Ricerca storico-archeologica in Giordania XVII – 1997

RELAZIONI DELLE SPEDIZIONI ARCHEOLOGICHE 467
cio fra le tessere e il loro substrato, soluzione già sperimentata con risultati soddisfacenti
sui mosaici parietali dai tecnici dell’Opificio delle Pietre Dure. Per
tale operazione sono stati immessi 7 kg di malta lievitante.
Il consolidamento con acqua e primal è stato effettuato anche sulla fascia
a disegno geometrico verso la navata sud nei pressi del leone e sulla cornice a
nastro che divide l’intercolumnio del pescatore dal tappeto centrale.
3. Pottery restorations
M. Piccirillo – G. Raddi,
Scuola del Mosaico di Madaba
On request of the Director of the Archaeological Expedition we have operated
on the ceramic finds selected for the exposition in the museum which is under
preparation. All the objects were previously subject to conservative restoration.
The finds have been cleaned partially; fragments were glued together and the
lacunae were integrated with white chalk. The following operations have been
taken up:
First cleaning. The first operation executed was the removal of the
hydrosolubil deposit from the surface. A water solution added with a non ionic
tensioattive (neo Desogen) has been used for this purpose. That solution has
been applied on the surface with a soft bristle brush. Afterwards, the fragments
have been washed in distilled water to remove the tensioattive’s residue.
Fragment’s dismantle. The objects glued with a vinilic glue have been
immersed in hot water for some hours. It resulted in the softening of the glue,
making it possible to start the fragments dismantling.
Cleaning. All the old chalk’s integrations and its residue on the ceramic
surface were removed. In order to obtain a complete removal of the old glue
from the fragments, those have been immersed in a solvent bath (acetone).
Gluing. A solution of Paraloid B72 at 20% in acetone has been applied
along the fracture’s lines as an operational stratum. Afterwards the fragments
were glued together.
Lacunas integration. The lacunas have been integrated with dentistical
chalk and the surface has been painted with acrylic colours.
On request of the Director of the Archaeological Expedition some
theorical-practical lessons have been prepared for the Madaba Mosaic School’s
students concerning the archaeological ceramic conservation.
The arguments discussed were the following:
- Introduction to the ancient techniques of ceramic production
- Interaction of the ceramic finds with the ground
- Ceramic’s degrade