Egypt
Thoeretical Structural Archaeology
A fascinating insight into the damage that insects inflict on wood in archaeology. Examples are taken from various parts of the planet and there is a good description of the damage inflicted on the wood in KV63 in the Valley of the Kings. Here's a short extract:
See the above for the full story.
- Lecture By Otto Schaden On Kv63
Luxor News Blog (Jane Akshar) Jane has kindly shared her notes from the latest Mummification Museum lecture again. Otto opened the lecture by reminding us that whatever KV63 finally turns out to be it will always be the first tomb discovered since the...
- Tv: Egypt's Mystery Chamber - Kv63
MarketWatch Since 2006 the world famous discovery of tomb KV63 in Egypt's Valley of the Kings has been shut to the outside world, the meaning of its remaining unopened relics, blemished inscriptions and delicate artifacts left shrouded in uncertainty....
- Variations On An Enigma
Al Ahram Weekly Recent discoveries at the Valley of the Kings on Luxor's west bank have changed the understanding of one of the most intriguing archaeological sites in Egypt, says Nevine El-Aref The Valley of the Kings is one of the richest and most...
- Neferetiti's Eyes
Archaeology Magazine - Nefertiti's Eyes (Earl R. Ertmman) Archaeology has a feature in the March/April 2008 issue entitled Nefertiti's Eyes, which you can see online at the above address. Did the queen's distinctive feature become a symbol...
- Egypt's Cultural Heritage Roundup
Egypt Daily Star News (Nigel J. Hetherington) Nigel looks at the Tutankhamun phenomenon, the plans for a German pyramid, and Hawass's proposals to investigate Egypt's heritage beneath the Nile: In this month’s roundup of all things archaeological,...
Egypt
Dangerous eaters of wood
Thoeretical Structural Archaeology
A fascinating insight into the damage that insects inflict on wood in archaeology. Examples are taken from various parts of the planet and there is a good description of the damage inflicted on the wood in KV63 in the Valley of the Kings. Here's a short extract:
One of the most exciting archaeological discoveries, announced in 2006, was the discovery of the first new tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings since Howard Carter since found Tutankhamun in 1922. Dr Otto Schaden, working in the area of another tomb, came across the vertical shaft, and it was named KV63, the sixty third tomb found in the valley, Tutankhamun’s being KV62.
The tomb turned out to be a cache of material associated with mummification and other aspects of burial; clearly it was thought inappropriate to throw such materials away. The dryness of the tomb had preserved rare organic finds such as pillows and mats, but initial interest focused on 7 wooden coffins, some with beautiful painted faces. On closer inspection, termites had attacked all but two, so that in places it was the decoration that was holding the object together. This is a conservation nightmare, and stabilising these objects so that they can be removed from the tomb to lab, usually in pieces, is a slow and painstaking task. It has been suggested that the termites may have arrived from workmen’s huts constructed by later tomb builders, - the same huts that hid this, and Tutankhamun’s tomb, for over 3000 years.
See the above for the full story.
- Lecture By Otto Schaden On Kv63
Luxor News Blog (Jane Akshar) Jane has kindly shared her notes from the latest Mummification Museum lecture again. Otto opened the lecture by reminding us that whatever KV63 finally turns out to be it will always be the first tomb discovered since the...
- Tv: Egypt's Mystery Chamber - Kv63
MarketWatch Since 2006 the world famous discovery of tomb KV63 in Egypt's Valley of the Kings has been shut to the outside world, the meaning of its remaining unopened relics, blemished inscriptions and delicate artifacts left shrouded in uncertainty....
- Variations On An Enigma
Al Ahram Weekly Recent discoveries at the Valley of the Kings on Luxor's west bank have changed the understanding of one of the most intriguing archaeological sites in Egypt, says Nevine El-Aref The Valley of the Kings is one of the richest and most...
- Neferetiti's Eyes
Archaeology Magazine - Nefertiti's Eyes (Earl R. Ertmman) Archaeology has a feature in the March/April 2008 issue entitled Nefertiti's Eyes, which you can see online at the above address. Did the queen's distinctive feature become a symbol...
- Egypt's Cultural Heritage Roundup
Egypt Daily Star News (Nigel J. Hetherington) Nigel looks at the Tutankhamun phenomenon, the plans for a German pyramid, and Hawass's proposals to investigate Egypt's heritage beneath the Nile: In this month’s roundup of all things archaeological,...