RT journal article
T1 Integrated Documentation and Non-Destructive Surface Characterization of Ancient Egyptian Sandstone Blocks at Karnak Temples (Luxor, Egypt)
A1 Fahmy, Abdelrhman
A1 Dominguez-Bella, Salvador
A1 Durante-Macías, Ana
A1 Martínez Viñas, Fabiola
A1 Molina Piernas, Eduardo
A2 Ciencias de la Tierra
K1 non-destructive testing (NDT)
K1 urface characterization
K1 sandstone deterioration
K1 heritage conservation
K1 Karnak Temples
K1 Karnak Stones project
AB The Karnak Temples are considered one of Egypt’s most significant archaeological sites,dating back to the Middle Kingdom (c. 2000–1700 BC) and were continuously expanded un-til the Ptolemaic period (305–30 BC). As the second most visited UNESCO World Heritagearchaeological site in Egypt after the Giza Pyramids, Karnak faces severe deteriorationprocesses due to prolonged exposure to environmental impacts, mechanical damage, andhistorical interventions. This study employs a multidisciplinary approach integratingnon-destructive testing (NDT) methods to assess the physical and mechanical conditionand degradation mechanisms of scattered sandstone blocks at the site. Advanced documen-tation techniques, including Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), photogrammetry,and Infrared Thermography (IRT), were used to analyze surface morphology, thermal stresseffects, and weathering patterns. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) testing provided internalstructural assessments, while spectral and gloss analysis quantified chromatic alterationsand surface roughness. Additionally, the Karsten Tube test determined the water absorp-tion behavior of the sandstone, highlighting variations in porosity and susceptibility to saltcrystallization. In this sense, the results indicate that climatic factors such as extreme tem-perature fluctuations, wind erosion, and groundwater infiltration contributed to sandstonedeterioration. Thermal cycling leads to microcracking and granular disintegration, whilehigh capillary water absorption accelerates chemical weathering processes. UPV analysesshowed substantial internal decay, with low-velocity zones correlating with fractures anddifferential cementation loss. Finally, an interventive conservation plan was proposed.
PB Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
SN 2571-9408
YR 2025
FD 2025-08
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/37862
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/37862
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 10-may-2026