Pigments of the bust of Nefertete compared with those of the Karnak Talatats

The elaborate characterisation and specification of materials used for decorating statues and buildings can be achieved by means of complementary methods of investigation such as analytical light and electron microscopy, thermal analysis, X-ray and neutron diffractometry, and various types of spectroscopy. The results cannot only reveal the historically relevant exploration and refinement techniques of natural resources, but also the types of application on different supports. In addition deterioration and erosion processes can be monitored and eventually conservation and restoration procedures may be improved. Here, we present results of investigations on materials, i.e. pigments which have been applied for the decoration of Nefertete’s bust and—practically in the same period—for the illumination of the so-called Talatat blocks of the then dismantled temple erected at Karnak under the reign of Akhenaten. Special attention was paid to the blue pigments, which—in both cases—could be identified unambiguously by means of X-ray diffractometry and Raman spectroscopy with the so-called Egyptian Blue, CaCuSi4O10. Other materials used in the polychromatic decorations are iron oxides (red), amorphous carbon/quartz (yellow) as well as the organic composite soot/bee wax mixtures (black). Obviously these mentioned pigments are chemically inert and therefore still visible, whereas other pigments such as green may have vanished more or less completely. In summary our investigations confirm and further reveal the skill of the Egyptian artisans and may elucidate a more detailed “life cycle analysis” of the used materials, spreading from the natural resources to the production and application and they finally may yield some useful hints for the advancement of our present reconstruction of historical developments in Egypt.