used to remove lime deposits. Nano-silica at a concentration of 0.5% is used to strengthen archaeological pottery by spraying. Paralloid B 82 dissolved in trichloroethylene at a concentration of 50% in assembling the pottery sherds; it is preferable to display it in the museum at a temperature of 20°C and a relative humidity of 55:60%.