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KV-63 ~ Newly Discovered Tomb

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Josie Linde
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« on: April 21, 2009, 02:40:01 am »

Secretary-General Dr. Zahi Hawass paid us a short visit on Wednesday, May 17, where he viewed the remaining coffins (C,D,E,F) and progress of clearing KV-63.

Be sure to catch my Q & A  Interview on  http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12990529/

The Discovery Channel Special entitled "The New Tomb Revealed" will air on Sunday, June 4th, please check your local listings for times. Also be sure to watch for subsequent special(s), as the Discovery crew is currently filming our latest ‘finds’ for future broadcast.

Ma Salama

Director Otto Schaden

9 MAY 2006

Coffin G (the Youth Coffin) was bought up successfully. The coffin appears very solid and in good condition (no termite damage). The coffin does possess a very exquisite painted face. Of particular interest is the resin-coated underside of the lid, this is indeed unusual, and possibly points to an effort to conceal decoration and/or text.

Lid fragments, a side panel, and the mask from Coffin B were also removed from the chamber this week. The inside of Coffin B is filled with pot-sherds (some belonging to large storage jars and blue-painted ceramics), natron, small animal bones, linen, seals (object seals not to be confused with door seals), wood items, and additional funerary goods. By tomorrow, clearing of the interior of Coffin B should be completed and after a day or two of conservation work on the base, the remaining side panel and base should be ready for removal.

A new SCA inspector was assigned to the expedition this month from Karnak Temple, he is Abd Ulghani Abd El Rhman.

I would like to include a few highlights from Earl Ertman's recent online article with Archaeology.  Special thanks to Mark Rose, Executive and Online Editor of Archaeology). One can view the full article by accessing the link on the KV-63 'Links' button located on the left sidebar.

Excerpt from Earl Ertman's Archaeology article:

Concerning the KV-63 shaft, Ertman noted that it had an overhang similar to two 18th Dynasty tombs, KV-46 and KV-55. KV-46 was the tomb of Yuya and Tjuyu (parents of Queen Tiye, wife of Amenhotep III, and likely mother and grandmother, respectively, of Akhenaten and Tutankhamen).

All of the coffins had been coated with a black resin, perhaps to preserve them or obscure inscriptions on them, according to Ertman. It is still possible that a coffin at the back of the chamber, coffin 'E' and the infant coffin 'D' contain mummies.

According to Ertman, the shape of the 28 ceramic jars from KV-63 have parallels in finds from KV-46 and KV-54, which was a cache of embalming materials from Tutankhamen's burial.

Seals (Objects Seals) from KV-63 have parallels from other tombs according to Ertman. A mud seal depicting a crocodile, lion, and captive is known from Tutankhamen's tomb (KV-62) and KV-55. A seal depicting a seated Osiris is also known from KV-62. Other seals from KV-63 bear the jackal and nine captives, a seal of the royal necropolis.

KV-63's shaft overhang, coffins, ceramics, and sealings all point to an 18th Dynasty. Connections with material found in KV-46, 54, 55, and 62 suggest the later part of the 18th Dynasty. According to Ertman, the top of the shaft, just below the level of a cluster of foundations of 19th Dynasty workers' huts indicates KV-63 was sealed no later than the very beginning of that period.

Badein,

Dr. Otto Schaden

30 APRIL 2006

Youth coffin, ‘G’, is still insitu, but is expected to be transferred out of the chamber tomorrow.  Extraditing the youth coffin will have to be performed carefully to avoid potential shifting or collision of the remaining coffins 'B' and 'E'.  News on our success will be forthcoming next week, inshallah.

Conservation work continues to be time-consuming and meticulous at this stage so unfortunately I have little more to add for this week.

However, readers will note the addition of a new ‘Publications’ button on the KV-63 website featuring new and upcoming magazines and journals pertaining to our new discovery. In addition, we will keep you posted on the date of the upcoming Discovery Channel/Atlantic Productions Special on KV-63. Word on the ‘street’ says Discovery Channel is very pleased with the footage thus far.

Director Otto Schaden

19 APRIL 2006

Additional images of KV-63 have been added today, including never before seen photos of our 'newest addition', the infant coffin, labeled 'D' (see the tomb diagram) located on the floor beneath the youth coffin.

Mudir Otto Schaden

18 APRIL 2006

As the temperatures rise in Luxor and summer advances, most of our work is concentrated inside KV-63 or KV-10. We have halted the removable of the last of the storage jars for lack of space inside KV-10, as the remaining jars do not present an obstacle for the removal of Coffins ‘A’ and ‘F’.

As I believe the time is right, I would like to make mention of the small infant coffin, labeled ‘D’ that some of you previously ‘picked-up’ on from the (revised) tomb diagram. The tiny wood coffin is situated under the head of Coffin ’G’. The superior section of the coffin is barely visible but the foot of the coffin juts out near the left ear of Coffin ’G’. In the near future, we will post a few images of the infant coffin on the KV-63 website. Filming the small coffin has posed some difficulties due to the tight arrangement of the larger coffins and the difficulty in photographing over the storage jars. It will most likely be May?? before we are able to reach the baby coffin and examine its contents. At this point, we are not certain if the coffin and/or face is painted, decorated or covered in black resin, since it lays flat on the floor, tucked in the shadow of Coffin ‘G’.

In regards to my absence at this year’s annual ARCE meeting, Professor Earl Ertman has consented to speak on my behalf, Sunday, April 30th at 8:40 AM on the new tomb, KV-63 (in addition to his scheduled lecture later that morning). *This is a last minute arrangement made today and is not listed on earlier programs.

As it stands now, I will remain in Luxor, all summer, to oversee the complete clearance of KV-63, as we cannot close the tomb until this is achieved. It is in our best interest to excavate and close KV-63 quickly, before potential rains occur in the valley and so that we can focus on necessary conservation and study of the artifacts.

Director Otto Schaden

13 APRIL 2006

Conservation work on Coffins A and F is proceeding slowly as Nadia Lukma has been in China on business for the past week. This weekend Nadia will return and continue the slow, painstaking process to prepare the coffins for relocation. This procedure involves the application of bonding agents, gentle dismantling of coffin sections, transferring these sections to a custom-made tray and transporting this tray out of the tomb and shaft. Once the coffin sections arrive in KV-10, they are cleaned, repaired, and further applications of special adhesives and preservatives are applied.  This process is slow but neccessary for good preservation work.

With the temporary slowdown of the conservation work during Nadia's absence, much pot-mending, drawing and cataloging of pottery found in the shaft, chamber, jars, and coffins have been completed.  This is all very necessary work, but our main goal for the next couple weeks will be clearing objects from the tomb. In the immediate future, we hope to raise what remains of the bottom (hull) of Coffin 'A', the mask of Coffin 'B' (which is lying face down inside that coffin at present), and finally, we hope to remove the youth's coffin 'G' (see tomb diagram).

The Discovery TV Crew has temporarily finished filming but plan on returning in early May for the raising of the youth coffin 'G'.

Circumstances have developed to prevent me from lecturing at ARCE as planned. However, Professor Earl Ertman and artist Betty Schneider will be in attendance at the meeting.

Lastly, be on the lookout for the May issue of 'KMT, A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt' magazine for an‘exclusive’ on KV-63, the new tomb discovery in the Valley of the Kings.

More badein...
El Mudir Otto Schaden

2 APRIL 2006

Dr. Zahi Hawass and the SCA have graciously made available a team of Egyptian conservators to work on our fragile coffins.

Ray Johnson of the Oriental Institute's "Chicago House" has also made specialists available to assist with the work.

*Funding for this season has been due to the generosity of the INSTITUTE FOR BIOARCHAEOLOGY and Private Benefactors.
(See new sponsor information under 'Contributions' button)

Additional KV-63 Tomb News:  We hope that the chief conservator Nadia Lukma will return sometime early this month so that the remains of the bottom of the first Coffin 'A' may be removed.  No human remains were found in it, but there were several alabaster vessels, fragments of one more large storage jar, several bowls (requiring mending), cloth and natron.

After Coffin A is removed to further consolidation into KV-10,  we hope that it will soon be possible to take out the youth's coffin which now rests atop the other coffins.

Ma salama,

EL MUDIR OTTO SCHADEN

31 MARCH 2006

***Sorry for the delay in recent postings as the webmaster has just returned from Egypt.

Please stay tuned for a NEW AND IMPROVED KV-63 WEBSITE COMING….. including a tomb diagram,a map,new postings, images, and links on the latest KV-63 news and discoveries!

THE KV-63 STAFF WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE VISITORS THAT HAVE COME BY KV-10 & KV-63 AND FOR ALL YOUR EMAILS AND INQUIRIES (rest assure that all emails are read unfortunately we are unable to answer all emails due to the volume of mail and our facilities).

Much as happened in the last two weeks, as Coffin’A’ (the first coffin) panel pieces and ‘mask’ were safely raised and relocated into KV-10. In addition, to some large pottery fragments, an inscribed Alabaster Jar and lid was also retrieved from inside the coffin ‘A’. The Alabaster Jar contained an inscription pertaining to ‘18 small jars’ was examined to disclose resin bandages which may have held moringa oil. A second alabaster jar and lid was also found which indicates ‘20 jars’ and faintly mentions Amen-Re.

Ongoing conservation work is proceeding slowly but steadily on Coffin ’F’ with hopes of transporting the coffin and its ‘yellow-faced mask’ relatively soon.

A continual effort has been made to move the remaining storage jars from KV-63. So far, approximately 24 of the 28 storage jars have been raised with 12 of the jars opened and examined. Additional contents, besides the previously mentioned items, include papyrus fragments, mud trays, shells, mud seals, and pieces of twine/rope.

As speculation and rumors abound in regards to our tomb containing mummies, well it is still too early to say, for we still have not managed to safely gain access to the rear coffins, such as Coffin C, E, G. *Refer to the newly added tomb diagram for specific coffin and storage jars locations.

A Discovery TV crew has been onsite since March 12th filming and interviewing for an upcoming special or specials to be aired starting in June. Please continue to access our website for further details.

This coming April, I will be taking a short break from KV-63 to lecture at the Fifty-Seventh Annual American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) meeting in New Jersey on Saturday, April 29th on Recent Work in KV-63 and Professor Earl Ertman on Sunday, April 30th on Notes on the Decorative Wall Program in the Tomb of King Ay, WV-23, Plus Analysis of a Chryselephantine Fragment Found outside WV-24.

I SINCERELY HOPE TO SEE SOME OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE.

Dr. Otto Schaden

13 March 2006

My lecture last Thursday night at the Mummification Museum was given to a standing room only audience.  A summary of the lecture can be found at

http://touregypt.net/TEBlog/luxornews/?p=181

A total of twelve storage jars have been removed from KV-63 along with one large alabaster jar.  Six of the storage jars have thus far been examined.  Contents include natron, wood, seeds, carbon, assorted pottery and small animal bones.

Preliminary conservation and stabilization of sections of Coffin-A (the first coffin) has been completed.  Panels of Coffin-A have been transferred to KV-10 and preparation in removing the mask and the additional pieces are underway.

Badein

Mudir Otto Schaden

4 March 2006

On March 2nd we began the successful removal of five of the large storage jars and continued with four additional jars on March 4th and one jar on March 5th. The jars vary slightly in size and weight.  Salima Ikram is supervising the removal and examination of the contents.  Thus far, we have examined only two of the 28 jars, as one additional jar was found under the collapsed footboard of the first coffin.

On March 9th, I am scheduled to lecture at the Mummification Museum here in Luxor on KV-63's path to discovery.

Dr. Otto Schaden

1 Mar 2006

Clearance of the front of the tomb and a pulley (hoist) mechanism has been completed this week in preparation for the removal of the storage jars and coffins to the pillared hall in KV-10.

One of the seven coffins is a smaller youth size coffin with a 'yellow face'. In addition to this we have two other adult size coffins with yellow faces. The remaining coffins are covered in black resin.

The storage jars measure ca. 70 cm high. One weighed in at approximately 90-95 pounds. Three of the 27 jars appear to be broken at the rim or lower neck. The lids of most of the jars are sealed or partially sealed. Contents of the jars is still pending examination and investigation.

Images of KV-63 will be posted periodically, so please check back soon, inshallah.
Best regards,

Mudir Otto Schaden

22 Feb 2006

This past week we have been concentrating on clearing stone and rock from inside the doorway of the tomb before we can safely gain access to the coffins. The wooden anthropoid (human-shaped) coffins currently number seven. Some of the coffins are in poor condition owing to prior termite damage and intrusion (there is no evidence of water damage).

At this time no names, titles or dates have been ascertained from the coffins but we do estimate the tomb to date to the late 18th Dynasty.

Our goal is to carefully remove the coffins and the large, sealed storage jars (approximately 27) to KV-10 where adequate space will enable a conservation team to thoroughly examine and analyze the coffins and jars in stages.

A pulley system is currently being devised to facilitate the safe removal of the coffins and jars from the shaft.

A special thanks for all the emails and well wishes.

Best Regards.

Dr. Otto Schaden, Director of the Amenmesse Project and KV-63

12 Feb 2006

Update information on KV-63 will be delayed until my return to the United States. Further information and photos will be posted pending evaluation.

Please see below for instructions regarding donations to our mission and contact information. All emails will be graciously forwarded to me in a timely manner.

We appreciate your support and well wishes.

Sincerely,

Dr. Otto J. Schaden, Director of the Amenmesse Project and KV-63

http://www.kv-63.com/
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