MULTI-INSTRUMENTAL INVESTIGATION and ANALYSIS of A UNIQUE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN WOODEN OBELISK (NEW KINGDOM) at the GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM

Abstract

An ancient Egyptian wooden obelisk heavily invaded by insects has been received at the Fumigation Laboratory at the Grand Egyptian Museum. The conservation treatment presumed conducting a modified atmosphere treatment for pest control and some stabilization interventions, thus, certain physicochemical tests were necessary. The multi-instrumental investigations and analyses conducted included optical microscopy (OM), digital microscopy (DM), technical imaging (TI), and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) to identify the wooden substrate and pigment traces. The aim was to identify the constituents of the obelisk to undertake the minimal necessary interventions and to stabilize its state of conservation using the most suitable intervention materials and techniques. Archaeological background, historical significance, and manufacturing technique of obelisk was reported. Results showed that the obelisk was made of Greek juniper (Juniperus excelsa) wood and contains traces of white pigment identified as gypsum, blue pigment identified as Egyptian blue, and black pigment identified as bone ivory.