ANALYTICAL AND CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES OF A GRECO ROMAN BOS TAURUS CRANIUM.

The Agricultural Museum is considered one of the most important museums in Egypt. It contains many different archaeological materials, especially osteological remains. The studied cranium dates back to the Greco-Roman period and suffers from deterioration. The aim of the study was to utilize different analytical techniques in evaluating the state of preservation of the sample and applying required conse-rvation methods. The analytical techniques used were photographic documentation, digital microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), polarized light microscope, attenuated total reflectance/Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR/FTIR), color change using spectrophotometer, contact angle, and isolation and identification of fungi. The results of the analytical techniques revealed that the cranium was suffering from adverse deterioration (such as a change in the chemical composition, change of color, deterio-ration of surface morphology, low contact angle and the most occurrence fungi were Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, and Cladosporium cladosporioides. The conservation methods applied were mechanical and chemical cleaning, consolidation, disinfection, and display of the cranium on new Plexiglas support. The conservation methods revealed the aesthetic value of the cranium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]