Mineralogical Characterization of the Weathering Crusts Covering the Ancient Wall Paintings of the Festival Temple of Thutmosis III, Karnak Temple Complex, Upper Egypt

Abstract

The Karnak temple complex is located on the east bank of the River Nile, about 2.5 km north of Luxor, Upper Egypt. The main building materials used in its construction are sandstones, the so-called “Nubian Sandstone”, collected from the Gebel el-Silsila area in south-western Egypt (Fitzner et al. 2003). A number of weathering crusts with different colours and thicknesses have been observed, covering the decorated walls of the temple. The present study is a preliminary examination of the physico-chemical properties of some weathering crusts covering the wall paintings of the festival temple of Thutmosis III (c.1504–1450 BC, the 18th Dynasty) at Karnak temple complex, Upper Egypt.