Projects
Tomb of Pepyankh, Sakkara, Egypt. Dated to the Old Kingdom.
This collaborative conservation and excavation project, which involved many specialist professions, were part of an Egyptian expedition lead by Dr Mohamed Megahed. The treatment of the tomb paintings was started by conservator Amr Shakal in 2016.
I joined the team in 2018 to continue and complete the treatment.
The paintings are executed in secco technique on fine white limestone blocks from which the walls of the tomb are constructed. The treatment included structural work, consolidation of original plaster and pigments, cleaning and limited amount of filling. For the sake of continuity my methodology closely followed those chosen by Amr Shakal.
This is a good example of archaeological approach to conservation treatment, which is usually rather minimalist, focusing on preservation rather than presentation. Important issues following the conservation treatment are environmental monitoring and control, as well as security and control during access.