Preliminary Research for Preservation of Mural Paintings of Mastaba (Idout) in Ancient Egypt

作为修复的使命，我们于2003年8月获得了最高文物理事会的正式许可，对萨卡拉的Mastaba Idout壁画进行研究。第一季于2003年11月举行，第二季于2004年4月至5月举行。该使命是第一个开发技术，以恢复壁画的墓室在萨卡拉-吉萨地区的情况下，Idout的绘画是远远不如在1935年时，麦克拉马拉报告。墓室的壁画在每一面墙壁上都有剥落的现象，尤其是西墙。此外，我们发现墙壁，天花板和地板上有许多裂缝，至少有一个在南墙自1935年以来发展得更宽，我们做了wateri造成的恶化，在北墙明显。壁画的记录是通过视频和相机进行的。地板上的碎片被收集起来，我们希望根据1935年Macramallah的照片在原来的位置重建。为了阐明变质的过程，正在进行化学分析：X射线衍射、岩相学研究、差热分析和热重分析、红外光谱分析和截面技术。在墓室内外放置了吸湿记录器。数据显示，从11月（第一季）到5月（第二季），温度和相对湿度都很稳定。由于母岩条件恶劣，我们决定将画作从底座上拆下，并将其转移到新的支架上。我们将检查日本方法的有效性，以分离绘画层：面临的Funori（gloiopeltis胶水）和日本纸（或人造丝）。我们假设，在欧式饰面过程中使用的有机溶剂对封闭房间中不进行空气交换的工人的健康有害。在这一点上，日本的Funori具有优势。

As mission of restoration, we gained an official permission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities to research the mural paintings of Mastaba Idout in Saqqara in August 2003. First season was carried in November2003 and second season in April -May 2004. The mission is the first one to develop technique of restoring the mural paintings of burial chambers in Saqqara - Giza areaThe condition of the paintings of Idout was much worse than in 1935 when Macramallah reported. The wall paintings of the burial chamber were peeled off in every wall, especially in west wall. In addition, we found many cracks runing on walls, ceiling and floor, at least one in south wall developing wider since 1935 and we did the deterioration caused by wateri, clearly in north wall.Documentation of wall paintings was carried by video and camera. Fragments on the floor were collected, which we expect to be reconstructed in their original location according to photos of Macramallah in 1935. To elucidate the process of deterioration, chemical analyses are under way : X-ray diffraction, Petrographic studies, DTA and TGA analyses, Spectra for IR analysis, and Cross-section technique. Hygroscopic loggers were placed in and out of the burial chamber. The data shows temperature and relative humidity were stable from November (first season) to May (second season).Because of the bad condition of mother rock, we have decided to detach the paintings from their base and to move them on new supports. We will check the efficacy of Japanese method to detach the painting layers : facing by Funori (gloiopeltis glue) and Japanese paper (or rayon). We suppose that organic solvents used during European facing are health-hazardous for workers in the closed room not to exchange air. In this point, Japanese Funori has an advantage.