The Conservation of Subterranean Cultural Heritage: Is it a technical problem or a political problem?

Conservation efforts for the rock-cut tomb-chapels of Djehuty and Hery (TT 11-12) in Ancient Thebes reveal that their preservation is as much a political challenge as it is a technical one. Located on Luxor's West Bank, these 15th-century B.C. monuments have suffered from environmental degradation, vandalism, and structural alterations due to reuse over millennia. A Spanish archaeological mission has been addressing these issues through annual campaigns since 2002, focusing on excavation, documentation, and restoration. The study highlights the interplay between technical interventions—such as mitigating humidity damage and stabilizing limestone—and political factors, including historical looting and modern conservation governance. The goal is to restore the tomb-chapels for public access, underscoring the need for sustainable, multi-disciplinary approaches to safeguarding subterranean cultural heritage.

Saiz-Jimenez, C. (2014). The Conservation of Subterranean Cultural Heritage: Is it a technical problem or a political problem? The Conservation of Subterranean Cultural Heritage, 1. https://doi.org/10.1201/b17570-2