Examination and Restoration of an artifact of cartonnage from komombo excavation, Egypt

This research aims to identify the components of an archaeological artifact of Cartonnage dating back to the Roman era from an excavation in southern Egypt, Komombo area, by examining and analyzing chromatic (colorful) samples from it. And for this purpose the light optical microscope (LOM) and scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) are used. And the Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopies (FTIR) is used to identify the quality of the preparation layer and the bonding material (animal glue) and it was found that the preparation layer is Consists of calcite (a compound Calcium carbonate). Examining samples of the preparatory layer of the artifact, it became clear that it consists of two layers, the first coarse layer is composed of Calcium carbonate and the second layer is fine and smooth and the layers were identified and thicknesses were calculated by SEM-EDX. The treatment plan for the artifact included consolidation it after cleaning it with klucel G dissolved in ethyl alcohol with 3% concentration for the colored parts of the cartonnage, also included injection of cracks and micro-cracks and consolidation the weak parts using paraloid B72 dissolved in acetone with 3% concentration.