One of the most attractive and exotic aspects of archaeology is the possibility of finding intact structures or contexts, spaces used a few thousands of years ago. One of the duties of an archaeologist is to identify contexts of use of monuments, from their construction to their definite abandonment, including intermediate stages such as the reuse of the monument, robbery and plundering occurring in it, and the possibility that they have been subjected to research in recent times. To a limited extent, the MKTP research has taken a very particular research path, identifying sectors of the necropolis where Herbert Winlock hardly excavated, or following his steps in areas in which he worked intensively, leaving no object, remain, or info behind. In any case, both cases force us to be very cautious in our excavation work, study of materials and findings, and any recent interpretations.
In the mortuary complex of Ipi the full day has been hectic for archaeologists. Not only they have continued excavating the two sectors opened in the last days under the supervision of Mohamed Osman, but they have also relocated an underground chamber of which we do not know much, with the exception that was previously mentioned by Winlock. One reaches this underground chamber through a small shaft, and its position might be associated with the tomb of (“reused by”) Meseh. Despite our productive collaboration with the staff of the Department of Egyptian Art in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, we have not been able to find any reference to this subsidiary structure. The only thing Winlock did was to include the structure in the general plan of the complex. We hope that the cleaning of the chamber will allow us to find some details left behind by the American Egyptologist. In the complex of Henenu, Kelly and Dina (unfortunately, in her last day with us) have been exhaustively working on the cleaning of a complex sector that shows several contexts of interest, including remains of mudbrick probably proceeding from a collapsed structure. In addition, the producers of Windfalls have been filming at the site for a documentary on funerary archaeology that for sure will show the excitement and difficulties of working in ancient Egyptian tombs. Later in the afternoon, the moudir has visited the late Eleventh Dynasty site of El-Tarif with the producers Blakeway. In this necropolis of the predecessors of Mentuhotep II he has been able to collect data interesting for the MKTP research.
Finally, in the afternoon the whole team wanted to enjoy some relaxing hours with a surprise party for the moudir Antonio, whose birthday is today. As soon as we returned from the site and everyone was ready, the team “kidnapped” the moudir and took him to a faluca trip, where we had fun, laughs, stories, and many anecdotes, as well as many good wishes for Antonio in his birthday. In these days of extreme difficulty, a bit of fun, rest, and celebration in a faluca trip has helped to renew our energies and the morale. We still have ten more days of work without rest and the whole MKTP team is ready to catch up with the time lost due to the delay with the permissions. In any case, we feel that our efforts, sacrifices, and work match with our passion and dreams here in Deir el-Bahari.
