Structure Features, Damage and Treatment of Two Pottery artifacts from Tel El-Shobak, Qalyubia, Egypt: Case Study
Abstract The research paper aims to identify structure features, damage and treatment of two pottery artifacts from Tell Al-Shobak in Qalyubia, "one of the archaeological sites dating back to new kingdom". Polarized Microscopy "PLM", Scanning Electron Microscope with Energy dispersive X-ray unit "SEM-EDX", X-Ray Diffraction analysis "XRD", and Differential thermal analysis "DTA" were adopted for investigating and analyzing pottery sherds. The research identified structure features proving that the used clay is Nile clay, the additives are sand, grog and calcite. The formation technique is potter wheel .The surface treatment is slip layer. The firing atmosphere is oxidizing. Firing temperature might be about 726.78°C The first pottery vessel and 737.80°C for the second pottery plate. Research also proved that pottery pieces suffer from various damage aspects such as soil deposits, stains, cracking, fracture, loss of some parts, lack of durability, weakness, and salt crystallization. The studied pottery pieces treated using mechanical cleaning method and chemical cleaning using a mixture of acetone and toluene at a ratio of 1:2 respectively to remove clay soil deposits. EDTA applied to remove lime deposits. Hydrogen peroxide20 % was used to remove soot. Nano Silica 1% was applied to strengthen archaeological pottery .Assembling the pottery sherds was done by Paralloid B72 50%. Replacement pottery sherds conducted by Microballoon and grog in a ratio of 2:1, respectively. After treatment, the pottery artifacts were ready for museum display.