As our 2024 season draws to a close, the work at the Temples of Karnak is far from over. The ongoing conservation of this ancient wonder is a long-term mission, and we are already laying the groundwork for the next phase of our efforts. Our commitment to preserving Karnak's historical and architectural legacy remains steadfast, and the steps we take now will set the stage for future research and conservation endeavours.

Looking ahead, we are also focused on expanding our efforts in public engagement and education. As the digital models of Karnak are refined, they will serve as interactive tools for visitors and scholars worldwide. These models not only enable virtual exploration of the temple but also provide a means to educate people about the ongoing conservation efforts and the importance of preserving such a significant cultural heritage site.

By carefully removing the vegetation, we were able to halt this destructive cycle. The removal not only prevented further mechanical damage caused by plant roots but also helped to reduce moisture retention around the stone blocks. Plants tend to trap humidity, creating a micro-environment where moisture can damage the surface, leading to the growth of salts and minerals that accelerate stone degradation. Without the invasive plants, the temple's masonry remains more resilient to the elements. This step also made the site more accessible for ongoing studies and conservation work.

The removal of vegetation provides a clearer insight into the architectural details, assisting researchers and conservators in better understanding the condition of the stone blocks. It also allows for easier access to undertake essential maintenance, such as cleaning, material testing, and monitoring the structural health over time.

Thanks to the combination of photogrammetry and 3D scanning, we have been able to create highly detailed digital models of the stone blocks at the Temple of Karnak. These models are not just digital representations; they serve as powerful tools for preserving the past and bringing it to life in innovative ways.

For the public, these models open up a world of discovery. People from anywhere in the world can now virtually explore the temple, allowing for an immersive educational experience. By interacting with these digital models, users can learn about the temple's history, its artistic details, and its significance in Egyptian culture in ways that traditional exploration methods could never offer.

Preserving Karnak is not merely the endeavour of one team or one nation; it is a collective effort that brings together experts, archaeologists, and institutions from across the globe. The monumental task of conserving and studying one of Egypt's most iconic ancient sites demands a diversity of expertise and resources. Therefore, our work at Karnak is not only about the technical aspects of conservation but also about collaboration, communication, and shared knowledge.

Beyond technical expertise, collaboration fosters an exchange of ideas and drives innovation. Regular communication between Egyptian and international teams ensures that the work we undertake is sensitive to the site's cultural heritage, whilst also being informed by the latest advancements in conservation science. Together, we work to create a preservation strategy that is not only effective but also sustainable in the long term.

This phenomenon, known as salt weathering, poses a significant risk to the long-term survival of the temple's stone blocks. The Karsten Tube Test allows us to understand the overall moisture dynamics within the stone. It helps us identify how deeply moisture penetrates the blocks and whether the stone retains water over time, which could create an environment conducive to further deterioration.

These vulnerable blocks are prioritised for more specific conservation efforts, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to prevent further deterioration. This knowledge is important for developing a tailored conservation strategy that addresses both the immediate and long-term needs of the site.

The information gained from the Karsten Tube Test will guide our ongoing conservation work, helping us to take preventative measures to mitigate salt damage and preserve the sandstone blocks of Karnak for future generations. By carefully monitoring moisture absorption and salinity levels, we can protect these ancient treasures from the destructive forces of nature and human intervention.

By carefully examining the stone blocks at Karnak, we have discovered traces of something truly remarkable: the vibrant pigments that once brought the temple walls to life. These ancient hues —red, blue, yellow, and black— offer a rare glimpse into the art and craftsmanship of ancient Egyptian civilisation.

By studying the chemical composition of these pigments, we can identify the natural materials used by ancient artisans. For instance, red pigments were often made from ochre or haematite, whilst blue pigments may have been derived from the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli. These materials were sourced from various regions, some far from Egypt, demonstrating the extensive trade networks and wealth of knowledge that the ancient Egyptians had access to.

In addition to providing insights into the pigments themselves, this analysis also yields valuable data on the techniques used in their application. The wear patterns and types of brushes or tools used by the artists can be deduced from the way the pigments were applied to the stone, shedding further light on the artistic practices of ancient Egypt.

Beyond their scientific and historical value, these pigments evoke a sense of wonder at the visual splendour of Karnak as it once stood. The temple walls, now marked by the patina of time, would have been a burst of colour at their zenith — an artistic achievement that is difficult to imagine in the absence of those vibrant hues.

At Karnak, every stone block has a story to tell – every scratch and groove relates a narrative – but many of these stories are concealed beneath layers of wear and time. To unveil these hidden details, we turn to an extraordinary technique: Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI). This cutting-edge method enables us to capture the finest surface details of the stones, revealing features that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye.

By examining these finer details, we gain insights into the evolution of the site's construction and the intricacies of its artistic expression. RTI allows us to detect even the slightest signs of damage that might otherwise go unnoticed, enabling us to monitor the stone's condition over time and make more informed decisions regarding conservation efforts.

Perhaps most compelling of all is how RTI assists us in reconstructing the broader history of the blocks. Every scratch, groove, and imperfection tells a story of human endeavour, natural forces, and the passage of time. By utilising RTI, we are able to unearth layers of this history, creating a more comprehensive understanding of Karnak's past.

Our work at Karnak extends far beyond the technical aspects of studying and conserving ancient stones. It is a profound commitment to the preservation of a cultural legacy that has endured for millennia, connecting past, present, and future generations. Every step we take, from documenting each crack in the stones to scanning every block and removing invasive plants, contributes to the ongoing effort to safeguard this invaluable heritage for centuries to come.

Our mission is to ensure that these stories are preserved, not only for academics, but for the global community, for people today and for those yet to come. These technologies allow us to document the site with unparalleled precision, ensuring that, even as the physical stones degrade, we have accurate digital models to guide future conservation efforts and research.

At the same time, it is the tireless dedication of all involved that makes the real difference. The work we undertake may seem small on the grand scale of Karnak's ancient history, but every task we complete, from clearing vegetation threatening the stones to carefully studying each block, contributes to a unified and broader objective: to protect and preserve this incredible cultural treasure for future generations.

In the world of archaeological conservation, technology has become an invaluable tool, and at Karnak, 3D digitisation and photogrammetry have revolutionised how we document and preserve the ancient stone blocks. These cutting-edge techniques allow us to create incredibly detailed and precise digital models of the blocks, capturing every nuance of their surface textures, intricate carvings, and signs of wear or damage.

When combined, these methods provide a comprehensive digital record of each block, preserving the current state of the stones in a way that traditional documentation methods simply cannot match. One of the key advantages of these digital models is their ability to preserve the exact condition of the blocks, even as the physical stones continue to degrade due to natural wear or environmental conditions.

The extreme heat, sand, and UV radiation of Luxor can cause long-term damage to the stone, but these digital models act as a safeguard. By capturing a detailed snapshot of the blocks as they are now, we ensure that future generations of academics and conservators will have an accurate representation of the stones to refer to, even if the original material has changed or eroded over time.

When it comes to preserving ancient structures such as those at Karnak, detecting hidden damage within the stones is just as important as preserving their visible surfaces. To achieve this, we employ Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) testing, a powerful non-destructive technique that allows us to assess the internal health of stone blocks without causing any damage to the material.

Beneath the surface of every stone at Karnak lies a wealth of geological information, waiting to be uncovered. Through digital microscopy, we have been able to explore the intricate details of sandstone samples from the site, revealing vital clues about the stones' composition and the effects of centuries of exposure to the elements.

The analysis has uncovered a predominance of quartz grains, which form the central structure of the sandstone, contributing to its durability. Alongside these, traces of muscovite flakes have been identified – thin, flat layers of mica that help to inform us about the stone's geological origins and the conditions under which it was formed. These results offer a glimpse into the ancient environment where the stones were quarried, providing valuable context for understanding their physical properties.

Equally important are the signs of weathering that are visible at a microscopic level. The stone's surface has been shaped by countless years of exposure to Luxor's rigorous climate: intense heat, UV radiation, and the abrasive desert winds. By studying these microstructural changes, we gain insight into how the stone has responded to environmental stress over time.

The stone blocks of Karnak are not merely relics of the past; they are intricate works of art that attest to the technical and artistic mastery of ancient Egyptian artisans. Among the most fascinating aspects of these blocks are the distinct carving techniques employed to create the elaborate reliefs that adorn them.

These techniques are not just artistic choices; they also hold valuable clues about the original placement of the blocks within the temple complex. High relief figures, for example, were typically positioned in locations where they would catch the light and be easily visible, whereas sunk relief may have been used in areas where detail was key but not necessarily the immediate focus of attention.

The positioning of these reliefs can reveal much about how the ancient Egyptians designed their spaces and how they guided the viewer's experience within the temple. By documenting and analysing these distinct carving techniques, we are uncovering clues about the temple's original layout, which has been obscured by centuries of wear, destruction, and changes in the landscape.

Accurate documentation is the backbone of our conservation work at Karnak, and one of the most essential tools in this endeavour is planimetry: the art of meticulously mapping the site. As we explore the ancient stones of Mastabas 1, 2, and 3, each block becomes a puzzle piece, and it is vital that we record the exact location and condition of each one to ensure its preservation.

Throughout the mission, our team mapped each stone block, precisely geolocating them. The historical French numbering system was present on some blocks, offering insight into the original disposition of the stones, but many others lacked any form of identification. To remedy this, we carefully assigned new identifiers to these unnumbered blocks, ensuring that each piece is now traceable within a digital and physical archive.

This massive effort not only safeguarded the blocks from continuous biological deterioration but also revealed long-hidden details of the site's arrangement. With the stones now fully visible, we were able to begin detailed documentation through photogrammetry, sketching, and 3D laser scanning.