Technical Characterization of the Mural Paintings in the Burial Chamber of Mereruka Tomb, Saqqara, Egypt

The present study aims to characterize the mural paintings in the hewn-rock burial chamber of Mereruka Tomb, which lies at the eastern division of Saqqara plateau, about 20 meters northwest the pyramid of the king Titi. This tomb was discovered by De Morgan in 1893 and dated back to the sixth dynasty in the old kingdom. In this burial chamber, the Egyptian artist used a unique technique for preparation and decoration of the mural paintings. This unique technique was taken into consideration in this research. The characterization of the mural paintings in the studied burial chamber was carried out using different techniques; visual examinations, optical microscopy; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive x-ray analysis system (SEM-EDS); and x-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The study indicated that the paintings were carried out through the preliminary drawing on limestone support, while the painting on a thin layer of the light pink gypsum wash, was decorated using different pigments; Egyptian blue (blue color), hematite (red color), Goethite (yellow color), gypsum (white color) and carbon (for black color). The obtained results will help in providing an image concerning the painting materials , which were used during the old kingdom in ancient Egypt as well as establishing a conservation plan of this mural paintings.