2004 Campaign Title

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The team of the Institute of Studies of the Ancient Egypt has begun on the 12th of October of 2004 the works corresponding to the present campaign. This team is made up of Mr. Francisco Martín Valentin, Director of the Project, Mrs. Teresa Bedman, Co-director, Mr. Juan Martín Rojo and Mr. Luis Abad, Architects. Mr. Yasser Amhed of the S.C.A. has been assigned to us as Inspector in charge.

Detail of the humidity spot in the ceiling of chamber A

Detail of the humidity spot
in the ceiling of chamber A

The same day of the beginning of the campaign a visit of inspection to TT 353 has been done, to value the electrical system and illumination within the hypogeum. Also, when inspecting the monument, it has been discovered in the ceiling of the chamber A, the existence of a humid spot, extended from the northwest angle to the southwestern angle, throughout the vertex between the wall and the ceiling. In this place crystallized salts of recent formation have also been discovered.

Chambers B and C of the hypogeum, where the existence of spots in the ceilings corresponding to already completely dry old humidities have been discovered, have also been visited.

Losses of water of the tank

Losses of water in the tank

In the lower part of the faces of the chambers, in the walls of the passages of access to the same and in the ceilings of chambers B and C, processes of outcrop of crystallized salts and possible calcic carbonate deposits coming from the mineral dissolution probably attributable to a natural geologic process of very long period of formation, have been discovered. Dr Ayman Amhed, Geologist Engineer of the working team, will properly verify these matters.

Inspected the outer area of the monument, the existence of public toilets for tourists located between the access to the Temple of Deir el Bahari and the depression where the entrance to TT 353 is, has been checked. At the southwestern angle of the building the existence of a movable water tank for use of the mentioned toilets of which losses of water, clearly remarkable on the land take place, is checked. We are talking about masses of muddy land of around six meters in length in slope and in direction towards the place where the first chamber, where humidities have been discovered, is excavated.

Members of the staff making topographic measurements

Members of the staff making
topographic measurements

In the same way, the area corresponding to the place where the canalization of the fecal waters coming from the same toilets and the corresponding deposit or septic tank are located has been inspected. At first sight it does not seem to have escapes of organic matters coming from the toilets. It is imperative to carry out a more detailed inspection of the facilities. All this has been reported to Mr. Ali el Asfar, who organizes an urgency inspection for the next day, assisted by a restorer of the SCA. All the previous matters are confirmed. A graphical documentation report of all the details is carried out.

It is suggested to carry out topographic measurements to locate the projection of the chamber in the surface of the land in order to demonstrate that the humidities could come from the area of the toilets and the place where the water tank is located.

Toilets and rest area in Deir el Bahari

Toilets and rest area
in Deir el Bahari

Once the verifications have been finished it is stated that the location of the chamber is located to a horizontal distance of 30 ms. of the mentioned deposit and to a real vertical distance of the surface of 30,05 ms.

On the 21st October, an exploration of the monument is carried out by the Engineer Geologist Dr. Ayman Hamed to examine the humidities as well as the facilities of the toilets for the tourists. It is confirmed in all probability that the humidities appeared in the ceiling of chamber A, can have their origin in said facilities of the toilets for tourists and in the water supply tanks for the above mentioned toilets. A special technical report will be written on this matter that will be sent directly by Dr. Ayman Hamed to the authorities of the SCA in Luxor.

During the campaign, the following works have been carried out:

  1. Provisional electrical installation of the monument with change of outdoors electrical panel.
    2. Change of the electrical panel of the facilities, before and after

    Change of the electrical panel of the facilities, before and after
  2. Measurement of the immediate area of the TT 353 for a subsequent drawing up of a plan of its topographic situation.
  3. Interior measurement of the monument, in all his content, for a subsequent drawing up of a new planimetry of the TT 353.
  4. Crosscheck of the orientation of the monument in relation with the Temple of Deir el Bahari and of the TT 71.

    5. Crosschecking the orientation

    Crosschecking the orientation
  5. Photographic documentation of the whole monument in the situation previous to the beginning of the works in its interior.
  6. Execution of the works of cleanliness and extraction of the remains of mud deposited inside the TT353, from chamber B up to the entry to the monument (chamber B, stairs between chamber A and B, chamber A, stairs up to the exit, niche placed in the south wall of the corridor of access and lateral chamber placed in it), leaving the monument ready for the installation of the ramps of access to chamber A.
  7. Cleanliness of wastes up to rock level in eleven steps of entry to the monument.

    8. Cleaning of the steps of entrance to the TT353, before and after

    Cleaning of the steps of entrance to the TT353, before and after
  8. Execution of drainage trenches for rainwater, along the structure of cooked brick that protects the entry to the monument.

    9. Drainage trenches for the rainwater

    Drainage trenches for the rainwater
  9. Photographic documentation of the whole monument in the ulterior situation at the conclusion of the works in its interior.
  10. Archaeological and photographic documentation of the archaeological remains found during the works of cleanliness inside the monument and in its outside part.
  11. Placing in the floor of chamber A, at the conclusion of the works in his interior, of a RH Temp Light External, trademark Anset Computer Corporation, serial number 181835, to carry out reading of relative humidity, temperature and light oscillations inside the above mentioned chamber up to its new opening.

RESULTS OBTAINED

The production of humidities that was seriously damaging the ceiling and part of the vertical faces of the chamber A has been located and stopped.

The whole monument has been cleaned and emptied of the existing remains of mud in its interior. The monument has been photographically documented. Also measurements and precision crosschecks have been carried out to adequately locate the monument in the archaeological area in which said monument is. Complementary actions have been carried out to safeguard the monument against possible rainwater floods.


Luxor, 30th October 2004
Francisco J. Martín Valentín
Sen-en-Mut Project Manager