Published: May 6, 2015

Alert

Before treatment begins on any object, written and photographic documentation is performed. Documentation lets conservators track the ongoing condition of an object. And in this case, with objects going on tour for three years, it is important that our documentation be thorough and accurate so that we can monitor their condition from venue to venue, and quickly identify and address any new damage.

By the time we have finished condition documentation we understand of the problems we are facing with an object and can prepare a treatment plan. The treatment plan balances all aspects of an object’s short- and long-term stability. In this instance it also has to factor in movement across the country. For all of the objects we needed to ensure that they won’t be damaged during travel and display, as well as address any aesthetic damage that could obscure how a viewer sees the objects. The treatment must be completed within the framework of conservation ethics, in that the treatments should be reversible, repairs must remain true to the original intent of the object, and they must be discernible to future conservators.

With all of the elements of Minirdis - the coffin, the cartonnage, the shroud, and Minirdis the mummy himself - treatment began with cleaning. Dust is damaging to objects: it abrades and mars the surface, hides decoration, becomes ingrained in porous materials, attracts insects, and encourages biological growth. During their 100+ year post-excavation life all the elements had accumulated their fair share of dirt and dust and needed to be carefully cleaned.

And the cleaning needs to be very careful, not just because 2,500-year-old materials are fragile, but also because conservators need to preserve any dirt which is original to the object’s context. This dirt is therefore evidence of use or cultural practice and provides information that needs to be preserved for the future.

All of the elements were brush-vacuumed - an area would be checked for any loose fragments, and once it was found to be stable, it would be lightly cleaned with a micro-vacuum with a small brush attachment. Just this one small step had significant results as can be seen on the mummy’s shroud.

Further cleaning was performed using cosmetic sponges, somewhat like the ones from drug stores. These inert sponges are great for picking up ingrained dust and dirt, but, with careful use, are soft enough to use without abrading fragile surfaces.

Cleaning alone made a world of difference on the visual appearance of the coffin: removing the dust made restored the gloss to the black paint, and restored the lustre of the design of the goddess Nut, drawn to embrace the mummy during his long residence in the coffin.