An Egyptian-Japanese team has restored and installed 16 wooden pieces forming part of the floor of King Khufu’s second boat, with work continuing on other sections in view of visitors at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).
The project aims to reassemble the boat’s timbers and secure them to a specially designed metal support structure, using research and documentation of the vessel’s components alongside conservation techniques.
The work is being carried out in partnership with the GEM, Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and Higashi Nippon International University, with support from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy said the project reflected Egyptian and Japanese expertise in conserving organic archaeological objects and highlighted the value of international co-operation in protecting heritage.
GEM CEO Ahmed Ghoneim said the restoration presented significant technical and scientific challenges because of the condition and number of the ancient timbers. Carrying out the work before visitors also gives them an opportunity to follow the conservation process and learn about the methods used, he said.
The wooden pieces were in very poor condition when work began, said Eissa Zidan, the museum’s director general of restoration and supervisor of the project. They were documented, treated and prepared before being moved and installed in their correct positions, he said.
Digital documentation, laser scanning and 3D modelling have been used to map the pieces and their structural relationships, providing a database to help reconstruct the boat’s original form. Further timbers are being treated and strengthened as completed pieces are attached to the metal frame.
The support structure was designed to stabilise the fragile wood without placing undue stress on the original components, said Japanese project director Hiromasa Kurokoshi. Its fittings allow each piece to be handled individually during assembly, he said.
The first restored wooden plank was installed in December, marking the start of the boat’s reconstruction inside the King Khufu Boats Museum. The ancient vessel is among the rare organic remains from the reign of Khufu.
