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This study reports the first analytical study conducted on samples of bedrock, and plaster layers, and also painting techniques employed by the ancient craftsmen. Collected from Nefer-Seshem-Ptah and šḫntíw tomb, the unique construction at Saqqara necropolis in Egypt, the samples, which comprise the microscopic particularities, were assessed by digital optical microscope, while the petrographic analysis was performed by polarized light microscope. An X-ray diffractometer was used to analyze the bedrock and plaster layers samples. Further, the molecular and vibrational attributions of some fragments and pigment grains were recognized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer and Raman Micro Spectrometer (μ-Raman). As a result, the studied bedrock indicates that calcite and quartz are the main minerals, whereas halite is revealed in other samples. In addition, assemblages were identified as clay mineral including montmorillonite and kaolinite. Further, the thin-section observation revealed a clayey fossiliferous and micrite. The observation on the plaster layers formed of coarse gypsumincludes little amount of limestone powder, together with fine sand, while the second layer weas composed mainly of a clay plaster with straw plants. The cross-sectional observation on the plaster layers defined three layers, which are mainly made up of calcium carbonate (calcite), quartz and clay. Minerals were identified in varying proportions. Likely, Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy analysis of the samples disclosed that the craftsmen used animal glue as media to decorate the tomb, which means the “Tempera” Technique was used to decorate Nefer-Seshem-Ptah and šḫntíw tomb., šḫntíwのšとíは、チェコ語のšとíを代用している。

This work was supported by JSPS, KAKENHI (21H04366).

The pyramid of king Djoser in Saqqara is one of the oldest stone building in history. There are five levels of corridors under the pyramid. There are two alabaster sarcophaguses in the fifth level. It is thought that they are for two daughters of king Djoser, although they were found empty. The lid of one of these sarcophaguses were found broken into nine pieces. Mineralogical investigations by both X-Ray diffraction and polarizing microscope were required to help identifying the components of the alabaster lid. The obtained results revealed that mineralogical study should have been carried out to achieve the restoration processes. The restoration process was carried out. The broken pieces of the lid were collected and glued, the lid was put in its place and the sarcophagus was closed. A drill, stainless steel bars and an epoxy called Araldite AW 106 were used in the restoration process. The restoration process was completed successfully.

Saqqara is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Egypt and all over the world. It was the main necropolis of Memphis which was the capital of Egypt for the most part of the Old Kingdom period. Saqqara is also famous for the Step Pyramid which is the oldest stone structure in ancient Egypt. It was built by king Djoser who was the first king in the Third Dynasty. It is thought that the south entrance of the Step Pyramid was opened during the Saite period. During that period, a lot of restoration work was done to many places in Saqqara, one of whose places was the Step Pyramid, especially the south entrance, when they saw that there were cracks in the bedrock ceiling, that some limestone columns were used to support it. It seems that the ceiling of the burial shaft had a problem since that time. So, some wooden trunks were used to support the ceiling, especially in the places where there was a collapse. Those trunks were in bad condition, because they were affected by deterioration factors especially the brown rotten that caused the wood to be turned into cubes in different sizes. It is known that the ancient Egyptians used both local and imported wood, especially wood that was imported from Lebanon. So, it was important to identify the wood species to indicate if it was local or imported. Transmitted light optical microscope was used to identify the wood species. It is indicated that the species is Acacia Nilotica which has been common in Egypt from ancient times till now. There were deterioration products that could be seen on the wooden trunks such as cracks in different sizes and different depths, wood turned into cubes in different sizes. And then, and the surface of the wood was fragile and squishy, and some parts of the wooden trunks were covered with mortar that used for restoration in the Saite period or for supporting the ceiling during the current restoration project. Restoration work was done through three main steps. First, cleaning was done mechanically and chemically. Consolidation by using Nano cellulose and Plexisol P550, filling by using cotton injected with Paraloid B72 20% and Microballoon. FTIR analysis was done after using Nano cellulose and it indicated the percentage of cellulose in the wood was increased after using Nano cellulose for consolidation.

The study of religious concepts in a synthetic and unified framework is necessary to understand the ancient texts on the basis of Egyptian features. This is required since there are numerous religious concepts and their complex usages appearing in various religious texts and in non-religious texts as well. The study of religious concepts in ancient Egypt is one of the keys by which we can approach to the understanding of Egyptian texts and Egyptian mentality. Some characteristics of Egyptian religious anthrology are elucidated around Ka, Ba and Akh in this paper. In addition, “Pseudo-Dualism” and “Peculiar Usage with Following Genitive” are applied to the religious concepts. While the body and the spirit (soul) seem to be divided, the Egyptian regarded each of them as perfect being as a whole, which cannot be divided (Pseudo-Dualism). This leads to anthor idea that the subject can be indicated by the following genitive (Peculiar Usage with Following Genitive). Without understanding these peculiar usages, moderns would be puzzled about the seeming plurality of entities, which is one character in fact., This work was supported by JSPS, KAKENHI (21H04366).

In order to apply to the improvement of the reinforcement agent of cultural assets, reaction controls of silane coupling agent (SCA) for the increase of chemisorption and the formation of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) were reviewed. When the silica particles treated with SCA are heated to accelerate the chemisorption reaction, evaporation of monomer-like SCA and the chemisorption reaction take place simultaneously. The oligomer formation in the SCA-treated layer or using the oligomer-type SCA and the SCA with long organic chain was useful restrained the evaporation and increased the chemisorption effectively. The control of amount of moisture was most important for the formation of orderly SAM. Using the chlorosilane without hydrolysis was also useful. Usually, the reaction of SCA needs hydrolysis. However, the alkoxy group in SCA can reacts with the silanol group on silica surface without hydrolysis at higher temperature., This work was supported by JSPS, KAKENHI (21H04366), 著者名「中村吉伸」の吉は、土と口から成る吉（つちよし）である。

Saqqara was the main necropolis of Memphis that was the capital of ancient Egypt during the time of the Old Kingdom, and it has a lot of tombs dating back along the ancient Egyptian history from the time of the first and second dynasties to the Greco-Roman period. Some of the ancient Egyptian tombs from the fifth and sixth dynasties have decorated burial chambers. One of them is the tomb of Memi that might date back to the late fifth dynasty and the beginning of the sixth dynasty. Although his burial chamber has three beautiful decorated walls, the most of the decorated plaster fell down off the bed rock walls. There are some deterioration factors that have affected the mural paintings at Memi's burial chamber, some internal and the other external, and they led to the deterioration of the mural paintings. High humidity is one of the most dangerous factors that carries salts out of the inside structure of the bed rock to the surface and under the plaster, when humidity decreases. It leaves salt under the plaster, that pushes the plaster and causes it to fall down. The internal structure of the bed rock has clay minerals that are affected by the presence of high humidity that leads those minerals to swell and push the plaster off the bedrock walls. Gypsum plaster was used at Memi's burial chamber, whose main components of the plaster are gypsum, sand, calcite and clay minerals. Those components are inhomogeneous and they led to different effect by weathering factors. The thickness of the plaster at Memi's burial chamber varies according to the regularity of the bedrock. However, in general, the thickness of the plaster is thin and the thinness makes it easy to be cracked and broken when it falls off the walls. As a result of high humidity, there is a clear growth of microorganisms on the bedrock walls and the plaster. Salts such as gypsum and halite are the worst problem in the burial chamber because they crystalized to form pins that pushed the plaster to separate and fill off the bed rock walls., This work was supported by JSPS, KAKENHI (21H04366).

Apparently at the same time as Japan ruled Taiwan, Shinto was simultaneously being introduced. Taiwanese however did not follow Shintoism. To them a shrine had a political reason rather than a religious one. Due to that fact the concept of a shrine being a locum for the Gods was not progressing well. The concept lacked strength anyway, because Taiwanese followed their own traditional religion anyway. The historical experience is different and there are also considerable differences as to the opinion of the architectural style during the Japanese regime. The perspective of the controversy of Tsutomu Shrine as presented in this essay suggests that colonial cultural assets are still under the development. The promotion of a cultural property protection only suggested from the legal aspect isn't sufficient. In the future a new approach incorporating the education and research is likely to be necessary.

In this essay, I present the report and the evaluation of Samjeondo Monument in Modern Times. The monument for the Qing Emperor was erected at the command of Emperor Taizong (Hong Taiji) of Qing Dynasty in December 1639 after Joseon's defeat to the war between Joseon and Qing. After the National Liberation Day of Korea (August 15, 1945), this monument has been evaluated from a nationalistic perspective rather than the value as a cultural property. In 1957, the monument was changed from a national treasure to a historical site. This change reflected the recognition of the symbol of national shame, but there was also the result of protecting the cultural properties related to the monument., 文部科学省グローバルCOEプログラム 関西大学文化交渉学教育研究拠点, 松浦章教授古稀記念号, [東アジアの歴史と動態]

A stone chamber of the Takamatsuzuka-Tomb in Nara was built of tuff stone. It painted wall of tuff with plaster and pictures on it. In case of the Idout Tomb in Egypt, the tomb chamber was built of the limestone basis, and it painted wall of limestone with gypsum and paintings on it. All kinds of materials like tuff stone, limestone, plaster, and gypsum have the ability which absorbs and releases the moisture. The moisture is the key for preserving the wall painting safely, because the ability of these materials to absorb and release the moisture can work, even if the conservation environment changes rapidly and the humidity becomes high. As a result, tuff stone and the plaster wall eases a direct influence over the wall painting. It will be the most important to develop the new materials and structure for backing stripped wall painting.