INPUT OF THE TECHNICAL IMAGING FOR THE STUDY OF WALL PAINTINGS: EXAMPLE OF A LINTEL (TOMB OF KING TAKELOT I AT TANISSAN EL-HAGAR, SHARQEYA, EGYPT)

Abstract

: Technical digital imaging is a non-destructive and contactless technique that is increasingly used to study wall paintings. The methodology is based on the images acquisition in different wavelengths domains. A painted lintel in the tomb of King Takelot I ( 22 nd dynasty, 887-873 BC ), at the archa eo logical site of Tanis (Egypt), which shows a fragile surface, has been investigated in this way. Images under direct light, raking light, favouring near IR radiation, catching the fluorescence response under UV have been made. Ortho -photographs and generated depth maps at both macro- and micro-scales using a digital camera and contactless e-microscope have also been performed. The images revealed the presence of Egyptian blue, red ochre, carbon black. They also have provided additional information on the degradation patterns and the nature of soluble salts that are chloride and sulphate based compounds, the main origin of the degradations and helped to detect the traces of past restoration.