BEVA 371 as Restorator Material for a Wooden Coffin from El-Lahoun Excavations

The study aims to restore a wooden coffin excavated from El-Lahoun Area, Fayoum, dating back to the late era. The coffin understudy has a unique layered installation, as the textile was used to bind the wooden coffin body to the ground layer. The study focuses on the importance of using the common chemical properties of wood and fabric, and selecting a restorator materials suitable for bonding different parts. Several analyses was carried out to study the technique of coffin manufacturing and to draw up a map of its damage manifestations. The visual and microscopic examination showed the deterioration aspects to the surface of the coffin. The polarized microscope revealed that the textile used was linen. The optical microscope(OM) revealed that wood of the coffin was sycamore and parts of the dowal was made of tamarix. The color pigments of the coffin were identified Using Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM-EDX). : Calcium carbonate for white, hematite for red, and Copper oxide for green. The Fourier transform infrared spectrometer showed that the material used in the colored preparatory layers may be animal glue.The study succeeded in dealing with multi-layered composite bodies in addition to using the BEVA 371 injection technique under separate tissue layers.