2025 – Seventh season: Study season

The study of the finds of the excavations in the Petosiris Necropolis of Tuna el-Gebel continued in spring 2025.

Study of the pottery

The ceramologists focused on the comprehensive study of ceramic material from several tomb buildings excavated during the season 2023. A total of about 1,000 ceramic vessels were studied this season, as well as some oil lamps, terracotta figurines, mud stoppers, incense burners, and miniature vessels.

Figures: Our ceramologists studying the pottery (photo left: J. Schlehofer, photo right: P. Mora).

Conservation and restoration of archaeological objects

The conservator restored and preserves several archaeological objects from the excavation seasons 2022 and 2023. The focus of the restoration was on exposing coins, which were primarily found with some burials. Furthermore, small finds such as terracotta figurines, glass fragments, and fragments of a faience vessel were restored.

Figures: Our conservators restoring coins (photo left: J. Schlehofer, photo right: P. Mora).

Photographing of the finds

The photographer took professional pictures of the small finds, especially of coins, and some pictures of pottery, and terracotta figurines which were discovered in the last excavation seasons.

Figures: Our photographer taking pictures of a coin (photos: J. Schlehofer).

Study of the small finds

The small finds from the last excavation season in 2023 were studied. These small finds were discovered inside the tomb buildings GB 84, 85, 86, and 87. The studied objects were fragments of glass vessels, glass and faience beads, fragments of mummy coverages of gypsum, metal objects, fragments of architectural decorations, and organic materials.

Figures: Our specialist studying fragments of glass vessels (photo left: C. Caputo, photo right: P. Mora).

Study of the human remains

The anthropological examination of the skeletal remains was focussed to the human remains recovered during the excavation season 2023. The study of the human skeletal remains can provide useful information about the individuals buried in the necropolis. By examining the biological sex, the age at death as well as further descriptive features such as body height or alterations to the skeletal system, insights into the living conditions of the individuals can be retrieved.

Figures: Our anthropologists studying the human skeletal remains (photos: J. Schlehofer).

Restoration of architecture

This year we were asked by the Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism to restore the pyramidal monument in front of the tomb house of Isidora (GB 45; M 1/CP) excavated by Sami Gabra in the 1930ies. Approximately 90 years after the first restoration during the auspices of Sami Gabra the pyramidal monument collapsed.

Additional to the restoration of the pyramidal monument we conducted the restoration of a tomb pillar located next to the way to the saqqiya. The tomb pillar started to collapse, so we restored the broken and crushed parts and reconstructed the missing parts.

For this purpose, we worked together with the inspector for restoration, Ramadan Gomaa. The builder Hossein Assantaha Hossein and the workers Aisa Abdel Hamid, Shehata Abdel Aziz, Ahmed Abdel Aty, Salah Mohammed, Ibrahim Omar and Geber Salah did a very good job and we thank them for their effort. Also, we thank Dr. Sayed Abdel Malik very much, who actively supported this work.

Figures: The pyramidal monument after the restoration (left) and the tomb pillar during the restoration (right) (photos: J. Schlehofer).