In this section we shall compare mechanical (dry) and water/damp damage indications
The images shown here are from photographs by CESRAS Research Fellow Sergej V. Ivanov 2007: digital editing and
comments by Research Fellow Edward R. Loring 2008.
Intellectual property of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Centre for Egyptological Studies, Moscow: all rights reserved
The images shown here are from photographs by CESRAS Research Fellow Sergej V. Ivanov 2007: digital editing and
comments by Research Fellow Edward R. Loring 2008.
Intellectual property of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Centre for Egyptological Studies, Moscow: all rights reserved
21a Dynasty Theban Funerary Equipment
Types of Damage
ca. 1070-950 BCE
Mechanical damage to the outer coffin of Nesychonsw, Cairo CG61030.
Nesychonsw, niece-wife of the High Priest of Amun, Paynedjem II, was buried in the "Royal Cache", TT320 in
the 5th year of the Tanite king Siamun. Hers was the first of the only two recorded primary burials in the
tomb. Her burial remained undamaged until the last part of the 19th century CE when it may have been
plundered by tomb robbers. It was removed from the tomb in 1881 and sent to the Bulaq Museum in Cairo.
It is now on display in the National Museum. The coffin was not exposed to water or ambient fluctuations in
antiquity, or until it was removed from the tomb.
By mechanical damage we mean damage caused when moving an object, by malicious acts of humans, and
through the movement of wood through environmental changes, causing splitting at joints. Under the latter
we understand fluctuations of temperature, light and ambient humidity exclusive of direct contact with
water, or storage in damp places, especially in damp dark ones conducive to rotting of wooden objects.
Mechanical damage generally shows a "clean" fracture such as seen on the corner of the coffin above.
There is little, or no, discouloration of painting, other than that caused by degradation of the original
colours through the darkening of the varnish applied over the decoration, and chemical reactions with, or
within, the paint There is no swelling of exposed wood, little or no warping, and no traces of rot.
Water damage is quite the opposite of the above. The fracture seldom shows sharp edges. The wood
shows signs of swelling and warping; the painting may show a "waterline" beneath which discolouration of
the painting may be detected. Rot may have set in at some time.
Both types of damage may have taken place in antiquity, or as a result of plundering in later times, or after
removal from a tomb. Combinations of all types of damage may be found on the same object.
Click here for further examples of mechanical damage
Nesychonsw, niece-wife of the High Priest of Amun, Paynedjem II, was buried in the "Royal Cache", TT320 in
the 5th year of the Tanite king Siamun. Hers was the first of the only two recorded primary burials in the
tomb. Her burial remained undamaged until the last part of the 19th century CE when it may have been
plundered by tomb robbers. It was removed from the tomb in 1881 and sent to the Bulaq Museum in Cairo.
It is now on display in the National Museum. The coffin was not exposed to water or ambient fluctuations in
antiquity, or until it was removed from the tomb.
By mechanical damage we mean damage caused when moving an object, by malicious acts of humans, and
through the movement of wood through environmental changes, causing splitting at joints. Under the latter
we understand fluctuations of temperature, light and ambient humidity exclusive of direct contact with
water, or storage in damp places, especially in damp dark ones conducive to rotting of wooden objects.
Mechanical damage generally shows a "clean" fracture such as seen on the corner of the coffin above.
There is little, or no, discouloration of painting, other than that caused by degradation of the original
colours through the darkening of the varnish applied over the decoration, and chemical reactions with, or
within, the paint There is no swelling of exposed wood, little or no warping, and no traces of rot.
Water damage is quite the opposite of the above. The fracture seldom shows sharp edges. The wood
shows signs of swelling and warping; the painting may show a "waterline" beneath which discolouration of
the painting may be detected. Rot may have set in at some time.
Both types of damage may have taken place in antiquity, or as a result of plundering in later times, or after
removal from a tomb. Combinations of all types of damage may be found on the same object.
Click here for further examples of mechanical damage
Water damage to the foot of the outer coffin of Asetemachbjt D, sister-wife of the High Priest of Amun
Paynedjem II, National Museum, Cairo CG61031; found in the Royal Cache TT320 and removed to the Bulaq
Museum in Cairo in 1881.
Note the swelling and deterioration of the wood at right, the strong discolouration of the surface, and the
waterline below the painted decoration. It is obvious from the type of discolouration surface texture and
presence of rot at the right of the photo that this damage took place in antiquity. A portion of the stucco
(middle) appears to have been broken off in modern times. . An early photograph of the interior of the
outer coffin* shows distinctly water damage to the foot of the coffin at exactly the same position as our
photograph above. The lowest register of text is bleached almost to obliteration and areas of stucco had
fallen, or were falling, from the wall of the foot. Until modern times, after the removal of all artifacts from
TT320 in 1881, there was no intrusion of water into the tomb. Thus, the initial burial was certainly not in
TT320 as maintained by some scholars.
(Although having nothing to do with the water damage, you may note that the yellowed varnish has had no
effect on red and green. The fields which are now midnight-blue to black were originally a medium blue.
The cause of this mutation is now (2008) under intensive study by The Armenian Egyptology Centre of
Yerevan State University, CESRAS, and noted scholars from other nations.)
Click here for further examples of water damage.
Daressy M. G., Catalogue Gènèral, Cercueils des Cachettes Royales, Cairo, IFAO 1909, Plate L
Paynedjem II, National Museum, Cairo CG61031; found in the Royal Cache TT320 and removed to the Bulaq
Museum in Cairo in 1881.
Note the swelling and deterioration of the wood at right, the strong discolouration of the surface, and the
waterline below the painted decoration. It is obvious from the type of discolouration surface texture and
presence of rot at the right of the photo that this damage took place in antiquity. A portion of the stucco
(middle) appears to have been broken off in modern times. . An early photograph of the interior of the
outer coffin* shows distinctly water damage to the foot of the coffin at exactly the same position as our
photograph above. The lowest register of text is bleached almost to obliteration and areas of stucco had
fallen, or were falling, from the wall of the foot. Until modern times, after the removal of all artifacts from
TT320 in 1881, there was no intrusion of water into the tomb. Thus, the initial burial was certainly not in
TT320 as maintained by some scholars.
(Although having nothing to do with the water damage, you may note that the yellowed varnish has had no
effect on red and green. The fields which are now midnight-blue to black were originally a medium blue.
The cause of this mutation is now (2008) under intensive study by The Armenian Egyptology Centre of
Yerevan State University, CESRAS, and noted scholars from other nations.)
Click here for further examples of water damage.
Daressy M. G., Catalogue Gènèral, Cercueils des Cachettes Royales, Cairo, IFAO 1909, Plate L
See also our pages on the construction of anthropoid
coffins for many examples of various types of damage
coffins for many examples of various types of damage
