DETERIORATION DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF SOME POTTERY OBJECTS FROM TELL ATRIB, QALYUBIA, EGYPT

Some pottery pots from tell Atrib in Qalyubia have been studied; it is one of the most important archaeological sites in Qalyubia dating back to the late age. Many tests and analyzes were performed such as polarized microscope (PLM), scanning electronic microscope equipped with an X-ray energy dispersion unit (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and microbiological examination. The research illustrates several important results in identifying pottery manufacture, where it was proved that the clay used in manufacture is Nile clay. Tempers are sand, burnt straw, grog powder and Calcite powder, which were used abundantly as an additive material to improve clay's properties. Shaping technique is coiling technique for the first piece and potter wheel for the second pot. Surface treatment is slip layer in all objects. The burning atmosphere was an oxidizing atmosphere for the first pottery piece and reduced for the second object. It also proved that most of the pottery pieces from tell Atrib in Qalyubia suffer from various damage manifestations such as surface deformation by soil sediments, fracture, cracking, gaps, fragmentation and crystallization of salts "chlorides, sulfates, carbonates and phosphates", damage was due to burial environment. These pottery objects were restored according to the results of tests, analyzes and damage manifestations proved by the research. Mechanical and chemical cleaning was used. Clay soil deposits were cleaned by a mixture of acetone and ethyl alcohol in a ratio of 1: 2. A solution of hydrogen peroxide (20%) was used in cleaning soot. Calcareous deposits were removed by EDTA.The pottery pots were strengthened by a mixture of nano-silica and wacker BS28 (concentration 1%). Assembling of pottery shards were done by paraloid 72% dissolved in toluene (concentration 50%).The research recommends that pottery objects in tell Atrib should be preserved after treatment intervention at a temperature 18:20 °C and Relative humidity 55: 60 % .