| Egyptian Journal of Archeological and Restoration Studies

Authors:
Bayoumi, N.(*) & El Hadidi, N.
Organic Conservation dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo Univ., Giza, Egypt

Abstract:
Throughout history wood was used as a support for polychrome layers. In ancient Egypt several types of gesso layers have been identified, and recent research has focused on how these layers may affect cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, which are the main wood components. The chemical reactions between the main wood components of Lebanese cedar (Cedrus libani), sidder (Ziziphus spina-christi) wood and the different components of four commonly used preparation layers similar to those identified in the wooden artifacts in Tutankhamun’s collection were studied on simulated samples by using both Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR Ma-pping) for the first time to study the chemical changes in the main function groups of wood. FTIR analysis demonstrated in detail the changes that occurred in wood chemical components. ATR-FTIR analysis helped explain what happens in wood surface, while FTIR mapping images showed the effect of preparation layers on the chemical components of wood, the results of which were correlated with the results of FTIR bands ratios. The results obtained clearly show that these analytical techniques can be easily applied on archaeological samples to assess the state of preservation of wooden supports.

Keywords:
Lebanese cedar Sidder FTIR ATR-FTIR mapping Cellulose Hemicellulose Lignin

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