2025 Poster Session

This paper discusses the conservation procedures applied on sandstone panel which was excavated from Arment area, Luxor in 1903.The panel height is (137 cm), width (20 cm) and length (109 cm). There was little information about this object in the previous records. Besides, the panel suffered from various deterioration aspects such as dust, soot and a thick layer of dirt which covered most of the features of the inscriptions and made it unclear. Therefore, conservators and archaeologists of The Grand Egyptian Museum, conservation center teamed up to uncover the original inscriptions and to reveal the identity of this mysterious sand panel. Both teams allied in studying the obliterated inscriptions and finding the best method to unclear them. Conservation procedures included the use of different cleaning devices such as Ultrasonic and Steam cleaner and consolidation for weak parts.

The consolidation process came later to strengthen the weak parts. Finally, the panel was documented after conservation and photographed from all sides to clarify it. As a result of the successful conservation works carried out by the conservation team,  beautiful engravings on the sandstone panel were finally revealed to give a glimpse of its story and its identity.

Again, the archaeological team helped in interpreting the inscriptions on the surface of the panel and  identified the shape of figures during the cleaning procedures, giving some clues for conservators during the revealing process for minimum intervention. Finally, after the successful conservation procedures, the description of the panel was as follows:

"A rectangular plate, decorated at the top with an engraved frieze and a winged sun disk. The plate was depicted with a symmetrical scene of the goddess Isis sitting on a throne in front of an offering tray, breastfeeding the child Horus is wearing a collar and long wig, with a headdress in the shape of an eagle and cow horns with a sun disk topped by the symbol of Isis."

The research concluded with the assumption that it is unfinished royal panel as it contains an offering table for a royal member in suckling form by goddesses. The paper emphasizes the power of teamwork and encourages colleagues from different fields to follow the lead.