International Journal of Environmental Science and Toxicology Research (ISSN: 2408-7262) Vol. 6(2) pp.18-30, September, 2018 Available online http://www.internationalinventjournals.org/journals/IJESTR Copyright ©2018 International Invention Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Deterioration, Conservation and Reconstruction of the Vizir Ankh M B3st Tomb at Tell Basta, Lower Egypt: A

Case Study

Akmal Ali. Sakr1*, Mohamed Farouk. Ghaly2

1Conservation Department, National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), Cairo, Egypt

2Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Received 25 July, 2018; Accepted 20 August, 2018

The tomb of vizier ankh m bast at Tell Basta is exposed to different deterioration agents, such as subsurface water, microorganisms, higher plants and neighborhood from the cultivated land. Stone blocks were reassembled together by stainless steel bars using Epoxy CY 218. The missing parts were filled using a paste similar to the original composition of stone, lower than the original surfaces by 3 mm to comply with conservation ethics. Keywords: Tell Basta, Ankh m b3st, Epoxy, Paraloid B72, Higher plants.

INTRODUCTION Tell Basta, is the location containing several tombs dating from prehistory to the Islamic period, it was populated until it was devastated in the 14

th century (AD)

by Beni Helal tribe (Sakr, 2005). The tomb of Ankh m b3st at Tell Basta, like most Egyptian monuments, suffers from different deterioration agents such as table water, microbial deterioration and salts, in particular halite (sodium chloride), the most common in Egyptian monuments. Steps in the conservation methodology such as documentation, dismantling, gathering, reconstruction and conservation will be described herein. EXPERIMENTAL Location of the investigated tomb The investigated tomb is located within the area of Tell Basta, about 80 km southeast of Cairo (Figure 1a), within the Old King doom cemetery (Figure 1b), and *Corresponding Author Email: akmlsakr@yahoo.com; Tel: +201065620487; Fax: +20552308213

historically may be dated back to the 6th dynasty.

Tell Basta was the capital of the 18th nome of Lower

Egypt during the 6th dynasty (2420-2230 BC) (Paqua,

2015, 27). This province was called Pr bast

or pr m b3st ,

, or Pa- bast, means where the goddess beast was worshipped (Amélineau, 1893, 89). From titles of Tell basta area, we could conclude that names of officials, usually related with goddess bast(t) represented in cat form (Porter and Moss, 1968, 28), that testified from the name of the owner of the investigated tomb called Ankh m b3st. The importance of this tomb was attributed to the personality of its owner, who carried several important official titles, such as the scriber in the life house at Tell Basta (academies in ancient Egypt), the observer of granaries, the holder of the royal seal in lower Egypt (htm.w-bi.ty), and the friend of the king (unpublished data). These titles had a political and social significance, meaning that the owner is a senior official since the fourth dynasty (Sinclair, 2013, 17).

On the other hand, it has been referenced that the

Sakr and Ghaly 19

Figure 1.(a) Location of the Tell Basta where the investigated tomb is exist. (b)

location of the investigated tomb within the Old Kingdoom Necropolis.

Figure 1.(a) Location of the Tell Basta where the investigated tomb is exist. (b)

location of the investigated tomb within the Old Kingdoom Necropolis.

a

b

Figure 1.(a) Location of the Tell Basta, where the investigated tomb exists. (b) Location of the

investigated tomb within the Old Kingdoom Necropolis.

20 Int. J. Environ. Sci. Toxic. Res. Old King doom cemetery at tell Basta is composed of tombs of the elite of the ancient city, which carried higher

official titles, that testify the important political and religious role played by this city in ancient Egypt (Bietak, 2014).

Architectural description of the tomb

The tomb was built of limestone blocks, with a rectangular plan, and measured (L. 220 cm, W. 120 cm, H. 120 cm), each side was composed of three courses with three smooth blocks of limestone with irregular measurements each, traces of chisels were still observed on the behind of these blocks, no traces of mortar between the limestone blocks were observed

But the upper courses were decorated using sunk reliefs and tempera technique directly on limestone surfaces with funerary scenes, such as offerings and prayers to the deceased (unpublished data), but the lower courses were wider than the higher ones to resist settling into the soil in particular the soil in this area was characterized by a high water table. These courses had neither paintings nor reliefs.

The tomb was surrounded by a mud brick enclosure whereas mud, was mixed with sand, since it has been referenced that mud brick that contained a high percentage of sand commonly used in civil and funerary architecture (Spencer, 1979, 3). The door of this tomb exists in the north wall for religious reasons in accordance with burial customs at Tell Basta; the mud brick enclosure had an arch over this door (Bakr 1992, 48, 58), and in general, arches had been used for the first time in the Egyptian architecture since the 3

rd

dynasty at Bet Khallaf area (Garstang, 1904). In addition, the floor of the tomb was paved with coarse small limestone blocks nearly in rectangular form, each one measuring approximately 20 × 15 cm.

The three sides of the tomb were decorated with paintings in tempera technique only or with paintings and sunk reliefs, but the north side, where the tomb door is located, was an exception.

Condition of the tomb when discovered

When the tomb was discovered, the ceiling and walls inside had collapsed completely as a result of pressure over it. The tomb was filled with mud and limestone fragments saturated with humidity, and some fragments were turned into a paste form, and covered with a thin layer of mud.

Documentation Before working on the tomb, a full documentation and

recording of forms of deterioration processes and dimensions were conducted and listed using a color code system that will be helpful in proposing necessary future conservation strategies (Feilden 1979, 15). Our documentation included photographs, sections and photogrammetric, a three-dimensional recording technique that facilitated the reconstruction process (Doehne and Price, 2010,1). Effect of underground water on limestone blocks Stone monuments at Tell Basta are exposed to high subsurface water that adversely affect on these monuments. To investigate the effect of table water and salinity on limestone, three limestone cubic samples (5×5×5 cm) were immersed in water for 7 days, the compressive strength of both saturated and control limestone samples was estimated using a Compression Strength Testing Machine Tonni-Pact 300, Materials Properties Lab., Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University.

The obtained data normalized against control

samples according to the following formula C = ,

whereas C = compressive strength in p/si; W = applied load until failure expressed in psi/sec; A = area of the sample in cm

2 (Winkler,1975).

Furthermore, to explain the mode of action of underground water on the limestone samples, small fragments of the humid courses, in contact with subsurface water, were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), National Research Centre, Dokky, Cairo, Egypt. Preliminary investigations Petrographic investigations To investigate the composition of the limestone samples, both petrographic and SEM investigations were carried out. Petrographic investigation involved using thin sections of limestone prepared according to Mohammadi and Krumbein 2008, whereas these samples were embedded in a low viscosity resin. Finally, the samples were embedded in beamer capsules and polymerized. For the preparation of thin sections, the hardened blocks were cut, by using a saw (Leitz model 1600), in sections vertical to the stone surface, washed in ethanol, mounted on the ground (600 grit) microscope slides (46 9 27 mm) embedded in Spurr’s resin e and polymerized. The samples were polished with silicon carbide powder in a series of 320, 400, 600 and 1,000 grit. Photo-micrographs of the sections were made using a Zeiss Axioscope II (Geology Department, Faculty of Science,

Zagazig University).

The limestone samples were examined using a scanning electron microscope (JOLE, SEM 6300, National

Research Centre, Dokky, Cairo) according to processing

instructions, whereas limestone samples were coated with a thin gold layer.

Identification of salts To determine the most common salts in the investigated tomb, white efflorescence samples covering the limestone blocks were collected and analyzed by SEM -

EDX (JOLE, SEM 6300, National Research Centre, Dokky, Cairo).

Microbial investigations

Fungal isolates were cultured on Czapek-Dox plates (sucrose 30.0, NaNO3 3.0, K2HPO4 1.0, MgSO4 0.5, KCl 0.5, FeSO4 0.01, agar 20.0 g/l) (pH 7.3). Antibacterial chloramphenicol 50 µg/l was supplemented to the medium to inhibit competitive growth of bacteria. Fungal

isolates were identified morphologically and biochemically according to the identification keys of Raper and Fennell (1977); Raper et al. (1968).

Bacterial isolates were cultured on nutrient agar on plates (peptone 5, beef extract 3, NaCl 5, agar 20 g/l) (pH 7-7.1) incubated at 28°C for 24 hr. Fungal antibiotic Dermatine (50-100 µg/l) was supplemented to inhibit the growth of competitive fungi. Bacterial isolates were identified according to the Bergy manual (Krieg et al., 2010). RESULTS

Petrographic and SEM investigations

Polarizing micrographs of the investigated limestone samples indicated and contained fossils with different

shapes and sizes, in particular, crowded with Nummulites gizehensis (Figure 2a-c). Limestone samples were subjected to diagnosis, where places of fossils were filled with reprecipitate calcite, and boundaries of these fossils

are still apparent. The limestone contained a portion of dolomite CaMg(CO3)2 that could be distinguished from calcite using red alizarin pigment (Figure 2d). Moreover, SEM micrographs indicated that the limestone blocks are composed of calcite in addition to clay minerals (Figure 2c).

Deterioration symptoms The investigated tomb is subjected to several

Sakr and Ghaly 21 deterioration agents which may be the result of a combination of many weathering processes such as salt and biological weathering. Identification of salts Our results indicated that the white efflorescences covering the limestone blocks in the investigated tomb had caused different symptoms of deterioration such as disintegration, contour scaling and roughening of the stone surface (Figure 3). Furthermore, SEM-EDX spectra highlighted that the white efflorescence covering the limestone blocks is sodium chloride in nearly pure form, in addition to Si and K (Figure 4).

The other investigated adverse effect of halite was on the polymer Kem-ticket (silica based polymer) used in the consolidation of the limestone samples; since it was recorded that halite reduced the compressive strength values of the consolidated limestone samples. These values were 134.6 kg/cm2 and 36.7 kg/cm2 for non treated with halite and treated respectively. Microbial investigations Microbial colonization caused darkening of the paintings inside the investigated tomb (Figure 5a). Our results indicated that fungal isolates were attributed to Penicillium sp. and Alternaria alternate that formed black spots on synthetic media (Figure 5b); the percentage of isolated fungi were 50, 35 and 15 % respectively (Figure 5c). Bacterial isolates were attributed to Bacillus sp. (Figure 5d). Microbial isolates are pigment producers, the produced pigments being in different colors, such as orange, yellow and brown (Figure5e).

The variety of bacterial growth was related to the season, since higher growth rates were related to the summer (2.3×10

4 cfu) but lower growth rates were

related to the winter (0.5 × 10 2 cfu).

Effect of plants on the tomb It was observed that the highest plants in the investigated tomb were Alhagi maurarum and Imperata cylindrical (Figure 6a), whereas the tomb was discovered, it was found that fibrous roots of Imperata cylindrica (esparto) had penetrated to the interior of the mud brick enclosure and exerted mechanical pressure that had ruptured the mud brick enclosure (Figure 6b). Furthermore, when this tomb was discovered, the esparto roots had penetrated the blocks of limestone into chips, and caused the formation of irreversible black stains (Figure 6c).

22 Int. J. Environ. Sci. Toxic. Res.

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Figure 2. Petrographic investigation.(a-c) filling the limestone samples with numilities. (d)

distinguishing between calcite and dolomite using red pigment of alzarin.(e-f) SEM

micrographs of limestone showing partial dissolving boundaries of calcite crystals.

a b

c d

f e

Figure 2. Petrographic investigation.(a-c) filling the limestone samples with

numilities. (d) distinguishing between calcite and dolomite using red pigment of alzarin.(e-f) SEM micrographs of limestone showing partial dissolving boundaries of calcite crystals.

Figure 3. Deterioration of lower courses within

the investigate tomb by sodium chloride.

Sakr and Ghaly 23

Figure 4. SEM –EDX micrograph of white efflorescences covering the investigated tomb.

Figure 4. SEM –EDX micrograph of white efflorescences covering the

investigated tomb.

Figure 4. SEM –EDX micrograph of white efflorescences covering

the investigated tomb.

Figure 5. Microbial deterioration of stone (a)southern wall of the tomb with dark red color where

samples were obtained. (b) laboratory culture of fungi where Alternara with black color the msot

present. (c) percentage of isolated fungi. (d)light micrograph of bacili bacteria, the most frequent

isolate.(e) biopigments with different colors produced by bacteria colonizing deterioarted

limestone surfaces.

Alternaria

Penicillium

a b

c

d e

Figure 5. Microbial deterioration of stone (a) Southern wall of the tomb with

dark red color where samples were obtained. (b) Laboratory culture of fungi where Alternara with black color the most present. (c) Percentage of isolated fungi. (d)Light micrograph of bacili bacteria, the most frequent isolate.(e) biopigments with different colors produced by bacteria colonizing deteriorated limestone surfaces.

24 Int. J. Environ. Sci. Toxic. Res.

Figure 5. Microbial deterioration of stone (a)southern wall of the tomb with dark red

Alhagi maurarum

Imperata cylindrical

Figure 6. (a)The most common plants occur at Tell Basta area. (b) Detachment of

mudbrick enclosure by roots of plants. (c) detachment of limestone blocks due to

penetration of higher plants and staining with humic acid.

a b

a

Figure 6. (a)The most common plants occur at Tell Basta area. (b) Detachment of mudbrick

enclosure by roots of plants. (c) Detachment of limestone blocks due to penetration of higher plants and staining with humic acid.

Figure 7. Effect of birds on deterioration of mud brick enclosure at Tell Basta.

Sakr and Ghaly 25 jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj

Figure 8. (a-b) Effect of subsurface water on limestone blocks used in

building the investigated tomb, showed the cllapese of interanl structure.(c)

fragmentation of limestone surface due to presence of clay minerals.

c

a b

Figure 8. (a-b) Effect of subsurface water on limestone blocks used in building the

investigated tomb, showed the collapse of internal structure.(c) fragmentation of limestone surfaces due to the presence of clay minerals.

Effect of birds on mud brick enclosure Birds have made holes within the mud brick enclosure surrounding the investigated tombs, so these walls may be easily collapsed, which can also cause an ethical damage (Figure 7). Effect of subsurface water on limestone blocks SEM micrographs showed that subsurface water had caused the collapse of the internal structure of the saturated limestone samples, due to the removal of binding material (Figure 8a-b) and fragmentation of limestone surfaces (Figure 8c).

Moreover, current results indicated that the saturation of the limestone samples with water reduced compressive strength significantly, whereas compressive strength values were 87.72 kg/cm

2 and 16.32 kg/cm

2 for

dry and wet samples respectively.

First aid of the discovered blocks of the tomb Collapsed slabs were moved out of the tomb by making a support of reinforced gypsum with linen fibers on the back of the limestone blocks. These limestone blocks were carried on wooden plates covered with sponge to reduce friction between the wooden plates and the painting layers. The slabs were covered with sheets of polyethylene to reduce their moisture content gradually (Figure 9a). The white efflorescence of sodium chloride was detected and dislodged mechanically using soft dry brushes. Dismantling and transferring blocks of tomb walls The authors cut a tunnel in the mud brick enclosure about 30 cm width to make a space to facilitate dismantling the limestone blocks, to facilitate air circulation, and to isolate the limestone blocks from the

26 Int. J. Environ. Sci. Toxic. Res.

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Stainless

steel bars

a b

c

d

Figure 9. Conservation of the tombs: (a) covering stone blocks with polyethylene

sheets, (b) recognizing the similar fragments of similar themes(c) filling of lost parts in the western wall of the investigated tomb (d) using stainless steel bars in reassembling wall of the investigated tomb.

Sakr and Ghaly 27 surrounding humid earth's surface saturated with salts. Before dismantling the limestone blocks, the paint layers were fixed using 5% Paraloid B72 in acetone in the brush. To protect these painted surfaces during transporting, these paintings were covered with two layers of gauze pieces, the first one (under layer) were composed of small pieces (15×15 cm) gently pressed by hand to get rid of air bubbles that may cause problems when removing the gauze pieces after transferal. The second layer was composed of larger pieces of gauze (60×60 cm) and left to dry for three days. These gauze pieces were firstly washed in distilled water to get rid of any starch residues adhering to the stone surface and paint layers that provide a carbon source for the growth and colonization of microorganisms (Ranalli et al., 2004). After that, these limestone blocks were transported to the temporary conservation Lab in situ. Assembling of limestone fragments After recognizing the relationship between limestone fragments guided with hieroglyphic texts and similar scenes, these fragments were joined gathered using the epoxy resin CY 218 at ratio 7 ν. 5 of the resin to the hardener mixed with fine and clean sand. Large blocks were reinforced using stainless steel bars with φ 8 mm, holes were made using an electric drill, and these holes were wider than stainless steel bars with 3 mm. Epoxy paste was injected into these holes carefully avoiding any excess to keep the edges of the limestone blocks clean and smearing the paintings. Reconstruction of the tomb Structural conservation was carried out before treatment of the paintings and stone surfaces. We were guided in the reconstruction of the tomb with wall scenes, with different topics eg. presenting offerings and official titles (Figure 9b). To avoid water infiltration from the humid soil in the future, the lower courses of the tomb were isolated from contact with the ground by with 20 % polyvinyl acetate (PVA) film in acetone. Filling and cleaning of the tomb Filling After reconstruction, lacunae in the limestone walls were filled with a paste of clean sand and lime in a ratio of 2:1 for the inner layers, whereas the outer layers were composed of 3:1, so the original composition was relatively respected. To differentiate between them, the

new conservation is lower than the original surface with 2 mm (Figure 9d). Cleaning Cleaning is often one of the first steps to be undertaken, by removing the dirt and altered products and detritus from stone surface (Rives and García-Talegón, 2006). The cleaning process carried out in this case included removing mud, plant spots and spots of epoxy smeared limestone fragments through reconstruction, using different organic solvents. The mud layer was removed mechanically, and residues were removed using water and alcohol (1:1 v/v). Plant spots were removed using a mixture of soap + ammonia 10 % in distilled water and ethanol 5% (1:1v/v). On the other hand, a mixture of acetone and trichloroethylene was used to remove epoxy smears. Within the long term strategy of conservation, the water-table in the surrounding area was reduced using trenches with a depth of 120 cm. Salts removal Salt efflorescence’s were removed using a tissue paper poultice, and ratio of salts was detected using latex (U.S.A), whereas every number on the latex indicates to the ratio of removing salt in the poultice. DISCUSSION Limestone was perhaps the first rock used for building purposes, polarizing and SEM micrographs pointed out that limestone used in building tombs at Tell Basta may be brought from Giza, Tura and Mokattm quarries (km 80 east of Cairo), since limestone samples collected from these quarries is mainly, white to yellow color and crowded with fossils (Molluscs, and especially echinoids and Globigerinid, Nummulitid foraminifera, Ostreaelegans, Pectensp, Lucina mokattamensis, nummulites gizehensis and many gastropods are similar to limestone samples in the investigated tomb (Ahmed, 2011; Abdel Hady 1986, 22).

This result was confirmed by the historical evidence, since it has been established that limestone blocks may be transported from Mokkatom, Tura and Abu Roash quarries to Tell Basta and the other main cities by boats through Bubastis Nile branch (Clark and Englbach, 1930). This result was historically confirmed whereas lime stone was used in building since the archaic period, such as the tomb of the King Hem Ka at Abydos dated back to the 1

st dynasty, and mastabs at Tarkhan dated

back to the same period (Petrie, 1901, 9-10). On the other hand, polarizing micrographs of

28 Int. J. Environ. Sci. Toxic. Res. limestone differentiated between calcite and magnesium in limestone samples, and the presence of Mg in limestone samples may be attributed to replacement of calcite by dolomite in limestone on the base of " a molecule-by- a molecule or volume by volume, so this limestone is fine, hard and compact (Zaini, 2009, 7-8).

The investigated tomb is subject to different deterioration agents, out of them salts appeared in white form, and SEM-EDX micrographs pointed out that white efflorescence covering the limestone blocks were of halite, since limestone stone composition contains a percentage of halite, or raised from the saline soil by capillary action (Kamh, 2010; Wüst and Schlüchter, 2000), since it has been referenced that halite reached 1100 ppm in the soil of investigated tomb (Sakr 2005), and presence of K and Si ions may be attributed to clay minerals in the composition of limestone samples. The presence of halite on the surfaces of stone may be attributed to tow sources, the first one is composition of limestone blocks, and the other one is water seepage from irrigation system and sewage water from the increasingly urban areas. The building stones of this tombs absorb water and react to the climatic conditions leading ultimately to deterioration of the building stones (Ahmed, 2009).

Our results indicated that halite involved significantly in deterioration of monuments and stone masonry, since it has been referenced that salt crystallization caused different phenomenon of deterioration such as scaling and erosion (Cardell et al., 2003), that may be attributed to repeat dissolving and crystallization due to hygroscopic character of halite (Bell, 2000; Arnold 1998: 11, 12 and Mora 1974: 18, 19; Queen, 1990, 84-85; Wust and Schluchter, 2000, 1161–1172). Crystallization of halite resulted in stresses that are sufficient to overcome the stone`s tensile strength and turn the stone into a powdery form (Rives and García-Talegón, 2006) thus cause increasing porosity, scaling and disappearing reliefs (Charola, 2000; Balderama and Chiari, 1984), so the information will eventually be lost due to the natural process of weathering (O’Brien, 2011, 22).

On the other hand, these stresses of halite have high solubility and hygroscopity that explains why halite appears in the form of a white margin in the upper area of the humid walls (Stambolov and Van de Bore 1976, 27, 32).

Furthermore, it has been reported that halite crystals were interlocked with the paint layers, so these layers appeared in a glassy form hiding paintings and reliefs, at least in the stable or dry environment (Herrero, 1967, 14-15; Jartiz, 1995, 587-596).

The other deterioration agent is microorganisms, whereas cultural dependent method pointed out that the most common isolated genera from deterioration of the tomb of Ankh m b3st were attributed to Penicillium sp., Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus japonicas. Those in

agreement with De la Rosa-García et al., (2011) reported that these genera are commonly found on stone monuments around the world, and are biopigments producers that formed black spots on synthetic media. The seriousness of these pigments is staining of colonized surfaces with irreversible stains that are biological and chemical resistant (Abdel Haleim et al., 2013). Also, fungal colonization cause powdering and scaling of stone surfaces and painting layers due to penetration of hyphe within pores of the stone and producing organic acids, in particular oxalic acid that transform calcium carbonate into calcium oxalate soluble in water. Acid production is associated with growth conditions since it has been reported that oxalic acid production is linked to low nutrient levels in colonized materials like limestone (De la Rosa-García et al., 2011).

The other microbial agent is bacteria, and the most bacterial isolates belonged to Bacillus that able to withstand extreme environments because of their spore-forming ability and salt tolerance (Sadirin, 1988), and this genus was extensively isolated from deteriorating stone tombs at Tell Basta in combination with other microbial communities in the form of microbiota, that involved significantly in deterioration of stone monuments (May et al., 2000).

The bacterial growth was varied significantly with the change of climatic conditions as testified by colony forming unit test (CFU), whereas this growth was (2.3×10

4 cfu) in summer and (0.5 × 10

2 cfu) in winter.

This was in agreement with results obtained by May et al., (2000).

Moreover, our investigations pointed out that higher plants covered an extensive area of Tell Basta, esparto in particular was the most present. In general, the growth of Imperata cylindrical (esparto) and Alhagi maurarum characterizing the warm and hyper salinity, and humid soil, that may be attributed to its neighborhood to modern cultivated land (Nielsen et al., 2016).

Furthermore, it has found that higher plant involved significantly in deterioration of the investigated tomb when discovered. Visually, a fibrous network of roots of Imperata cylindrica (esparto or halfa grass) penetrated inside the mud brick enclosure, the limestone blocks, the skull of the owner of the tomb and the pottery vessels was observed. On the other hand, esparto roots caused irreversible black stains of humic acid on the walls of the investigated tomb; this deterioration symptom was called root marks, and was well established in different deteriorated buildings (Stambolov and Van de Bore, 1976). In addition, the roots of the plants growing on the stone surfaces caused tunnels with several meters (10 - 20) deep (Arjariya, 2016), thus leading to detachment of the stone surface in the form of peels, in particular with mud brick buildings with plaster layer (Caneva and Altieri, 1988). This mechanical destruction of the mud brick could be assigned to the mechanical action of the

penetrated roots equals 15 times of atmospheric pressure (Caneva and Altieri, 1988, 32-40; Sanpaolesi, 1968, 130).

Also, birds in particular swards cause both structural and a ethical damage through making holes with depth about 5-7 cm within the mud brick walls that reduce the compressive strength of mud brick walls that could be collapsed under its own load and wind movements.

Furthermore, current results showed that water saturation of limestone samples reduced compressive strength values from 87.72 kg/cm

2 to 16.32 kg/cm

2 for

dry and wet samples respectively with 71.4%. This in parallel with Bell, (2000) reported the decrease of compressive strength of humid samples was due to increasing porosity which resulted in dissolving the binding material and salts in limestone samples, that might pose a threat to the future state of the tomb (Erkal and Ozhan, 2014).

Also, the composition of the limestone samples participated in this reduction, since it was found that small limestone chips turned into soft paste, due to its high content of fossils and clay minerals (Kharbish, Andráš, 2014).

Dismantling was carried out from the top down according to recommendations by Larson, (1990). After removing the limestone blocks and placing them on appropriate tables prepared for this purpose in the surrounding area, the gauze pieces were gently removed after moistening them with acetone.

After gradual drying, the large limestone blocks were reinforced using stainless steel bars φ 10 or φ 8 mm instead of ferrous cramps which can cause problems due to expanding and rust by humidity. The diameters of stainless steel bars were selected according to the thickness of the reinforced limestone blocks (Senyers and Henau,1968, 209-234). Stainless steel bars were fixed in holes made using an electric drill with diameters more than the 3 mm diameter of the stainless steel bars; it is preferable that the stainless steel bars have a pencil-shaped point at the front end (Senyers and Henau,1968, 209-234).

After assembling the limestone fragments, the lower courses of the tomb were isolated against contact with the humid ground with a thick film of polyvinyl acetate (PVA) 15% in acetone in different layers as an alternative for reconstruction of the tomb on a concrete plinth covered with a bitumen layer as in the case of the tomb of Maya and Meryt (Van Dijk 1998,7-9). After reconstruction, the limestone slabs were supported using a modern mud brick support similar to the ancient deteriorated one.

Lacunae in the limestone walls were filled with a paste of lime and sand in a ratio of 2:1 for the inner layers, and for the outer layers this paste was composed of 3:1 to be similar to the original composition of stone (Mora and Mora, 1984, 308; Plenderlith and Werner,

Sakr and Ghaly 29 1971, 304-305). The function of added sand is to reduce or eliminate shrinkage of the fill in paste (Abd El Salam, 2001, 220). Finally, filling of limestone surfaces were less than 3 mm than the original surface to distinguish them from the original one, and to comply with ethical conservation requirements. CONCLUSIONS From the previous results we conclude that the limestone blocks used in construction were brought to the Tell Basta area from the quarries of Tura and El-Mokttam, which were subjected to diagnosis and different deterioration factors, in particular microbial and salts agents. REFERENCES Abdel Hady M (1986). The durability of the limestone and sandstone

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How to cite this article: Akmal AS, Mohamed FG (2018). Deterioration, Conservation and Reconstruction of the Vizir Ankh M B3st Tomb at Tell Basta, Lower Egypt: A Case Study. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Toxic. Res. Vol. 6(2): 18-30.