CHARACTERIZATION AND RESTORATION RECOMMENDATIONS OF SOME ADOBE SHRINES AT EL-BAGAWAT CEMETERY, KHARGA OASIS, WESTERN DESERT - EGYPT.

The existing research focuses on an important type of early Christian
architecture, which was common in Kharga oasis, western desert, Egypt.
Kharga oasis includes the largest cemetery dated back to the late third/early
fourth to the seventh century A.D. this cemetery called .El-Bagawat cemetery..
All shrines in this cemetery were built of mud brick .adobe. blocks and mud
mortars. Most of walls and facades of those shrines covered with mud and/or
lime plasters. This study focused on two shrines at El-Bagawat cemetery, they
are shrines numbers 66 and 90. The study showed the main factors of
deterioration. All building materials; adobe, mortars and mud plasters were
studied, characterized by using different methods and techniques such as;
optical microscopy (by USB digital microscope), scanning electron microscopy
(SEM-EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Also, physical and mechanical
properties were studied on selected samples. The results referred that the
main deterioration factors affected the historic adobe shrines at El-Bagawat
cemetery are the major climatic changes, biological factors and lack of
comprehensive restoration/management plan. Using modified adobe blocks
and mortars for the purpose of completion and reconstruction (mainly this
bricks contained 65 % kaolinite-rich soil + 17 % salt-free sand + 15 % slaked
lime + 3 % fiberglass) and provide a sustainable development plan; is the
main way to keep this heritage saved and protected.