Analytical study of Coptic wall paintings in Egypt, El-Bagawat necropolis, Kharga Oasis: a case study

Authors

  • Hussein Hassan Marey Mahmoud <p>Department of Conservation, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University, P.O. 12613 Giza, Egypt</p>
  • Ahmed Abo El-Yamin <p>Ministry of State for Antiquities Affairs, P.O. 11211 Cairo, Egypt</p>
  • Atef Brania <p>Department of Conservation, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University, P.O. 12613 Giza, Egypt</p>

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2451/2013PM0002

Keywords:

Coptic Wall Paintings, EL-Bagawat necropolis, Kharga Oasis, SEM–EDS, XRD, FT–IR, Green earth

Abstract

 The present study aims to analyze Coptic wall paintings dating back to the late third/early fourth to the seventh century AD from El-Bagawat necropolis, Kharga Oasis, Egypt. The analysis was carried out by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR) and the petrographic examination. The results allowed the identification of the stratigraphic analysis of the wall paintings, their chemical composition and the painting technique employed. On the other hand, the results permitted a comparison between the Coptic wall paintings and those from the Pharaonic, Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The obtained results will enrich our knowledge concerning some painting materials from an important example of the Coptic art in Egypt.

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Published

2013-04-30

Issue

Vol. 82 No. 1 (2013): (Special Issue) Mineralogical Applications on Environments, Archaeometry and Cultural Heritage

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE