Projects: Geographical Overview
Cleaning of a relief of the goddess Meter
Byzantine weighing scale before restoration
Byzantine weighing scale after restoration
Covered vessel before gluing
Covered vessel after gluing
To see more pictures, please click on one of the images shown here.
Conservation of Finds
The excavation centre at Ephesos/Selçuk houses a conservation laboratory within which the annual finds are cleaned, consolidated and also restored when necessary. The spectrum of materials extends from stone, pottery, and glass to a variety of metals. Influenced by the prevailing ground conditions, organic materials are on the other hand only rarely excavated and conserved.
Due to the extremity of the climactic conditions – cold, very damp winters and hot, dry summers – and the high level of ground moisture, the conservation of metal finds represents a particular challenge. The difficult conditions just described in addition require appropriate storage as well as permanent maintenance of the objects.
Byzantine Bronze Weighing Scale
The excavation campaign of 2011 brought a particularly special find to light: in the ruins of the Temple of Domitian in the centre of Ephesos, a bronze weighing scale was found. The state of preservation of the Byzantine scale is exceptionally good, since the bronze is only corroded on the surface, so that details such as scale, lettering and traces of handling are preserved. Furthermore, the weighing scale is almost complete: chains, hooks and lead weights also exist. A hard conglomerate of lime, corrosion and earth covers the outer surface, which – in order to be able to recognise all details and to interpret the inscription – was treated with a scalpel, wooden instruments and fibreglass brushes; fine particles were removed with a cotton bud soaked in acetone, and the fine details were revealed under binoculars. During the removal of the deposits in the indentations of the punctured inscription, remains of a black incrustation became apparent in the small holes; this is probably a mixture of soot or coal dust, and a binding agent; the exact material composition is not yet clear. Due to the good state of preservation of the object, and a possible contamination of the analysis results of the incrustation material, an anticorrosive treatment with benzotriazol was not carried out. A final coating of acrylate resin was, however, necessary, in order to protect the weighing scale against high humidity and sweat from handling.
Covered Vessel
In the so-called Verulanus Colonnade, a few well-preserved ceramic vessels were excavated in the 2011 campaign. Of particular note is a covered vessel, which was discovered almost complete with closed lid and filling of earth. This special find situation, with the help of scientific investigations and the removal of samples, allowed conclusions to be drawn regarding the earlier content of the vessel and its purpose. To this end, before the vessel was cleaned and repaired, a number of samples were removed from the material buried in the object in a block. Eventually, after a test series with a variety of adhesives, a reversible adhesive resistant to aging was chosen, one which is particularly resistant to the special conditions in Ephesos such as heat and changes in humidity.
In close cooperation with the Efes Müzesi Selçuk, objects for exhibit as well as the museum inventory are controlled, and maintenance will be carried out.
Financing
OeAI