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Arts & Communication Safeguarding Sinauli’s royal chariot discovery

Figure 2. Detailed documentation of the royal chariot. Source: Archaeological Survey of India

It was a significant challenge for the science branch of for the elemental analysis of materials. This handheld XRF
the Archaeological Survey of India to restore and preserve operates with a 4-watt X-ray tube optimized with a-W-
the royal chariot, with the aim of arresting and slowing 40 kV anode material. It features a silicon drift detector,
its deterioration. A team of archaeological chemists, an 8-position auto-selected filter per beam per mode,
led by Dr. M.K. Bhatnagar, played a crucial role in the and is powered by a removable 14.4 V Li-ion battery with
conservation and restoration efforts. The first step was to hot-swap capability. The device can function within a
shift the royal chariot to a secure location to facilitate the temperature range of −10C°–50C° and humidity levels of
next phase of research and conservation. 10 – 90% relative humidity (non-condensing).

2. Materials and methods 2.2. Process of moving the royal chariot from the
2.1. Instruments and reagents excavation site to the safe house
A cutter kit, assorted surgical knives and blades, and soft The process of lifting the royal chariot from the Sinauli
nylon brushes of various sizes were procured from the local excavation site to a safe house was meticulous and
market for opening and cutting the straps and slings, as delicate, given its historical significance and fragile state.
well as for superficial and mechanical cleaning of the royal The Archaeological Survey of India team undertook the
chariot. Most of the inorganic and organic chemicals used in following steps:
this study, such as Plaster of Paris (POP), acetone, toluene,
isopropanol, and benzotriazole (BTA), were supplied by 2.2.1. Documentation and assessment
Central Drug House Ltd., India. Polyvinyl acetate (PVA), The condition of the chariot was thoroughly documented and
with an average molecular weight of 1,00,000, as determined assessed by a team of expert archaeologists and conservators
by gel permeation chromatography beads, was procured before being lifted. Detailed drawings, photographs, and
from Sigma-Aldrich (Switzerland). Bandages for straps and 3D scans were conducted to record every aspect of the royal
slings, as well as binder and adhesive (animal glue), were chariot (Figure 2 and Supplementary Video S1).
supplied by the local market. Mud bricks retrieved from the
excavation site were used to repair missing parts of the royal 2.2.2. Support and reinforcement
chariot, a necessary step for its restoration. Archaeologists, conservators, and experts assessed the
A handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) from the structural integrity of the royal chariot to identify potential
Olympus Vanta C Series, Model VCR (Japan), was used weak points and areas that needed support during the lifting

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2024) 3 doi: 10.36922/ac.2437