Multidisciplinary approach for the study of the Ptolemaic coffin of Ankhhapy from the egyptian collection of MANN in Naples

In this paper we report the results of the analysis and the conservation treatment conducted on an Egyptian polychrome wooden coffin coming from Akhmim and dating back to the beginning of the Ptolemaic Period (332-200 B.C.). This work has been carried out thanks to the collaboration between the National Archeological Museum of Naples (MANN), a team of restorers and scientists from “Università Suor Orsola Benincasa” and the research center CIRCE. The analysis allowed us to not only identify the materials constituting the coffin, and its state of conservation, but also to correctly plan the conservation treatment. The results of C14 analysis confirmed the dating of the coffin to the Ptolemaic period, while the optical microscope and SEM identified both the genus and the species of wood used for the boards and the joints. We also determined the components of the ground layer and the painted layer through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis; in particular we observed that the wig of the coffin wasn’t black, as reported in the catalogue [1], but it was actually painted with Egyptian blue. We also analyzed the thicknesses of the different layers through stratigraphic analysis and Dino-lite photos. The UV light allowed us to highlight the lack of varnish, and to reveal traces of previous restoration works, especially on the gilded mask. Finally, a conservation treatment has been carried out on the coffin: the surface has been disinfestated and consolidated, the wig has been cleaned and the missing parts of the ground layer have been integrated along the joining lines of the boards.