EVALUATION THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOME CONSOLIDANTS FOR PRESERVATION OF LIMESTONE IN HATHOR TEMPLE AT MEMHIS, EGYPT

Abstract

AbstractMemphis city is the first capital of ancient Egypt; it's considered to be open-air museum to the ancient Egyptian archaeological buildings. Twenty kilometers to the south of Giza, the modern village of Mit- Rahina lies at the core of Memphis city. Hathor temple is one of the most important archaeological building in Mit- Rahina village, it was built of limestone by Ramesses II (19th Dynasty). The temple is comprises of a partially exposed colonnaded hall on the north, and that hall has spectacular capitals in the traditional form of Hathor as a human visage with bovine ears. The temple affected by several deterioration phenomena and patterns of damage which occurred by the time, as a result of exposing to many aggressive factors. The assessment of the current conservation state to the temple were performed, including studying the properties of limestone which is the main construction material of Hathor temple using X-ray diffraction, polarizing light microscopy (PLM) and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental study was performed on samples of limestone using four consolidants to choose the best consolidant to the conservation of Hathor temple. To evaluate the consolidants, the physical and the mechanical properties of the treated samples were estimated, also aesthetical properties by visual examination, colorimetric measurements, as well static water contact angle and the morphologic study using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The evaluation methodology of consolidants efficiency is performed by comparing properties of the treated samples together, then comparing them with properties of untreated samples. The stability and efficiency of the consolidants was evaluated by repeating the measurement of static water contact angle for the treated samples after exposure to the artificial aging cycles. The study indicated that the most important deterioration factor affecting the temple is a salty ground water. The results obtained from studying of archeological limestone by investigation and analytical methods showed it is consist mainly of very fine grains of calcite, with minor amount of dolomite and rare quartz, opaque minerals, iron oxides and halite, with microfossils. It also suffers different kinds of degradation phenomena. The experimental study results showed that the nanocomposite (Nanorestor + M.T.M.O.S) is the most suitable for consolidation and protection of the limestone samples. Where, it showed higher compatibility in physico-chemical, mechanical and aesthetical properties with the limestone material and the best for resistance to artificial aging procedures, compared by other consolidants in this study.

Keywords

• key worde limestone
• consolidation
• mechanical properties
• physical properties
• water contact angle