KARNAK STONES PROJECT
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KARNAK STONES PROJECT
Preserving ancient Egyptian heritage through sustainable conservation and scientific documentation
Vegetation Management & Block Preservation
The vegetation rooted around the mastabas contributes to the degradation of the dispersed and relocated blocks; we will proceed to the weeding and cleaning of the areas.
In addition, exhibit the stone blocks in a classified and scientific way for the grand open museum display and to allow future researchers on the temples of Karnak proper and secure access to them.
Archaeological Context
The archaeological work around this area has concentrated mainly on the Osirian chapels. In addition to those carried out during the 19th century, in the second half of the 20th century, Henri Chevrier and Clément Robichon, Donald Redford, Jean Leclant, Paul Barguet and Claude Traunecker, and Leclère contributed to the unearthing of these buildings and the identification of several phases of development within the Osirian necropolis. More recently, Laurent Coulon has directed the Project Sanctuaires osiriens de Karnak. The excavation history is available on the IFAO website.
Project Objectives
The main objective of this project is to achieve sustainable preservation for the stone blocks on and around the mastabas in the temples of Karnak to prevent more damage and decay.
To achieve this objective, we began with a global analysis of the blocks comprising the epigraphic study (iconography, iconology, writing and description of the supporting materials) in the context of the group of structures included in the Karnak complex and their relationship with those located on the West Bank and in the broad Estate of Amun, focusing at the same time on the characterisation of the pathologies of the stone and on the identification of the natural and anthropic causes that have contributed to the processes of alteration and deterioration, adopting solutions for their long-term preservation.
The specific objectives of the study
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Numbering the mastabas and classify them geographically.
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Numbering all stone blocks on the mastabas and geolocating them.
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Classify and rearrange the stone blocks according to their material (sandstone, limestone, alabaster, granite) and size (small, moderate, massive) in each mastaba.
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Cleaning and vegetation removal around the mastabas.Document and study the decay patterns and factors for all stone blocks.
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Interventive restoration and conservation for the decayed stone surfaces.
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Documenting and recording the stone blocks.
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Documenting and recording the stone blocks digitally for E-exhibition.
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Check that the existing mastabas are not on top of archaeological remains.
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Building new mastabas with new standing supports for the stone blocks display.
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Labelling and displaying the stone blocks for the public.
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Communication and dissemination the achieved work each year through national and international scientific publications in Arabic, English and Spanish languages.
Project Documentation
Our team conducts extensive documentation through photography, 3D scanning, and digital preservation techniques to ensure comprehensive records of all conservation efforts.
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