top of page
IMG_7723.JPG

FIELDWORK AND PROJECTS


University of Memphis
Mission to Theban Tomb 16

tutankhamun-as-a-sphinx-i_edited_edited_

Dr. Suzanne Onstine, Director, The University of Memphis
SFAR Conservation Project

Theban Tomb 16 is located in the Dra abu el-Naga section of the Theban necropolis. This tomb was built for a priest and chanter named Panehsy and his wife Tarenu who lived in Thebes during the reign of Ramesses II of the 19th Dynasty (c. 1250 BCE). Panehsy was a priest in the cult of Amunhotep I who was considered a powerful oracular figure during the Ramesside era. The small but ornate tomb is comprised of a beautifully decorated t-shaped chapel and a substantial tunnel that was reused in subsequent periods for the burial of nearly 150 people. There are many fascinating aspects of the decoration of the tomb, including two representations of a temple facade, a braying donkey, two scenes of the tree goddess, two scenes of Hathor of the mountain (a funerary aspect of the goddess Hathor), and depictions of the deified Amunhotep I and Ahmose-Nefertari. The focus of the current phase of work is stabilization and conservation of the chapel to ensure these scenes are preserved for future generations (see images below).

​

https://blogs.memphis.edu/suzanneonstine/

Photograph of the steps leading down to the doorway of Theban Tomb 16. The sign on the door says "TT 16 Panehsy".
Photograph of lights in a tomb being used for photographing scenes.
Photograph of a wall scene depicting a statue/oracle of the deified Egyptian king, Amenhotep I.
Wall scene depicting a large ram-headed jar being carried in a procession with priests existing Karnak Temple.
Photograph of an iPad displaying a digital epigraphic drawing in front of the identical scene on the wall behind.
Photograph of a man looking at the ceiling in the tomb.
A man photographing the walls in a tomb.
Photograph of a scene depicting Panehsy and Tarenu from their tomb, Luxor, Egypt.
Photograph of the project director and analysis equipment.
Photograph of the project director, foreman, and other team members in TT 16.

Memphis Kom el-Fakhry Project

tutankhamun-as-a-sphinx-i_edited_edited_

Dr. Didi El-Behaedi, The University of Missouri, Co-Director, Dr. Elham Ahmed, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Co-Director, and Dr. Kelly-Anne Diamond, Assistant Director
SFAR Archaeological Fieldwork Project

 Memphis Kom el-Fakhry Archaeological Project (MKAP) Memphis, the first capital of a unified Egypt and one of the ancient world’s most important cities, continues to be an enigma in the present day. Despite its profound historical significance over more than 3,000 years, very little is known about the city itself due to the lack of systematic and continuous excavation at the site. Today, the archaeological remains of Memphis are highly fragmented, with the various mounds of the city being separated by urban development and agricultural fields. Kom el-Fakhry, named after the town's oldest mosque, is one of ten mounds that constitute ancient Memphis. Discovered in 1951 during the construction of the Badrashein-Saqqara Road, this kom contains the earliest in-situ remains found at Memphis to date: a cemetery from the First Intermediate Period (c. 2160-2034 BCE) and the remains of a Middle Kingdom town (c. 2034-1650 BCE). Unfortunately, the site faces numerous threats, including urban encroachment, vandalism, looting, and domestic waste dumping, creating an urgent need for continued excavation and digital preservation. In 2023, the Memphis Kom el-Fakhry Archaeological Project (MKAP) began working at the site. MKAP's primary objectives include uncovering more of the Middle Kingdom town, investigating the possibility of in-situ Old Kingdom remains, and thoroughly documenting and surveying the site. The first season has already yielded a wealth of new information about this poorly understood and largely neglected part of Memphis.

Photograph of the project director in a unit taking notes.
Photograph of Egyptian team members at the site of Kom el-Fakhry.
The project director, Didi El-Behaedi, on top of a ladder taking photographs.
Team members holding up a part of a large ceramic vessel found during excavations.
Excavations at Kom el-Fakhry.
A group photograph of the entire MKAP team.
MKAP team members examining ceramics in front of a fieldwork tent and palm trees.
MKAP team members in a unit posing for a photograph.
bottom of page