The cartonnage on papyrus: plasters, colours and inks. Excavations of Egyptian Museum of Turin at Assiut (1905-1910)

Among the materials coming from the excavation of the Museo Egizio of Torino there is a series of funerary masks of Roman period realized by a “cartonnage” techniques. These materials needed a conservation and rebuilding process due to their bad repair. During this restoration process a non invasive analytical study was realized using portable X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy. All the materials composing the different masks were measured, starting from the papyri and going on to the plaster used as glue; crossing to the colored parts that draw the so nice face image. A statistical base of the obtained results was supported by the comparison with similar materials, as ink, pigments, papyri and raw plasters. In particular, analysis of both red and black inks and colors (red, yellow, blue and green) on different supports were performed. All the objects are ranged in a chronological window between the XI-XII and the XXIII dynasty that can be used to better define the manufacturing context of the production. Analyzing the results a complete characterization of the painted layers and inks were succeeded; observing the presence of Egyptian blue, pararealgar, madder lake and red ochre, despite of the limitation of portable instrumentations. We also report an interesting occurrence of titanium elements in some inks. The research activity was realized in collaboration with the Società Cooperativa Archeologica (SCA), which is contributing to the scientific and conservative process act to the valorization of the Assiut archeological finds.