Restoration of Two Terracotta Fragments from an Amphora Found in a Marine Environment in Tipasa

Two terracotta fragments from a Dressel 1C amphora, likely used for transporting wine, were discovered near Tipasa's beaches and restored using innovative techniques. The terracotta was found to be highly porous due to low-temperature firing in an oxidizing atmosphere, with calcite presence indicating incomplete degassing. Restoration involved mechanical cleaning, chemical treatment with citric acid and EDTA, and reassembly. However, silica-based diatoms persisted as white film-like stains, posing a challenge for complete removal without damaging the fragile terracotta. The study highlights the effectiveness of non-invasive restoration methods while acknowledging the limitations in addressing organic residues.

BOUZETINE, K., BELAIDI, M., NAIT HALIMA, L., KHELLAF, R.,. (2024). RESTORATION OF TWO TERRACOTTA FRAGMENTS FROM AN AMPHORA FOUND IN A MARINE ENVIRONMENT IN TIPASA. International Journal of Conservation Science, 15(4), 1817–1826. https://doi.org/10.36868/ijcs.2024.04.14