| Egyptian Journal of Archeological and Restoration Studies

Authors:
El Hadidi, N. ¹ (*), Badr, N. ² , Mertah, E. ³ , Tarek, A. ² , Aziz, H. ² , Moustafa, M. ² , Al-Hindawey, S. ² , Shaheen, I. ² & Abou El-Khier, O. <sup>2

1</sup> Conservation dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo Univ., Giza, Egypt
² Conservation centre, Grand Egyptian Museum, Ministry of Antiquities, Egypt
³ Conservation dept., Cairo Museum, Ministry of Antiquities, Egypt

Abstract:
With the death of Tutankhamun, the four shrines were neatly assembled in the king's burial chamber, enclosing and safeguarding the royal mummy. They remained there for centuries until the discovery of the tomb with its funerary furniture just over one hundred years ago. The four shrines, which were found intact, were transferred from the Valley of the Kings to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo (EMC). With the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) opening its doors to the public the gilded shrines will be among the masterpieces that will be exhibited during the opening of the museum. The challenges to transfer these shrines in their current condition led to the decision to carry out a detailed study of the shrines, so as to decide upon the best mode of action and the necessary precautions, prior to undergoing any conservation treatments and dismantling. This study aims to identify and document the interior structure and construction techniques of the wooden panels, ceiling, wooden tenons and copper tongues that join together the ceiling and panels, in addition to the materials used in gilding as a preliminary step before transferring the shrine to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Full scale documentation and examination were conducted using photography in visible and UV light, RTI, AutoCAD 2D, and digital light microscopy. X-Ray Radiography and Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (PXRF), a nondestructive analysis, were also conducted and shed new light on joinery and gilding techniques. This comprehensive study has revealed some interesting facts about the shrine and reviewed it from a different perspective.

Keywords:
Tutankhamun Shrine Cedrus sp Gilded gesso X-ray radiography X-Ray fluorescence

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