FINAL REPORT “TT 110-Qurna, Small Objects and their First ...

FINAL REPORT

“TT 110-Qurna, Small Objects and their First Aid Treatments”

Khadija Adam

Season 2015-2016

Cultural Heritage Tourism Project in Egypt (APS) USAID Agreement No. 263-A-15-00007

Awarded to THE AMERICAN RESEARCH CENTER IN EGYPT (ARCE)

Address: 909 N. Washington Street, Suite 320, Alexandria, VA 22 314, Tel: (703) 721 3479

By the USAID Program Office of Productive Sector Development / Office of the Environment /

USAID / Egypt

In collaboration with the United States Agency for International development and the Egyptian Ministry of State for Antiquities.

AMERICAN RESEARCH CENTER IN EGYPT-LUXOR FINAL REPORT CONSERVATION PROJECT QURNA EXCAVATION SMALL OBJECTS FIRST AID TREATMENTS ARCE CONSERVATION FIELD SCHOOL SEASON 2015-2016

Small Objects and their First Aid Treatments

TT 110-Qurna

Final Report, Season 2015 -2016

Report by: Khadija Adam – Conservation Manager – ARCE Luxor

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Table of Contents

Introduction 3

Small objects discovered during the TT 110 excavation 3

Extraction and Transfer Methods for Small Objects during the Excavation 4

Classification of Small Objects from TT 110 5

Ushabtis 5

Wooden coffin fragments 6

Cartonnage fragments 6

Wooden object fragments 7

Pottery 8

Funerary cones 8

Canopic jar fragments 9

Amulets 9

Metal objects 10

Stone fragments 10

Ostraca 11

Small Object First Aid Methodology 12

Mechanical cleaning 12

Consolidation 13

Reconnecting fragments 14

Packing 16

Documentation and Archiving Methodology 18

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Introduction:

Since 2012, ARCE has been working at the TT 110 excavation site. TT 110 is located on

the west bank of the Nile in Luxor, on the border between Sheikh Abd el Qurna and El-

Khokha. TT 110 belonged to Djehuty, who held the position of Cup-bearer (Royal Butler)

under both Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III.

The tomb, which was excavated in 2014, consists of a short transverse hall, a passage

along the axis, and a hall with two stone pillars. The entrance of the tomb faces east, and

the transverse hall and passage way are covered with reliefs and paintings.

1- Small objects discovered during the TT 110 excavation:

The types of small objects that were discovered during the TT 110 excavation

include tools, ushabtis, wooden coffin fragments, cartonnage, stone fragments,

funerary ornaments, bones, and pots and dishes meant to serve the deceased in the

afterlife.

2- Stratigraphy:

The forecourt had been excavated by two field schools before the ARCE

archaeology team began their excavations. The stratigraphy sequence of the

forecourt is as follows: the top layer is the

modern Qurna occupation phase, which

contains modern artifacts, and the subsequent

layer contains flashflood accumulations and a

robbers’ cut. The tomb was reused during the

Coptic period as a house. Structures and

grapevines from this time period were found

in the middle of the forecourt.

The forecourt during excavation

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3-Extraction and Transfer Methods for Small Objects during the Excavation:

Small objects are usually extracted from the soil by archaeologists, and fragile or

perishable objects are removed by the conservator. The objects are extracted in a delicate

manner, which varies according to the object’s condition.

Extraction and transfer of wooden coffins and pottery jars found in an excavated layer around the forecourt of TT 110

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AMERICAN RESEARCH CENTER IN EGYPT-LUXOR

FINAL REPORT CONSERVATION PROJECT QURNA EXCAVATION SMALL OBJECTS FIRST AID TREATMENTS ARCE CONSERVATION FIELD SCHOOL SEASON 2015-2016

Classification of Small Objects from TT 110:

1- Ushabtis:

Different types of ushabtis and ushabti fragments were found in TT 110. These

ushabtis vary in terms of material, formation, and decoration and can be classified into

three main groups. The first type is made from faience and has inscriptions under the

glaze. The second type is made of non-seared mud and is covered with a layer of green

plaster that has black inscriptions on it. The third type is made from burnt clay and is

covered with a layer of white plaster that has black inscriptions on it.

Ushabti types

First Type Second Type Third Type

First Type Second Type Third Type

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AMERICAN RESEARCH CENTER IN EGYPT [QURNA PROJECT_ FIRST AID FOR THE SMALL OBJECTS _ 2015 -2016]

American Research Center in Egypt Luxor 6

2- Wooden coffin fragments:

During the excavation, many wooden coffin fragments were discovered

representing different parts of complete mummy coffins. These fragments were in a

variety of conditions, some of good condition and others in very poor condition. They

were covered with a layer of colored plaster, color decorations, and an insulating layer.

Most pieces date back to the New Kingdom (source: Excavation Report, ARCE team).

3- Cartonnage fragments:

The archaeologists discovered many pieces of cartonnage representing different

parts of a complete coffin. The cartonnage was in varying degrees of condition, some of

good grade and others of very weak grade. They were covered with a layer of colored

plaster and color decorations. On some parts, there was an insulating layer and black

finger marks.

Wooden coffin fragments

Cartonnage fragments



Some cartonnage fragments contained 1 to 3 layers of linen and others contained

3 to 5 layers of linen.

4- Wooden Objects:

Different types of wooden objects were found in TT 110. Some wooden

objects were from furniture and were decorated with ivory and animal skin. We also

found an object that was possibly a toy. This object consists of a wooden rod with a

thick wooden fish hanging on the end of a line. The wooden objects that were found

were created from a variety of trees, including sycamore, willow, acacia, tamarisk,

cedar, eucalyptus, ficus, palm, doom, date palm, pine, mahogany, and ebony.

Black finger marks

Wooden objects

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5- Pottery:

Pottery items, including dishes, jars, pots, vessels, and oil lamps were discovered

in TT 110. Some of these items were used in daily life, while others were used for

funerary rituals. Some pottery objects were decorated with floral designs, while others

had stripes on them. Different colors were used to paint the pottery, including blue,

brown, red, black, and white. Storage jars were often white.

6- Funerary Cones:

We discovered many funerary cones made of clay. Some cones were pressed

with stamps, which had the names and titles of the deceased on them. A few cones had

remains of paint or wash preserved on the surface.

Pottery types

Funerary cones

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7- Canopic Jar Fragments:

Parts of canopic jars, which were used to store the internal organs of the

deceased, were found in TT 110. Most fragments of the jars were made from clay and

took the shape of the human face. Some of them were painted black or blue, while

others did not have any color.

8- Amulets:

Many beads, necklaces, scarabs, and amulets made from faience were discovered

in the tomb. Most of these objects were blue, and some were supplemented with

yellow, red, and black. These objects were used as ornaments and funerary

appurtenances.

Canopic jar fragments

Amulets types

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9- Metal Objects:

Metal objects, such as coins, mummification tools, and rings, were discovered in

TT 110. All of these objects were made from bronze alloy, and they were recovered in

good condition from different regions and layers in the soil.

10- Stone Fragments:

Stone fragments with reliefs and paint on them were found in the tomb. The

fragments are from different architectural elements in the tomb, including the threshold,

walls, and ceiling.

Types of stone fragments found in TT 110

Different types of metal objects

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11- Ostraca:

Several ostraca, made from different materials such as limestone and pottery, were

found in the tomb. Some ostraca had black hieratic writing on them, while others had red and

black animal graphics on them.

Types of ostraca found in the tomb

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Small Object First Aid Methodology:

1. Mechanical Cleaning:

Mechanical cleaning aims to remove deposits from an object’s surface. Where

applicable, we use fine brushes, coarse brushes, and white and yellow wishabs to clean

the surface of objects. Scalpels are used to remove surface debris and sediment deposits

from cracks and crevices.

Result of mechanical cleaning tests on the cartonnage

Mechanical cleaning of folding chair fragments

Before mechanical cleaning of cartonnage fragments

After mechanical cleaning of cartonnage fragments

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For this Roman coin, tentatively identified as representing the Tetrarchy emperor

Licinius, fiber pens were used to mechanically remove the corrosion layers.

2. Consolidation Methodology:

In order to restore the strength and durability of weak objects, we consolidated them.

Our consolidation process includes applying substances that strengthen the objects

without negatively affecting them. The objects can then be safely stored. To

consolidate stones and pottery we used Klucell G 5%, and to consolidate plaster and

paint layers we used Klucell G 2%. To consolidate the cartonnage, we used Carboxy

methyl cellulose.

Chemical cleaning of coins

Before

After

Before

After

Back Side

Front Side

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3. Methodology for Reconnecting Fragments:

For all types of fragments, the main goal is to reconnect the pieces with the

appropriate materials in order to restore the original shape of the object.

• Ushabti Fragments:

We used glue to piece together ushabti fragments and C.M.C to piece together

cartonnage fragments. We did this as carefully as possible to avoid any distortion of the

pieces.

• Cartonnage Fragments:

In order to reconnect cartonnage fragments, we begin by making a small space in

between the cartonnage layers (1). In the small space, we apply C.M.C and then put Japanese

paper strips inside the space (2). Half of the paper strip is inside the cartonnage, while the

other half protrudes outside of the cartonnage. Then, we make a small space in the other

cartonnage fragment, apply CMC in it, and then insert the paper strips, which are attached to

the other fragment, into this space (3). Then we apply more paper strips over the joined area

for additional support (4). After everything dries, we put a silicon sheet over the cartonnage

and compress the layers.

1 2

3

Piecing together ushabi fragments

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• Amulet and Pottery Fragments:

We used glue to fix amulets and pottery fragments. In some cases, we needed

to fill small patches with a micro balloon to ensure the success of the assembly

process.

Piecing together cartonnage fragments

Before

1 2 3

4 5 6

After

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5. Packing:

The goal of the packing process is to preserve the objects after their initial first aid

treatment. After the object is properly packed, we transport it to adequate storage

conditions until the object is ready to be fully restored. For packing, we use wooden or

plastic boxes that are specially prepared for each piece according its dimensions. We

place different density filler material (usually sponge) in the box and then put Japanese

Reconstruction of fragments for different objects

Before

Before

After

After

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paper between the filler and the object in order to avoid any friction between the object

and the filler material.

Packing process for small objects after first aid treatment

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Documentation and Archiving Methodology:

The recording and documentation of small objects from the storeroom is a joint effort

between archaeologists and conservators, as the first aid work often required for small

objects requires a registration form that must be obtained from an archaeologist. With

their help, we can more effectively record the first aid process for each object.

Archaeological registration form

Conservation registration form

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