A Plan to Document and Treatment an Archaeological Pottery Amphora from Early Dynastic - Helwan Cemetery

Abstract

This research is concerned with putting a plan for documenting and treating an Archaeological pottery Amphorae, dating back to Early Dynastic. It was discovered in Helwan Cemetery, which is considered one of the most important Archaeological sites in Egypt, and has not yet revealed all its secrets. The pottery Amphorae was exposed to physical and chemical damage during burial and after excavation, from interactions with various damage factors. The damage extent after excavation has varied between the effect of the burial residues inside and outside the Amphorae, the cracks in the thickness of the body showing, clearly, in addition to the effect of high relative humidity with high temperature degrees on the crystallization of salts on the internal and external surface and between the crystals of the body which led to crusting and flaking off the surface. The components of the damaged pottery Amphorae will be identified through the use of different methods of documentation such as AutoCAD and other methods, and then the appropriate examination and analysis methods to identify the damage products, and then choice the treatment plan, using the Digital Optical Microscope, the Scanning Electron Microscope with the energy dispersion unit SEM-EDX, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) to identify the crystallized mineral compounds to the body or deteriorate products, as well as differential thermal analysis (DTA) to determine the approximate firing degree, because they have an important role in determining the steps and the materials of treatment. It is recommended through this study that the treatment plan is suitable for the conditions in which the Amphorae will be present, whether it will be in storage or exhibition environment.