As of: February 16, 2024, 9:35 a.m
By: Marcus Giebel
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Work on the wall paintings: The restorations are documented on Facebook using the laser (l.).
© Facebook/@Conservation of Theban Temples and Tombs
After years of working with lasers, a well-known gravesite is now open to visitors again.
A restorer calls for a rethink.
Luxor – The final resting place of Neferhotep has reopened its doors.
For the first time in more than 20 years, visitors can descend into the underground chamber again.
German archaeologists also made sure of this.
German archaeologists remove soot from wall paintings: laser technology helps with the work
In a project funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation,
the qualified restorers Christina Verbeek and Susanne Brinkmann spent many years freeing
wall paintings in such burial chambers from soot, which is said to have arisen, among other things, from burning mummys.
To do this, they used a specific laser technology.
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An article in the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
explains that the black covering was processed with a three to four millimeter wide light line.
Where the laser beams hit the soot particles, they disintegrated into a small cloud of smoke.
Under no circumstances should the paintings be damaged, which is why particular care was required.
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Germans restore Neferhotep’s burial chamber: “Incomparable aesthetics in shape and color”
“The non-contact approach allows particularly sensitive surfaces to be processed,” reveals Verbeek in an interview with
LISA
., the foundation’s science portal: “We have excellent results, for example, when cleaning water-sensitive alabaster surfaces.” As examples, she cites “the tomb of Sophia von Brandenburg in the Lorenzkirche in Nuremberg or the representation of St. Ursula in St. Ursula in Cologne as well as objects from the Schnütgen Museum in Cologne.
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But they were particularly impressed by “ancient Egyptian art – the clarity and fineness of the lines with their incomparable aesthetics in form and color”.
So they made the journey to North Africa again and again over several years in order to make the grave of the scribe of Amun tangible again.
Foundation supports restoration of grave site: “Thematic and artistic diversity”
It is therefore “one of the largest private graves in the necropolis of Thebes, which includes around 800 decorated rock tombs”.
Neferhotep's rock tomb bears the registration number TT49; his wife Merit-Re is also buried there.
According to the foundation, the ground-level cult rooms – the vestibule and the pillar hall – are “richly decorated with wall paintings, colored reliefs and figures”.
Above all, the everyday life of Neferhotep, who as overseer of Amun's goods was responsible for monitoring the cattle, grain and slaves, is depicted on the walls, and everyday ancient Egyptian culture is colorfully staged.
“Due to its thematic and artistic diversity, TT 49 occupies an outstanding position in the Theban necropolis,” emphasizes the foundation.
Expert at work: A restorer from the team takes a close look at the murals.
© Facebook/@Conservation of Theban Temples and Tombs
Tourists can visit the burial chamber again: restorer wants more respect
Since last Sunday (February 11th), tourists have been able to get an idea of it again.
Verbeek therefore already has the worst fears.
In a
Spiegel
interview (behind a pay barrier), the woman from Cologne complained, referring to experiences from other burial chambers: “We observed the visitors, and their inattention was sometimes shocking.
Some simply leaned against the millennia-old, decorated walls with backpacks, many showed little respect.”
In addition, people enter the chambers sweaty and increase the humidity with the air they breathe: “All in all, conditions arise where there can also be a microbiological problem with fungi and bacteria.” Certain precautions have been taken, but “ "It's wrong to chase busloads and beach tourists from Hurghada from burial chamber to burial chamber and from temple to temple every day."
Also
LISA
.
emphasizes that a large number of the burial sites in Thebes have already suffered destruction due to improper interventions.
The project is therefore intended to make a contribution to dealing with world cultural heritage.
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(mg)