Conservation Report :

Name of cartonnage: M_pl.SN2

Examiner : Pavlos Kapetanakis

Start Date : 02/02/2018

End Date : 19/03/2018

Initial Name (as on original folder, abbreviations and including sic) : Magdôla, plastron sans numéro 2

Provenance : Magdôla

Brief description: Cartonnage fragment made of multiple layers of dark beige papyrus, with black ink writing and traces of plaster on both sides as well as fibrous edges.

Initial Maximum Dimensions (h x l ; estimated thickness if applicable; in cm) : 19.8 (H) x 19.5cm (W)

Support : papyrus, plaster

Media : Black ink

Type de markings (pictoral / scriptorial ; colours or B & W) : Writing in black ink on both sides.

General Condition :

Condition

Fair overall. The cartonnage has an overall dark beige tone and consists of a large fragment with writing on both sides. The proper top left quadrant of recto is blank. On verso, there are two lines of text along the top, a column of writing appears along the proper right side and at the bottom of proper left side. A 40mm wide section along the top edge is folded forward, creating a strong crease and associated loss at the centre. A small piece of cotton wool is lodged in the loss at the centre. All sides except top one have very fibrous papyrus edges. Small and medium- sized fragments with fibrous edges are adhered at the sides. A medium sized fragment with three long vertical strips (no. 5) is attached along the centre with strips attached on the fold on the recto. More small (no.’s 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 16, 17, 18) and medium- sized (no.’s 5, 9, 11, 14, 15, ) fragments with writing are attached mostly along the centre and proper right side of recto. Of the medium- sized fragments no. 5 was found to consist of seven smaller fragments (26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33), no. 9 of two fragments (no.’s 9, 19), no. 14 was unfolded to reveal more text, no. 15 comprised 3 fragments (no.’s 15, 16, 17). Of the small fragments, no. 8 produced an extra fragment (no. 28), no. 10 was found to consist of 5 fragments (no.’s 20- 25). A small strip of linen was also noted (no. 12).

Treatment Proposal

Solubility testing of ink ( water / ethanol / 50: 50 water/ ethanol) : Performed solubility testing of ink in different areas of the text, using a sable brush and de-mineralised water, followed by pressing with blotting paper squares under weights for 10 minutes. The ink appears stable.

• Treatment Proposal(s) :

Treatment

• Treatment performed (detailed description of the different conservation stages, with description of the fragments extracted gradually from the cartonnages and mention of the materials – humidification chamber, methylcellulose, starch paste, Sturgeon glue, Japanese papers) :

Removed/ reduced plaster residues mechanically with hard brush and scalpel blade held vertically. Reduced further with moisture and swabs, followed by drying locally with blotting paper squares under weights. Humidified in humidification chamber until papyrus became supple and fragments could be separated without resistance. Removed/ separated individual fragments by means of lifting with a spatula and a sable brush and moisture. Repaired/ created bridges on weak areas or breaks in the fragments using Japanese paper strips and methylcellulose. Humidified again and pressed between blotters and under weights. Tiny fragments dislodged during the treatment were kept in a glassine pocket.

• Photo documentation throughout the conservation process

Final Result

• Final Number of fragments obtained : 35, 19 inventoried

• Number(s) of resulting inventory (as on the official inventory book) : 2847, 2848, 2849a, 2849b, 2849c, 2849d, 2849e, 2850a, 2850b, 2850c, 2851a, 2851b, 2851c, 2851d, 2852, 2853a, 2853b, 2853c, 2853d

• Maximum Dimensions of each final fragment (h x l ; estimated thickness; in cm) :

• Current housing : Blotter folders, glassine pocket

• Final Photo documentation (photos / scans, colours/ IR, from n° x to n° y) :

• Final Photo documentation (photos / scans, colours/ IR) : 2847_r_CL, 2847_r_IR, 2847_v_CL, 2847_v_IR, 2848_r_CL, 2848_r_IR, 2848_v_CL, 2848_v_IR 2849a_r_CL, 2849a_r_IR, 2849a_v_CL, 2849a_v_IR 2849b_r_CL, 2849b_r_IR, 2849b_v_CL, 2849b_v_IR 2849c_r_CL, 2849c_r_IR, 2849c_v_CL, 2849c_v_IR, 2849d_r_CL, 2849d_r_IR, 2849d_v_CL, 2849d_v_IR, 2849e_r_CL, 2849e_r_IR, 2849e_v_CL, 2849e_v_IR, 2850a_r_CL, 2850a_r_IR, 2850a_v_CL, 2850a_v_IR, 2850b_r_CL, 2850b_r_IR, 2850b_v_CL, 2850b_v_IR, 2850c_r_CL, 2850c_r_IR, 2850c_v_CL, 2850c_v_IR, 2851a_r_CL, 2851a_r_IR, 2851a_v_CL, 2851a_v_IR, 2851b_r_CL, 2851b_r_IR, 2851b_v_CL, 2851b_v_IR, 2851c_r_CL, 2851c_r_IR, 2851c_v_CL, 2851c_v_IR, 2851d_r_CL, 2851d_r_IR, 2851d_v_CL, 2851d_v_IR, 2852_r_CL, 2852_r_IR, 2852_v_CL, 2852_v_IR, 2853a_r_CL, 2853a_r_IR, 2853a_v_CL, 2853a_v_IR, 2853b_r_CL, 2853b_r_IR, 2853b_v_CL, 2853b_v_IR, 2853c_r_CL, 2853c_r_IR, 2853c_v_CL, 2853c_v_IR, 2853d_r_CL, 2853d_r_IR, 2853d_v_CL, 2853d_v_IR,