Tausert Temple Project (2004 to present)
The University of Arizona Egyptian Expedition's current archaeological project is the excavation, conservation, and publication of the remains of the memorial temple of Tausert, the 19th Dynasty queen who ruled as a king c. 1200 B.C.E. The tmeple site was briefly examined by Sir W. M. Flinders Petrie in 1896 but our own excavation has already demonstrated that Petrie's work at the site was far from thorough. Numerous artifacts and inscriptions have already been recovered from unexcavated areas providing evidence that the temple was further developed than previously believed.2004-5 summary report (855 kb PDF file) 2006 summary report (712 kb PDF file)
2007 summary report (2.5 MB PDF file) 2008 summary report (2.8 MB PDF file)
Selected Publications:
W. M. Flinders Petrie, Six Temples At Thebes (London, 1897), pp.13-16.
R. H. Wilkinson, "The Tausert Temple Project: 2004 and 05 Seasons",
The Ostracon: Journal of the Egyptian Study Society, 16:2 (Summer 2005), 7-12
R. H. Wilkinson, "The Tausert Temple Project: 2006 Season",
The Ostracon: Journal of the Egyptian Study Society, 17:2 (Fall 2006), 9-12
R. H. Wilkinson, "The Tausert Temple Project: 2007 Season",
The Ostracon: Journal of the Egyptian Study Society, 18:1 (Summer 2007), 3-11
R. H. Wilkinson, "The Tausert Temple Project: 2008 Season",
The Ostracon: Journal of the Egyptian Study Society, 19:1 (Fall 2008), 3-8
Amenmesse Project (1992 to present)
The Amenmesse Project, involving excavation and conservation of KV10 - the tomb of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh Amenmesse, was initially conducted under the auspices of the University of Arizona. The Project is now being completed by Director Otto Schaden for the S.C.A.
Selected Publications:
E. L. Ertman, "A first report on the preliminary survey of unexcavated KV-10", KMT 4:2 (1993), 38-46.
O. J. Schaden, "Amenmesse Project report", NARCE
163 (1993), 1-9.
See also: N. Reeves and R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete
Valley of the Kings (London and New York: Thames and Hudson, 1996).
Western Valley of the Kings Project (1989 to 2002) The first archaeological projects undertaken by The
University of Arizona Egyptian Expedition in the Valley of the Kings involved excavation and research in and around tombs WV23, WV24, and WV25 : work that has been continued in recent field seasons.
This work is documented in part in the publications listed below.
Selected Publications: R. H. Wilkinson, "The other Valley of the Kings:
Exploring the western branch of the Theban royal necropolis", KMT 2:3 (Fall,
1991), 46-52. O. J. Schaden, "Preliminary report on clearance of
WV-24 in an effort to determine its relationship to royal tombs 23 and 25", KMT
2:3 (1991), 53-61. R. H. Wilkinson, "The Identity of the Amarna-Age Tomb WV 25 in the
Western Valley of the Kings" Journal of the Egyptian Study Society 13:1 (Spring 2002) pp. 13-16. R. H. Wilkinson, "Finding What Belzoni Didn't Take: Foundation Pits in the Western Valley of the Kings,"
Bulletin of The American Research Center in Egypt 181 (Fall-Winter 2001-2002), pp. 16-18. See also: N. Reeves and R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete
Valley of the Kings (London and New York: Thames and Hudson, 1996).
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Analysis and Recording
Motif Alignment Project (1993 to 2003)
The Motif Alignment Project (M.A.P.) was instituted in 1993 for study of the location and alignment of reliefs and inscriptions in the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings. While it is known that as early as the 18th dynasty, despite actual cardinal directions, the ancient Egyptians considered the entrance to the royal tomb to be symbolically located in the south, other evidence indicates that during the 19th dynasty another symbolic orientation was utilized in which the royal tomb was considered to lie on an east-west axis which dictated the location and alignment of a number of texts and representations placed on the walls of the royal tombs. Initial conclusions regarding this symbolic orientation were reached during the course of archaeological work in the Valley of the Kings during 1989 - 1993. Since 1993 The Permanent Committee of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt kindly granted permission for the specific photographing and recording of important scenes and inscriptions in a number of Ramesside tombs, and the initial results of the project have been published in several articles (listed below). While the Project focused primarily on KV8, the tomb of King Merenptah, it also includes epigraphic and iconographic studies of many of the royal tombs.
Selected Publications:
R. H. Wilkinson, "The paths of Re: Symbolism in the royal tombs of Wadi Biban El Moluk", KMT 4:3 (1993), 10-20.
R. H. Wilkinson, "Symbolic location and alignment in New Kingdom royal tombs and their decoration", Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt XXXI (1994), 79-86.
K. Kroenke, Locational Analysis of Symbolic Motifs of Royal Tombs in the Valley of the Kings, Master's Thesis (Tucson: University of Arizona, 1994).
R. H. Wilkinson, "Symbolic orientation and alignment in New Kingdom royal tombs", in Valley of the Sun Kings: New Explorations in the Tombs of the Pharaohs (Tucson, 1995).
R. H. Wilkinson, "The Motif of the Path of the Sun in Ramesside Royal Tombs: An Outline of Recent Research", Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities XXV (1995) [1999], 78-84, pl. VIII-X.
S. Onstine, "The Relationship Between Osiris and Re in the Book of Caverns", Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities XXV (1995) [1999], 78-84, pl. VIII-X.
See also: N. Reeves and R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete
Valley of the Kings (London and New York: Thames and Hudson, 1996).