All underlined positions are linked
Coffins of Nedjemet D21a TT320 CG61024: analysis of damage
Nedjemet is generally considered to have been a wife of the High Priest of Amun and General. Herihor, who held office during
the wHm-mswt period under Ramesses XI at the end of the 20th Dynasty. Her relationships with other men is disputed, but that
is immaterial to this analysis of her coffins. Her coffins and mummy were found in the Royal Cache, Theban Tomb 320, and
removed by Emil Brugsch in 1881 without documentation of their exact location in the tomb. This lack of knowledge has lead to
speculation regarding the location of Nedjemet's original burial. She was buried in her own coffins which are kept in the
National Museum in Cairo under inventory number CG-61024.
There are two hypotheses regarding her original place of burial: It was either in the Royal Cache and the coffins damaged in the
19th century CE by tomb robbers, or it was elsewhere, damaged in antiquity and her remains later deposited in the cache. The
images shown below and to the right provide concrete evidence, suggesting the second hypothesis: Nedjemet was not
originally laid to rest in the Royal Cache TT320. This writer believes that the coffins were damaged between the time of her
original burial (time unknown) and the middle of the reign of the first king of the 22nd Dynasty, Sheshonq I (945-923 BCE).
The coffins were originally covered with gold-leaf which was adzed off. This was done in the so-called "pious" manner, leaving
some significant elements of the decoration and being done more or less carefully. This is shown in the images below.
19th century Arab tomb-robbers would have had neither understanding of, nor respect for these elements. Such robbers would
not have done their work with any care and the results would be very different.
Further evidence that the coffins were stripped in antiquity is what we may call "weathering". This principally takes the form of
deterioration of the gesso (fine lime plaster) covering the wood and providing a smooth ground for the decoration. It may be
clearly seen on our images that there is deterioration of the broken edges of the gesso, indicating deterioration over a longer
period of time. This gives a soft line to these edges and there is also discolouration of this originally pure white material. If the
damage had been done in the later 19th century, the broken edges would be sharp and there would be no discolouration.
This is concrete evidence that the original burial was not in the Royal Cache, that it was stripped in antiquity, and that it was
exposed for some time to unfavorable conditions. Any other arguement is pure speculation.
Edward Loring, CESRAS 2007
the wHm-mswt period under Ramesses XI at the end of the 20th Dynasty. Her relationships with other men is disputed, but that
is immaterial to this analysis of her coffins. Her coffins and mummy were found in the Royal Cache, Theban Tomb 320, and
removed by Emil Brugsch in 1881 without documentation of their exact location in the tomb. This lack of knowledge has lead to
speculation regarding the location of Nedjemet's original burial. She was buried in her own coffins which are kept in the
National Museum in Cairo under inventory number CG-61024.
There are two hypotheses regarding her original place of burial: It was either in the Royal Cache and the coffins damaged in the
19th century CE by tomb robbers, or it was elsewhere, damaged in antiquity and her remains later deposited in the cache. The
images shown below and to the right provide concrete evidence, suggesting the second hypothesis: Nedjemet was not
originally laid to rest in the Royal Cache TT320. This writer believes that the coffins were damaged between the time of her
original burial (time unknown) and the middle of the reign of the first king of the 22nd Dynasty, Sheshonq I (945-923 BCE).
The coffins were originally covered with gold-leaf which was adzed off. This was done in the so-called "pious" manner, leaving
some significant elements of the decoration and being done more or less carefully. This is shown in the images below.
19th century Arab tomb-robbers would have had neither understanding of, nor respect for these elements. Such robbers would
not have done their work with any care and the results would be very different.
Further evidence that the coffins were stripped in antiquity is what we may call "weathering". This principally takes the form of
deterioration of the gesso (fine lime plaster) covering the wood and providing a smooth ground for the decoration. It may be
clearly seen on our images that there is deterioration of the broken edges of the gesso, indicating deterioration over a longer
period of time. This gives a soft line to these edges and there is also discolouration of this originally pure white material. If the
damage had been done in the later 19th century, the broken edges would be sharp and there would be no discolouration.
This is concrete evidence that the original burial was not in the Royal Cache, that it was stripped in antiquity, and that it was
exposed for some time to unfavorable conditions. Any other arguement is pure speculation.
Edward Loring, CESRAS 2007
