Today was an exhausting day because of the large number of open fronts at the same time as well as the continuous surprises coming up in the last days. Archaeology implies some mystery, improvisation, and investigation… and the uncovering of unsuspected structures require new responses and duties. At the end of the season, the way in which one has adapted to the novelties, surprises, and changes ensures the resolution of the problems and the completion of the tasks proposed at the beginning. 

In the tomb of Djari we have continued –already with the permissions to open the blocked entrance of the subsidiary structure– with the search of the gebel and the lowest level of the entrance. We will still need a couple of days to break the sealed surface prepared here by the authorities in 1995 (according to the inscription therein). On the other hand, the cleaning work in the transversal hall continues with a good pace, what has allowed us to document the gebel and ponder about the concentration of mudbricks –in an unexpected area– under one of the stelae niches of Djari.

In regard to Dagi, our work has concentrated on the cleaning of the inner section of the eastern sector to document by means of photogrammetry. Here we have located a shaft that was not mentioned by Davies in his excavations and study of the “vizier Daga”, which requires previous consolidation of the surrounding paintings before even starting to remove any material from the area of the possible shaft. We will probably continue cleaning this shaft by next season.

As concerns the tomb of Ipi, Miguel Ángel has continued with the study of the design of the chamber and the installation of the sarcophagus and the (stone) canopic box, providing interesting interpretations about the disposition of these items in the chamber.

On the other hand, in relation to the work of our restorers and photographers, we have received some good news: we will be able to use a nearby storage where we will be able to leave some of our collection of materials and they will be able to work there with the findings.

The restoration team has continued with the preparation and testing of the plasters and morters, which they seem to be working very well in the case of Djari and likewise in the tomb of Dagi. Besides, in a couple of days we will proceed to remove the wooden panel covering the painting in one of the sides of the tomb pillars. This is a very special moment for us since the protected paintings have not been seen since almost a century ago.