Journal Article

Microchemical Investigation and Conservation of a Lion Figurine and Two Coins from Al-Kheraibah Excavation , Saudi Arabia

Al Zahrani, Abd Alnaser, Mohamed, Ghoniem

2013

Overview

A bronze lion figurine and two coins were discovered at the archaeological site of Al- Kheraibah located within Al-'Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia during the excavation seasons 2005 and 2012. They were heavily deteriorating and were completely covered with corrosion output mixed with hardened soil and dirt calcification to such a point that no detail of the original surface could be observed. They needed to be investigated and conserved to understand their surface details. They have been investigated to analyze the chemical composition, and to identify the nature and features of the corrosion layer. Physical, chemical, and structural characterization was performed using Optical Microscopy (OM), X-ray Radiography, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The nature of the patina was detected by SEM and OM. The surfaces of the objects were covered with a multicolored patina that incorporated or was covered with soil particles, and had many micro-cracks, pits and cavities. EDS and XRD analyses revealed that these objects are made of a Cu-Sn-Pb bronze alloy. They have been buried a long time in sandy soil that allows movement of oxygen and water charged with chloride ions and carbon dioxide, thus contributing to their corrosion. Treatment, inhibition and conservation procedures were carried out to protect the objects against further deterioration.

• Publisher: مركز عبدالرحمن السديري الثقافى
• Subject: الآثار التاريخية / السعودية / مدائن صالح / مستخلصات الأبحاث