Geological Factors Controlling Evolution of Theban Tomb Stability, Luxor

Wolter, Andrea; Ziegler, Martin; Colldeweih, Rachael; Loprieno-Gnirs, Andrea; Alcaino-Olivares, Rodrigo; Perras, Matthew A.

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-13810-2_23

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…The availability of requisite moisture can potentially amplify the risk, posing a significant threat to the structural integrity of the tombs and the preservation of the invaluable artifacts they house. This underscores the critical need for comprehensive mineralogical assessments in such contexts as a tool of monitoring on the mineralogical scale beside other efforts of geological studies classifiyng lithologic units of Esna shale [64,65] and long-term monitoring of geological factors controlling the evolution of Theban tombs stability [66,67] preferably the none destructive techniques [68] as much as possible. In conclusion, the integrity of the wall paintings in Al-Qurna is intricately connected to its geological context, which includes the coexistence of the robust Thebes Limestone Formation and the relatively delicate Esna Shale Formation that underlies it.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced Monitoring and Conservation Strategies for Wall Paintings Impacted by Microbiological Degradation and Clay Minerals at Al-Qurna, Thebes West Bank (Luxor)

Moussa,

Osman

2024

Preprint

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This paper investigates the influence of microorganisms and clay minerals on the deterioration process of ancient Egyptian murals in the Al-Qurna region, situated on the west bank of Thebes (Luxor), Egypt. To achieve this objective, an extensive examination of building materials (including bedrock, building stone, mortars, and plasters) from various tombs within the study area was conducted. The investigation employed a multidisciplinary approach, combining micro-biological analysis with advanced techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) as well as petrographic examination. These methods were employed to identify the composition of the materials and to assess the masonry structure’s response to deformation caused by endogenous factors, particularly clay minerals. Additionally, mycological analyses were performed using a swabbing cotton sterile technique, revealing the presence of several species, including Ascosphera apis, Aspergillus tamarii, Aspergillus ochraceus, Doratomyces sp, and Eurotium repens. Notably, swelling clays—such as smectite, illite, and chlorite—along with mixed layers of illite-smectite and illite-vermiculite were detected in the studied samples. The presence of such deleterious clay minerals and fungi imperils wall painting preservation, causing discoloration, surface alteration, physical decay, and structural instability. Informed conservation strategies must address these threats for sustained integrity.

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