Ancient Egyptian wooden statuette from Saqqara found cracked upon discovery, now well-preserved - Ancient Egypt

Al-Ahram Weekly

24-02-2025

Some users falsely alleged that Egyptologist Zahi Hawass damaged the statuette's kilt during excavation at the Gisr El-Mudir area in Saqqara. These posts also claimed a violation of Egypt's Antiquities Protection Law, sparking online debate.
Hawass refuted these claims, asserting that the statuette is in excellent preservation and that the social media claims are baseless.
He explained that a joint Egyptian archaeological mission in collaboration with the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) uncovered the statuette in Saqqara. The statuette was found inside a small niche within a tomb dating back to the Fifth Dynasty, making it approximately 4,300 years old.
Hawass continued that the statuette was revealed after removing the seal blocking the niche, following standard archaeological documentation procedures. The statuette, depicting an official from the Fifth Dynasty, is made of local wood and stands about 53 cm tall, including its base. It is covered with a thin plaster layer measuring just three millimetres thick.
To ensure the artefact's preservation, a team led by Ashraf Oweis, director general of the Restoration Department at Saqqara, conducted initial conservation treatments on site before transferring it to a specialized restoration lab.
The statuette was then carefully packed and secured for transport so that additional cleaning and stabilization could be performed. Loose plaster layers were reattached, and a detailed restoration report was completed.
Hawass confirmed that the statuette is now safely stored in the site's repository and remains well preserved, considering its age and material.
According to a statement issued by Zahi Hawass Foundation for Archaeology and Heritage, which Ahram Online received a copy of, legal action is being pursued against social media accounts and websites that participated in spreading false claims and unauthorized content.
The SCA issued a report clarifying the statuette's condition upon discovery. The report indicates that while the statuette is now well-preserved following restoration, it was in a moderately preserved state in its upper part but already exhibited various cracks. Several sections, including the legs, were nearly disintegrated, especially in the lower foot area.
The plaster layer covering the statue was partially intact but had fine cracks, particularly on the chest and shoulders. The back of the statue and the plaster layer on the kilt were almost entirely detached. Additionally, the lower legs had suffered complete plaster loss and severe degradation.
The statue's deterioration and the separation of the plaster layer were attributed to the different materials used in its construction—wood and gypsum-based plaster. Over centuries, these materials responded differently to fluctuations in temperature and humidity, causing expansion and contraction at varying rates.
This led to the cracking of the plaster layer, its eventual detachment, and the structural weakening of the wood.
The report said that the statuette was cleaned and restored on-site. The weak plaster layer and wood structure were reinforced. Detached plaster fragments on the statuette were re-secured while the coloured surface was strengthened.
The restoration ensured the statuette's preservation while maintaining its original features and historical authenticity.
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