| Egyptian Journal of Archeological and Restoration Studies

Authors:
Tawfik, T. ¹ (*), Ali, O. ² , Elbehairy, M. ² , Omar, Sh. ² , Ibrahim, M. ² , Abdelwahab, A. ² , Elassiouty, Sh. ³ , Sayed, S. ² , Ali, H. ³ & Tony, Sh. <sup>3

1</sup> Egyptology dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo Univ, Giza, Egypt.
² Conservation Centre-Grand Egyptian Museum, Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism, Egypt.
³ Conservation dept., Cairo Museum, Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism, Egypt.

Abstract:
A team of conservators that have years of experience in the routine treatment techniques, such as removing previous treatments, treating flaking gilding layers and consolidating deteriorating layers was given the task to transfer the four shrines of Tutankhamun from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo at Tahrir square to the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. The treatment of the innermost shrine was time-consuming and difficult. From the very early stages of the project, when the idea was first introduced, followed by the removal of the showcase to start the detailed examination and documentation, there were endless challenges. Consolidation and conservation may have been less challenging, except for the detached parts of the ceiling inside the shrine, which had to be re-adhered to minimize the risk of their falling down with the slightest movement. Yet the biggest challenge was dismantling the shrine professionally, safely, and efficiently inside one of the busiest spots in the museum, directly in front of the entrance of the hall in which the mask of Tut-ankhamun was exhibited. The diaries of Howard Carter and Alfred Lucas, were of great importance during the whole process. Although the conditions and events are not the same, yet the challenges they faced while dismantling the shrine inside the burial chamber are compared here with the challenges the team encountered almost 100 years later. Hence in this article, which could be considered more of a report, the challenges and technical problems are documented as a guideline for archeologists and conservators, who need to handle large wooden moveable structures that had been previously trans-ferred and restored in the past.

Keywords:
Tutankhamun Innermost Shrine Transfer Challenges Dismantling Egyptian Museum in Cairo (EMC) Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

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