Conservation Training Field School Season 2017-2018: Karnak Temple, Khonsu Temple, Chapel 4 (Columns & Floor)

The project was part of the Cultural Heritage Tourism Project in Egypt, funded by the USAID Agreement No. 263-A-15-00007. The field school took place during the 2017-2018 season. The flooring in Chapel 4 was in poor condition, with a thick layer of fine dust covering the surface, making it difficult to distinguish the slab borders. Previous interventions, including patching with a mix of lime and red brick mortar, had been conducted, but the dating of these installations was unknown. Many slabs were not level, and several areas were missing the original slabs, with the loss concentrated mainly in the middle of the chapel. Documentation of the existing conditions was a crucial step in the conservation process. Hand drawings of the floor layout were created, along with photographs, to record the existing conditions. The drawings were then digitized using AutoCAD for record-keeping and to define a treatment action. The floor dimensions were 9.55m in length by 4.22m in width. The treatment of the flooring involved several steps, including the removal of accumulated dust between the surface and joints, moving slabs to modify the level of the stone paving, adjusting the level of the floor slabs, and removing unsuitable slabs. New sandstone slabs were installed, with a system of fine sand and mortar used to establish the final elevation and achieve superior adhesion between the slabs. The joints were filled with fine sand to strengthen and reduce deterioration. The columns in Chapel 4 were also in poor condition, with evidence of previous interventions, including powdering at support and removal of previous interventions. Practical conservation treatments were conducted on the columns, including pre-consolidation, pre-support, removal of previous interventions, mechanical cleaning, consolidation of the stone, fragment connections, treatment of detached stone and cracking, and support work for the columns. Mortar patching was also conducted to repair damaged areas. Experimental tests were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the conservation treatments. The results of these tests will inform future conservation efforts and provide valuable insights into the best practices for preserving cultural heritage sites in Egypt.