THE COFFINS OF 'Irwt: AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND CONSERVATION STUDY | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Archaeological and Restoration Studies | ||||
| Article 8, Volume 15, Issue 1, June 2025, Page 59-68 PDF (1.17 MB) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejars.2025.434902 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
| Osman, A.1; Badr, I.2 | ||||
| 1Egyptology dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Misr Univ. for Science & Technology, 6th Oct., Egypt | ||||
| 2Conservation dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Misr Univ. for Science & Technology, 6th Oct., Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| One of the most beautiful coffins from the 21st Dynasty is the coffin of Lady "Irwt", which was discovered by the mission of the Egyptian University of Science and Technology working in the eastern Tabet Al-Geish area in Saqqara during the 2022 season. This unique coffin was found directly south of the temple of Hathor, which was partially uncovered in the 2021 season and fully uncovered in the 2022 season. The coffin was first discovered as a structure made of several reused stones from adjacent buildings dating back to the Old and New Kingdoms, some of which were taken from the previously mentioned 18th dynasty temple. The stone coffin was built in the form of a small tomb, inside of which a rectangular wooden box with a lid was found, decorated with vertical lines in blue, red, and black. It was possibly divided in this way so that it could later be decorated with depictions of the four sons of Horus, in addition to some spells from the Book of the Dead, but it was incomplete. Inside this box was a rectan-gular coffin, with a human-shaped lid and beautiful, vibrant colors. The offering formula (Htp di nsw) and the name and titles of the owner of the coffin, named "Irwt", including her most important title "The Beautiful Old Lady", were inscribed on the box and on the inner coffin. The condition of the coffin, box, and the stone coffin was not good, so necessary conservation work was carried out by the mission's accompanying conservation team. The parts were tied together and the colors were fixed to reach their current state. Samples were taken and analyzed to determine the type of wood used and the colors. The mummy was found inside the coffin in a poorly preserved condition, with half of its lower part eaten by varies insects. Through various scientific examinations to determine the materials used in the coffin's manufacturing, as well as to determine the condition of both the coffin and the lid, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LOM) to identify the type of wood used, which is local sycamore wood, and using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to examine the colored materials used in the coffin, it was found that the imaging ground and white color were made of calcite, gypsum, and dolomite, hematite for red, malachite for green, and carbon for black. Additionally, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that animal glue was the coloring agent. Through the previous stages, the appropriate method for conservation was applied according to the coffin's condition, including mechanical and chemical cleaning stages, followed by consolidation, completion. And preserve at in main store of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Saqqara. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Coffin; late period; Irwt; Saqqara; Consolidation; Assembly; Treatment | ||||
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