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Mersa/Wadi Gawasis 2006-2007 Report, Rodolfo Fattovich and Kathryn A. Bard editors

Redazione Archaeogate, 20-06-2007   « Pag. 9 di 10 »  stampa questa pagina

Sommario

  1. Introduction
  2. I. Paleoenvironment
  3. II. Survey
  4. III.1. Archaeology - Excavations
  5. III.2. Archaeology - Artifacts
  6. III.3. Archaeology - Botanical and Wood Remains
  7. IV. Dendrochronology
  8. V. Epigraphy
  9. VI. Conservation
  10. References

VI. Conservation

Giuseppe Morganti and Pasquale Musella

Consolidation of the caves and preservation of ropes, timber, wood and stelae were a relevant component of the project in 2006-07.
Giuseppe Morganti, an architect with the Archaeological Superintendency, Rome (Italy), visited Mersa/Wadi Gawasis to consult on conserving the cave rooms. Pasquale Musella, chief conservator with the National Archaeological Museum, Naples (Italy) was in charge of the artifact preservation.

1. Caves (Giuseppe Morganti)
An assessment of the state of preservation of the rock-cut caves confirmed what was already remarked in 2005-06:
Exterior wall and entrances of Caves 2-7: Along the exterior wall of the fossil coral terrace large cracks have developed, which may have worsened due to the removal of sand deposits during the excavations. Parts of the terrace wall at the entrances to the cave rooms need to be propped up with wooden buttresses. All of the entrances to the cave rooms need to be supported by a series of frames made of wooden beams, in order to provide safe entry inside. This can be done by filling in all gaps in the (ancient) constructed walls/supports at the entrances with fired bricks inserted tightly with clay mortar.
Cave rooms: Cave 4a/4b cannot be excavated or visited as fractures and rock collapse are extensive and working conditions are very hazardous.
The only way to ensure minimum stability in the other caves (Caves 2, 3, 5, 6, 7), and obtain an acceptable amount of safety, is to build a series of supports in the form of masonry pillars. These pillars should be constructed with fired bricks and clay mortar built on top of rocks of bedrock that have collapsed from the ceiling. This system will effectively transmit the weight load, creating a network of support similar to a system of pillars. A system of brick pillars is preferred to scaffolding built of metal tubes, due to the necessity of filling irregularly shaped gaps in the rock and small spaces in some parts of the cave rooms.

2. Artifact preservation (Pasquale Musella)
Preservation focused mainly on consolidating the wooden boxes and timbers, and cleaning salt encrustations from stelae and ceramics. The boxes and timbers were carefully cleaned and consolidated with ethyl silicate before removal on thin wood panels because of the fragility of the wood.
A brick wall was built between Cave 2 and Cave 5 in order to environmentally isolate and preserve the coils of rope in Cave 5.

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Mersa/Wadi Gawasis 2006-2007 Report
Mersa/Wadi Gawasis 2006-2007 Report

Table 1
Table 1

Table 2
Table 2

Table 3
Table 3

Table 4
Table 4

Table 5
Table 5

Figure 1: a) Map of study area showing approximate locations of coring transects; b) Sample Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) profiles showing relatively steep wadi-ward (northward) dipping reflectors.
Figure 1: a) Map of study area showing approximate locations of coring transects; b) Sample Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) profiles showing relatively steep wadi-ward (northward) dipping reflectors.

Figure 2: a) Profile drawing of WG 41. Dotted line indicates halite impregnations; b) Photograph of northern end of WG 41 showing reddened layers 1 3.
Figure 2: a) Profile drawing of WG 41. Dotted line indicates halite impregnations; b) Photograph of northern end of WG 41 showing reddened layers 1 3.

Figure 3: a) Map showing the areas surveyed magnetically in seasons 2005–06 and 2006–07. Grids on the left and right are mapped with a gradiometer. Grids in the middle show total field measurements. Grids are overlain on a Quickbird true color composite (pan-sharpened). Contour interval = 50 cm. b) Total magnetic field data measured on the terrace top. Caves WG 1–7 are located along the western edge of the survey area, approximately 4–6 meters beneath the surface.
Figure 3: a) Map showing the areas surveyed magnetically in seasons 2005–06 and 2006–07. Grids on the left and right are mapped with a gradiometer. Grids in the middle show total field measurements. Grids are overlain on a Quickbird true color composite (pan-sharpened). Contour interval = 50 cm. b) Total magnetic field data measured on the terrace top. Caves WG 1–7 are located along the western edge of the survey area, approximately 4–6 meters beneath the surface.

Figure 4: a) Excavation unit profile showing laminated eolian sand deposits in front of Caves 5–7. b) radar profiles through the same deposit. Wooden boxes are visible as pronounced but low magnitude parabolic reflections (an example is indicated by the arrow). c) Radar transects for geomorphological profiling, Transects 1 – 4. d) Radar transects for geomorphological profiling, Transects 5 – 8.
Figure 4: a) Excavation unit profile showing laminated eolian sand deposits in front of Caves 5–7. b) radar profiles through the same deposit. Wooden boxes are visible as pronounced but low magnitude parabolic reflections (an example is indicated by the arrow). c) Radar transects for geomorphological profiling, Transects 1 – 4. d) Radar transects for geomorphological profiling, Transects 5 – 8.

Figure 5: WG site map. Figure 8: WG 39/Cave 3.
Figure 5: WG site map. Figure 8: WG 39/Cave 3.

Figure 6: WG 32.
Figure 6: WG 32.

Figure 7: a) WG 33, SU2, niche. b) WG 33, SU2, stela.
Figure 7: a) WG 33, SU2, niche. b) WG 33, SU2, stela.

Figure 8: WG 39/Cave 3.
Figure 8: WG 39/Cave 3.

Figure 9: a) WG 40, SU2, Feature A. b) WG 40, SU4, Feature B.
Figure 9: a) WG 40, SU2, Feature A. b) WG 40, SU4, Feature B.

Figure 10: WG 26, SU105, a complete pot found in a possible fire pit.
Figure 10: WG 26, SU105, a complete pot found in a possible fire pit.

Figure 11: WG 37, WG 38, WG 40, excavated areas.
Figure 11: WG 37, WG 38, WG 40, excavated areas.

Figure 12: WG 37 A4, north baulk profile.
Figure 12: WG 37 A4, north baulk profile.

Figure 13: a) WG 32, “ration bowls.” b) Sherd with impressed decoration from the Eritrean-Sudanese western lowlands.
Figure 13: a) WG 32, “ration bowls.” b) Sherd with impressed decoration from the Eritrean-Sudanese western lowlands.

Figure 14: a) Cave 3, T55. b) Cave 3, T64. Figure 16: a) Single platform core fragment from WG 26 C4-D4, SU95. b) Sidescraper from WG 26 C4-D3, surface. c) Notch from WG26 C4-D4, SU104. d) Sidescraper/perforator from WG 26 C4-D4, SU1.
Figure 14: a) Cave 3, T55. b) Cave 3, T64. Figure 16: a) Single platform core fragment from WG 26 C4-D4, SU95. b) Sidescraper from WG 26 C4-D3, surface. c) Notch from WG26 C4-D4, SU104. d) Sidescraper/perforator from WG 26 C4-D4, SU1.

Figure 15: a) Anchor A23 from Cave 2, northwest wall. b) Anchor A24 from WG 38, A4, SU7.
Figure 15: a) Anchor A23 from Cave 2, northwest wall. b) Anchor A24 from WG 38, A4, SU7.

Figure 16: a) Single platform core fragment from WG 26 C4-D4, SU95. b) Sidescraper from WG 26 C4-D3, surface. c) Notch from WG26 C4-D4, SU104. d) Sidescraper/perforator from WG 26 C4-D4, SU1.
Figure 16: a) Single platform core fragment from WG 26 C4-D4, SU95. b) Sidescraper from WG 26 C4-D3, surface. c) Notch from WG26 C4-D4, SU104. d) Sidescraper/perforator from WG 26 C4-D4, SU1.

Figure 17: a) Desiccated plant macro remains from WG 39, Cave 3 B2, SU8. b) Nutshell with rodent gnaw marks from WG 39, Cave 3 A1, SU1. c) Plaster spill (top) and impression of cave floor on the underside (bottom) from WG 39, Cave 3 B2. d) Charred, small pieces of burnt hulled grains of barley glued together: barley kasha (top) and detail of barely grains (bottom) from WG 19/25/26/27, SU72. e) An oval ecofact: possible whole nut (top) and detail of cross section (bottom) from WG 40, SU4 Feature C.
Figure 17: a) Desiccated plant macro remains from WG 39, Cave 3 B2, SU8. b) Nutshell with rodent gnaw marks from WG 39, Cave 3 A1, SU1. c) Plaster spill (top) and impression of cave floor on the underside (bottom) from WG 39, Cave 3 B2. d) Charred, small pieces of burnt hulled grains of barley glued together: barley kasha (top) and detail of barely grains (bottom) from WG 19/25/26/27, SU72. e) An oval ecofact: possible whole nut (top) and detail of cross section (bottom) from WG 40, SU4 Feature C.

Figure 18: a) Inscribed wooden box and inscription from WG 32, SU25. b) Stela 14 from WG 32, SU1.
Figure 18: a) Inscribed wooden box and inscription from WG 32, SU25. b) Stela 14 from WG 32, SU1.