This first week we are working under a scorching sun. Even though it’s November, the temperature it’s over 30ºC. At least the tea that Najar prepares for us helps us to cope with the rays of Aton.

Carmen and Iria have continued with the inventory tasks in Henenu’s tomb by renewing the organization criteria for the boxes containing different types of objects and registering some of them in the archaeological folder.

Mohamed and Bea started the day by taking measurements of the main points of the courtyard with the total station. Beatriz continued with the artifacts register and started the drawings of the more significant objects such as shabtis. Bettina also continued the completion of the previous drawings of the pottery jars from Ipi’s tomb and she is focusing on their manufacture.

Besides, Reed started by looking at the cartonnage from the special finds box from Ipi’s tomb. She cleaned some of them and discussed future repairs for the cartonnage and the alabaster elements with the inspector of restoration. Reed also took pictures of every object before treatment to begin the conservation records.

In the evening, some members of the French team excavating in Karnak under the direction of Dr Luc Gabolde and the Austrian-German team working at a Coptic monastery in Deir el-Bahît, led by Dr Ina Eichner, visited us at the Marsam. We were able to enjoy a nice dinner and sangria made by our mudir. During the evening, we were able to share experiences and anecdotes of our work. At the end, we invited both teams to our concession in Deir el-Bahari and they have also offered us to visit their sites. Insha’Allah we will be able to visit them soon.

Today, new members have joined the team. These incorporations have allowed to start several tasks in Henenu and Ipi’s tombs.

Carmen and Iria checked the boxes and their contents as well as the last season inventory. They have started to reorganize the artifacts inventory according to type and material (ceramics, bones, textile, special objects such as shabtis, papyrus, cartonnage, etc.) so that later the various experts coming to conduct research on particular types of objects can easily access the inventory and its items.

Early in the morning Mohamed started directing the excavation of the mid-section in the courtyard of Ipi’s tomb. In this sector, considerable findings such as ceramics, bones, textile, wooden and shabti fragments together with faience beads have appeared. The material provenance is disturbed because of previous archaeological works conducted in this area by Egyptologist Herbert Winlock in the 1920s and 30s. Also in the complex of Ipi, Bea has been organizing and registering the new findings and checking the special finds from the previous season.

• 

As one of the newest members of the restoration team, Reed has examined the sarcophagus of Ipi and has discussed cleaning tasks based on the reports made by Rawda with the head of the project and the inspector of conservation. She has also started to organize the special finds box, focusing on alabaster fragments which may be part of a single figurine because most of them match perfectly.

Meantime, Bettina has started his work in the MKTP by studying the drawings ––previously made by Kei and Hazem– of ceramic elements so that she can continue their previous work and conduct a complete research on this impressive assemblage of pottery. It is not usual to work with such a well-preserved and large sized jar set as the one found in Ipi’s tomb. For this, Bettina identifies several indicators that appear in these ceramic jars that can provide significant information about their production, materials, origins, and contents.

Work is gradually taking shape and we cannot wait to share it with you in the next days.

Fieldwork in Egypt does not only involve the development of ambitious and well-calculated plans, the engagement of team members on very particular duties, and the expectation that hard work will pay back with data, findings and, ultimately, primary evidence that allows us to deepen our knowledge into the concession and period. It also requires passion, sacrifice, and a determined will to conduct work despite any typical or uncommon difficulty one may find. Archaeology is a scientific and a team adventure, and we experience it with the most intense dedication.

Four members of the team arrived last night. Sayed, the most attentive driver of Marsam Hotel, took Antonio to the airport to pick up the first member of the night, Reed Hudson, who was arriving around 10 pm. Together they went back to the Marsam where a second driver was ready to go to the airport and pick up the other three members of the team, Bea, Carmen and Iria. Unfortunately, customs police decided that entering the country with walkie-talkies is not the best idea and we had to spend the whole night until 8 am in the airport responding questions and dealing with paperwork. They treated us very well and tried to explain the situation about the use of technological devices, so we can only say that it is better to obtain them in the country. Maalesh! We will pick them up when returning to Spain…

However, that meant some changes in the plans for Tuesday. One of our restorers, Reed, who spent the night in the hotel, went to work with our photographer Patricia, our ceramicist Hazem, and our inspector Mahmoud, who allowed Antonio to finish all paperwork at the airport before coming (late) to the site. By 9:30 am the whole team was back, Antonio with the members in the site and our three travelers going to sleep after a long night. It can be said that we went through the experience with positive attitude and a good mood toward the strict customs regulations and the responsible officials that must guard them.  

• 

• 

As for the work in the site, we have continued with the removal of large stones in the mid-courtyard of Ipi’s tomb. A large boulder, which must have fallen some time ago from the upper cliffs of the mountain, is in the way of the new units that Mohamed Osman will be opening tomorrow Wednesday, and we need to consider the best way to get rid of it. In addition, Hazem and Antonio continued completing artefact sheets. Reed started a first approach to evaluate Ipi’s sarcophagus conditions, while Patricia tried to finish with the photographs of jar stoppers.

It was a long day after so many adventures, but a good rest will help all of us to be back in track.