Study of materials, execution technique and deterioration processes at the Temple of Mut

The restoration activities on the mural paintings in the Temple of Mut were helped by the scientific study of their constituent materials and execution technique. The analysis also highlighted on-going and past deterioration processes, which altered the paintings visibility. The study was mostly focused on room B305 and, minorly, on room B303. From the micro-sampling, done by the restorers between 2014 and 2020, after a careful examination of surfaces, polished cross sections were prepared and analysed by optical microscopy (OM), under visible and UV light, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). In cross sections where Egyptian blue might be found, visible induced luminescence (VIL) was also performed. Some micro-fragments were also analysed by micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR). One mortar sample was also analysed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to quantify its composition. Finally, binders in the pictorial layers were also tentatively characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).