| Egyptian Journal of Archeological and Restoration StudiesCONSERVATION AND REDISPLAY OF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL IRON AXE FROM BALLANA AND QUSTUL, EGYPTIAN NUBIA (370-500) A.D.
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/ejars.2025.471791
pages: 239-249
Bahig, F. 1 , Sobhy, D. 2 & Rifai, M. 2
1 Inorganic Conservation dept., Egyptian Capital Museum, Ministry of Tourism & Monuments, Cairo, Egypt.
2 Conservation dept, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo Univ, Giza, Egypt.
Abstract:
This paper discusses the examination, analysis and conservation of an iron axe head from a collection of daily life tools from the Ballana and Qustul regions in Egyptian Nubia (380-500 A.D.), which are currently displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The iron axe head was discovered among other finds during the excavations of Walter Emery and Lawrence Kirwan between 1928 and 1934. The axe head was in a very poor and fragile condition, and required imm-ediate intervention for conservation and treatment. Different analytical and investigation methods were performed to examine and identify the object’s metallic structure and corrosion products such as Digital Light Microscope, Metallography, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Elemental analysis using Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF). The results indicated that the axe head was manufactured from low-carbon steel. XRD and Raman spectroscopy revealed the presence of different types of corrosion products including iron oxides, hydroxides and chlorides namely Magnetite, Lepidocrocite, Goethite, Hematite and Akaganeite, in addition to the presence of Quartz - a component of soil deposits. Furthermore, soil minerals were clearly observed on the object's surface. The main purpose for this study is to evaluate the condition of the axe head and identify the rust components in order to select the most suitable conservation materials and technique to stabilize the object and prevent further degradation. Finally, the artifact was redisplayed in a suitable and proper way, as the current method of displaying was not suitable.
Keywords:
Axe Head Iron Rust Redisplay Ballana, Investigation Preservation
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