Progress in the exploration of the tomb of Amenmose

Amenmose was a stonemason of Amun who was buried around 3,500 years ago in the area known as the Valley of the Nobles, on the western shore of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes.

Researchers from the National University of La Plata (UNLP) in Argentina advance, campaign after campaign, with the exploration of that tomb. The fourth campaign of the project directed by Andrea Zingarelli, from the Faculty of Humanities and Educational Sciences of the National University of La Plata, recently took place.

The work team was made up of 24 researchers from the UNLP, the National University of Córdoba, the National University of Tucumán, the National University of La Pampa, the University of Buenos Aires, the Scientific Research Commission (CIC) and the National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), in Argentina all these institutions.

The interdisciplinary team includes historians, archaeologists, conservators, art historians, architects, photographers and a physicist.

This new campaign continues the work developed from the concession granted in 2019 by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of the Arab Republic of Egypt to carry out study and conservation tasks in the tomb of Amenmose.

“The main objective of this campaign consisted of exposing the courtyard and the original entrance to the tomb, whose jambs had already been discovered in 2023 and had revealed hieroglyphic inscriptions and a scene depicting Amenmose sitting in front of an offering table. In addition to this, the reconstruction of the lintel and the placement of an iron door were directly associated objectives,” Zingarelli explained.

The excavation reached the level of the limestone and completely cleared the access, a fundamental event to allow a more comfortable entry to the tomb, which until then was through a gap of about 50×37 cm that connected it to a neighboring tomb.

The work of reconstruction and enhancement of the original entrance to the tomb of Amenmose was carried out jointly and in an interdisciplinary manner: while the architectural team evaluated and defined structural issues such as, for example, the characteristics of the iron door itself , also from the conservation area, work was carried out that sought to harmonize the old and the new using compatible materials.

In this process, coordination with the local workforce was very valuable. The missing parts of the jambs that were to support the iron door were filled with a mixture of limestone powder, white cement and water. In turn, a specially modeled piece of limestone was placed above them, as a lintel. To cover all these sections, hiba was prepared, a mixture that includes sediment, cement, limestone dust, sand and water. This is a material used regularly because it allows you to harmoniously distinguish the original appearance from the most recent interventions. In this way, the façade of the tomb was enhanced and was completely integrated into the landscape of the necropolis.

“On the other hand, the excavation of the patio revealed a rectangular structure with low rock walls measuring about 2.30 x 1.00 meters, associated with the entrance of TT 318, which could be the funerary shaft of the tomb. Also in the patio, on the NE side, the access to two tombs was cleared. Towards the E and N, the excavation of the area progressed through a system of terraces that allows the necessary depth to be reached, ensures the stability of the area and facilitates access to the tomb,” added the UNLP researcher.

As occurred in 2023, the excavation revealed a number of finds of various types, which this year reached 500 objects. The work of the cataloging and recataloging teams (the latter also carried out classification and ordering work this year on the finds made during 2023) is essential to allow the development of research tasks in the future. All objects were photographed and some of them were photographed in 3D by the team dedicated to this objective. Likewise, specific technical drawings were made for the study and eventual publication of results.

The findings include remains of bouquets and plant garlands that were placed on the sarcophagi, other organic remains, such as a palm root and a honeycomb, remains of linen – some with resin or painted as cardboard -, fragments of wood from sarcophagi , animal bones and pieces of human bones, faience beads and ceramic pieces from different periods, fragments of mummies and a funerary mask.

For her part, Dr. Belén Castro, director of the FaHCE extension project associated with the Amenmose project, described: “for the Egyptological historians who make up the team, some findings have a particular value for the reconstruction of historical knowledge about Amenmose and about the world. funerary of the ancient Egyptians. For example, we found a fragment of limestone with the hieroglyphic sign . Also in stone, the upper part of a funerary stele was found, painted and with an inscription that refers to the “lord of all”, an epithet that generally evokes the creator god.

On the other hand, 30 funeral cones are added to those found during 2023. Castro explained that “these pieces are conical-shaped objects, made of baked clay or stone, which are found in piles in excavations in the Theban area, and generally outside their original context, since due to their shape they roll and are easily moved.” . Their historical value lies in the fact that they may contain inscriptions on the base that identify their owner with his name and his title. Sometimes they may also include some form of prayer or offering, and they were placed on the facades of the tombs. 5 of those found this year contain inscriptions that were deciphered and will be studied in the future, along with the 4 inscribed cones from the previous season’s excavation. This work involves the translation of the inscription, the identification of the owner and the investigation of his professional career during his lifetime, as well as his family and social networks, and, eventually, the association with his grave.”

Furthermore, one of the pieces of wood found is associated with a sarcophagus and is decorated with a winged goddess and a painted inscription. Also in wood, a colored statuette of a Ba was found, that is, a figure in the shape of a bird and a human head, which symbolizes this component of the Egyptian person who could leave and return to the tomb every day.

The main objective of this campaign has focused on the patio and the original entrance to the tomb. (Photos: National University of La Plata / Argentina Investiga)

Likewise, and in relation to the funerary world, a ceramic ostracon was found with a hieratic inscription, which has been identified with a fragment of the Book of the Dead. Zingarelli explains that “this is an important find since the spell is known from a later period than the writing, which in this case is supposed to be from the 18th dynasty, and in that sense it could be a valuable antecedent.”

Likewise, numerous ushabtis made of clay, ceramics or faience have been found, many of them in a fragmentary state, and some with inscriptions. “These small mummiform objects were placed inside the tombs, supposedly, to serve the deceased,” he added.

Once the original access to the tomb was cleared, cleaning tasks began inside. Due to the positive results obtained in previous campaigns, Wishab® sponges were used to remove surface dirt and dust from walls and ceilings. Furthermore, thanks to the better air circulation generated by opening the door, it was possible to carry out a test with chemical products to remove traces of soot that are strongly adhered to one of the walls, with positive results.

Also, the mural paintings were cleaned with a water and alcohol solution applied with swabs. Castro detailed that “the agricultural scene depicted on wall 4 – which portrays Amenmose supervising various tasks in the field – recovered the liveliness of its original color and, even more, unknown sections were revealed. Work was also done on the scenes of bread and beer preparation painted on wall 5, and on the bas-relief inscriptions carved on the lintel and jambs that lead to the interior chapel.”

Zingarelli expressed: “Future work prospects in the field include the excavation of the funerary well and progress in the cleaning and conservation work of the wall paintings. In turn, our objectives here in Argentina during this year focus on processing the information obtained and developing investigations, for example, on the in situ findings detailed above. The development of historical studies on these objects allows us to generate knowledge about Amenmose and other characters who were buried in the necropolis, their positions in the sociopolitical plots of the 18th dynasty, and about the ritual and mortuary practices typical of the period. (Source: National University of La Plata / Argentina Investiga)