Otto Schaden's Dig Diary Feb 13 Update

Originally published February 13, 2010 | Dig Diary KV-63 | by Mudir Schaden | A few bits of news concerning the restoration work on and conservation of several of the items discovered within KV-63 including a funeral mask, coffin fragments and an infant's coffin, pottery and ceramics, and seal impressions. To see these items in there current state, photos are provided. My favorite is the funeral mask. It's so delicate and has a lovingly welcoming expression that makes me smile.

Laser Scanning the Sphinx

Originally published February 4, 2010 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass | Laser scanning technology has captured a detailed record of the face of the Sphinx, the information of which has been used to create the most accurate 3D model of the Sphinx ever, the likes of which will be used to measure the effects of humans and nature on the infamous monument. The entire process and everything that encompasses it will play an important part in its conservation.

The Taharqa Gate: the Week of the Brick

Originally published January 29, 2010 | Brooklyn Museum Blog | by Mary McKercher | This post illustrates in beautiful pictures the work that is being done at the Taharqa Gate. Each day reveals new insight about the enclosure. Click the above link to review the Johns Hopkins University excavation's progress and see the amazing photos.

The Mut Precinct: a Brooklyn Museum Feature

Accessed September 28, 2009 | Brooklyn Museum

SCA Youths Travel to USA

Originally published September 21, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Photo Blog

Laser Scanning the Sphinx

Originally published August 24, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Zahi Hawass

The following is an excerpt from Zahi Hawass' Blog; click the above link to read the post in its entirety:

This work is very accurate and very fast; it took us one month to scan the Pyramids of Giza, and now we are scanning their interior chambers and shafts too. The team is also scanning the monuments on the East and West Banks of Luxor. As well as making scans from ground level, the team also conducted aerial scans by flying over the archaeological sites.

As per usual, there are accompanying pictures and an interactive map that shows the exact location of the project.

"Closed" Sign Coming Soon to King Tut's Tomb

Originally published August 19, 2009 | USA Today | by John Bacon

The following is an excerpt from USA Today, regarding more on the latest news about the possibility of the Valley of the Kings being closed off to tourists wanting to visit the tombs. Dr. Hawass if certainly faced with a double-edged sword, a predicament that shouldn't come without massive consideration: either you close off the KV tombs and create a museum filled with replicas and decrease the touristic population (I can see a replica tomb here in Chicago) or close off the KV tombs to tourists temporarily (and still decrease revenue from tourism, be it temporarily) and open them when proper technology has been implemented within each tomb so that the delicate contents within and tourists can peacefully coexist. I wouldn't mind waiting for proper technological implementation, as the former option (one Hawass has proposed) would really kill revenue for Egypt. Like I said before, I can see a replica here in the states; although, I suppose the addition of the Egyptian culture while seeing these replicas would make a better experience.

If you're interested in visiting the tombs of pharaohs in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, better schedule your trip soon.

[...]

"A team of experts is currently using laser technology to examine these tombs in order to build the replicas ... which would then open to visitors in a place near the Valley of the Kings," Hawass said.

The Tomb of Haremhab Reopens

Originally published August 5, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass

Tricked out with new state-of-the-art technology to prevent further damage, Horemhab's tomb is once more open for public viewing (and has the priviledge of being the only tomb in the Valley of the Kings with this technology; the only down side is that it will play guinea pig for the other KV tombs).

Egyptian experts to Conserve Mummy in Hyderabad Museum

Originally published July 29, 2009 | Thaindian News

Expert assistance from Egypt is finally on its way to conserve an Egyptian mummy dating back to 2500 BC at a museum here.

The mummy, believed to be of Nasihu, daughter of the sixth Pharaoh of Egypt, is on display at the Andhra Pradesh State Archaeological Museum here since 1930 but is now decaying.

Background information is given about the Old Kingdom mummy along with the conservation procedure she will go through.

Follow the above link for the full story.

Saving the Serapeum

Originally published June 25, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | Dr. Hawass

Zahi Hawass writes about the Serapeum, about the importance of the Saqqara plateau and the key figures who had a hand in its development; it's role in past and recent-present history, spanning from Strabo to Auguste Mariette; and his attempts to find a solution to preserving and protecting this unique monument, which has been closed to visitors for safety reasons, asking for every authoritative person's advice. He describes the Serapeum's current state and how he's keeping a loving and watchful eye on this mysterious place.

Featured in the post are beautiful pictures showcasing the support and ventilation systems that are meant to help preserve and stabilize the Serapeum.

Press Release - New Discoveries at Saqqara

Originally published June 24, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass

While performing routine conservation work, Egyptian archaeologists stumble upon some artifacts inside a deep hole near the southern side of the Step Pyramid, the likes of which are illustrated in pictures in this press release.

Photo - Inside the Tomb of Amun-em-Opet at Dra Abu El Naga

Originally published June 18, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass

This pictures shows an SCA conservator cleaning the ceiling of the newly discovered tomb of Amun-em-Opet at Dra Abu El Naga.

Getty Conservation Institute Receives Award

Originally published May 30, 2009 | Suite 101 | by Stan Parchin

The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) received the Distinguished Award for the Advancement of the Field of Conservation from the American Institute of Conservation. They were recognized for their support of professional development initiatives and more than 20 field projects, some in Egypt.

Calling the Queen's Authenticity Into Question

Originally published May 21, 2009 Spiegel Online by Christoph Seidler

This article follows Henri Stierlin's theory that the Nefertiti bust in the Berlin Museum is a fake, built 100 years ago and whose purpose he believes its finder withheld from the world.

Even though his friends doubt Stierlin's theory, he counteracts any proof of Nefertiti's authenticity, with contamination and advanced reproduction techniques even 100 years ago being his evidence.

A Trip to Sharkiya

Origianlly published May 20, 2009 | Dr. Zahi Hawass' Blog
Learn about the current and prospective projects set forth by the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) to turn Tell Basta (Bubastis), Tell El-Dab'a (Avaris), and San El-Hagar (Tanis) into "outstanding tourist destinations while [...] preserving and protecting them for the future." In addition, Dr. Zahi Hawass introduces a new tourist program that introduces people to the Sharkiya region and the three capital cities mentioned above. He also describes a school located in this region where Egyptian boys and girls can persue a training program and advanced courses in conservation techniques for many types of materials.