RESTORATION
Carried out by: Davide Fodaro and Gianluca Parodi

According to the Director of the Archaeological Expedition we have operated on the ceramic finds selected for the exposition in the building museum. All the objects were already subject to conservative restoration. Also the finds have been cleaned partially; fragments were glued together and the lacunae integrated with white chalk. The following operations have been done:

First cleaning: The first operation executed was the removal of the hydrosolubil deposit from the surface. It has been used a water solution added with a non ionic tensioattive (neo Desogen). That solution has been applied on the surface with a soft bristle brush. After, the fragments have been washed in distilled water to remove the tensioattive's residue.

Fragment's dismantle: The objects glued with a vinilic glue have been immersed in hot water for some hours. After that bath, that cause the softening of the glue, it was possible to start the fragments dismantling.

Cleaning: All the old chalk's integrations were removed and its residue on the ceramic surface. To obtain a complete remove of the old glue from the fragments, those have been immersed in a solvent bath (acetone).

Gluing: Before go on to the fragments gluing it has been applied along the fracture's lines an operation stratum (strato d'intervento), a solution of Paraloid B72 at 20% in acetone.

Lacunas integration: The lacunas have been integrated with dentistical chalk and the surface has been painted with acrylic colours.

Further: On request of the Director of the Archaeological Expedition some theorical-practical lessons have been prepared to Madaba Mosaic School's students concerning the archaeological ceramic conservation.

The arguments discussed were the following: Introduction to the ancient techniques of ceramic production Interaction of the ceramic finds with the ground Ceramic's degrade Ceramic's cleaning: mechanical and chemical systems Consolidation of the ceramic finds: consolidation materials dissolved in solvent and inorganic consolidation Gluing of the fragments Integration of the lacunas Chromatically treatment of the integration's

During the lessons the students have carried out some cleaning on ceramic finds from Mount Nebo's excavations.

Finds of Iron, bronze and ceramic excavated during the expedition have been restored.