UPDATES FROM THE FIELD

The images above show the cleaning taking place in the extension to the tomb. (1) Zuglut is pictured clearing the fill material from around a piece of bone; (2) Mohamed and Allam cleaning a section of the extension; (3) image featuring Zuglut and Mohamed with the dust, D. M. Warne is not pictured, but part of the cleaning efforts and behind the camera photographing the progress (images courtesy of the University of Memphis Mission to TT 16). The Dusty Business of Cleaning We

The University of Memphis Mission to Theban Tomb 16 pictured above at the start of the 2026 season (right to left, font: Rais Ali, Dr. Suzanne Onstine, Ellen Nikirk, Allam, MoTA Inspector, Safa Badawi, Branson Anderson; back row: Ashraf "Hassan", Isa, Mohamed, Mahmoud, Sherif, Abdul Hadi). The work continues this season in TT16, the tomb of Panehsy and his wife, Tarenu, located on the West Bank of the Nile at Dra Abu el-Naga. The rock-cut tomb dates to 19th Dynasty and was co

It’s hot—sometimes 38°C, with no wind—and the soil is everywhere in the air. You can see sweat drops on the ground, and our noses are filled with dust, but our hearts are full of excitement! From time to time, we take a break for tea. We can’t express enough gratitude for the hard work and dedication of our workers. Together, we can do anything! The attached images are of the archaeological fieldwork through the lens of a skilled photographer, Olek Leydo Sweat, exhaustion, an

It’s great to be back in Gebelein! The Gebelein Archaeological Project team and Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Inspector photographed proudly holding up a banner with project logo at the start of the 2025 season at Gebelein (south of Luxor, Egypt). After a few years, we are finally returning to the field. This season, our research focuses on two very different periods in the history of Gebelein. Ptolemaic Town of Pathyris The first half of this fieldwork season is de