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Journalism of Courage
VADODARA, Jan 19: Preliminary examination of the rapidly deteriorating 3,000-year-old mummy at the Baroda Museum here by Dr Tej Singh, Director of the National Research and Conservation Laboratory, Lucknow, has revealed that a rather reckless attempt at restoration was made some time in the past.
However, with the records disclosing no such endeavour in the past 28 years, museum authorities say that the attempt was made prior to the introduction of cataloguing in 1971.
Talking to Express Newsline on Tuesday, Curator S Sadashivan said that Singh, on a recent visit, had studied the mummy for a day and concluded that besides age-induced shrinking, the mummy revealed signs of a botched restoration attempt.
“A distinct glare on the face mask indicates a synthetic material maybe a solvent or a resin was used as a preservative, which is not compatible with the exhibit’s organic nature”, he said.
The visual examination also revealed that the linen wrapping the mummy around the stomach had been cut with a pair of scissors on either side; the linen bandages were broken in a number of places as well. “If the bandages are not fixed again, the painted layer may be further damaged”, Sadashivan said.
According to expert opinion, the outer decorative cover had been fixed very firmly to the chest and foot, probably with adhesive. Besides, the mask is thinner than the ones on comparable mummies.
“Moreover”, said Sadashivan, “crevices have erupted in the foot tissues and a white deposit was was also noticed. It could be either a biological infection or salt. If the latter, we don’t know how it can accumulate on such a dehydrated body”.
Claiming that the museum authorities had no information on any mummy-conservation effort, Sadashivan said, “The mummy has been here since the 1930s, so it’s likely some work was done on it between then and the ’70s. However, isolation of any part from the composite is against conservation ethics; a fact Singh, too, pointed out”.
While unwilling “to continue with the controversy” over the vacuum cleaner theory propounded earlier, the curator said that Singh had advised against physical cleaning of the mummy because of its delicate nature. “He also emphasised that the disjointed part of the toe skin should have been kept aside till it was properly worked on, rather than sticking it on with a synthetic adhesive”, Sadashivan added.
Because of the complexities involved in mummy-conservation, Singh has stressed on cooperation with experts from Egypt and the British Museum. “And since the Baroda Museum will be the first to initiate such steps in the country, Singh has suggested that technical experts from the other five museums with mummies also be involved in the process,” Sadashivan said. Singh is expected to prepare a report of his preliminary examination and submit it to the HRD department of the Union government to pave the way for inviting foreign experts. He is also scheduled to visit the museum soon for a more intensive study of the mummy.
