The DOA project aims at studying and conserving the human remains and the painted cartonnage case of Ta-sherit-en-Imen (Amun’s little one). The mummy dates to the Third Intermediate Period (1069-664 BC).
The mummy dates to the Third Intermediate Period (1069-664 BC) and was brought to the shores of Lago Majore by the Swiss collector Zaccaria Zanoli at the end of the 19th century. It was exhibited together with the Zanoli collection at the Palazzo Communale of Brissago from 1916 to the 1960s. After more than a hundred years of non-controlled exhibition and storage, the mummy and its cartonnage case are in dire need of conservation.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND AIMS
The complete study of the human remains will not only help to identify the age and medical history of Ta-sherit-en-Imen, but will also give valuable information on the embalming techniques that were used.
In order to devise adapted conservation measures all materials present (human remains, textiles, cartonnage, polychrome layers) need to be identified and characterized.
Adapted conservation measures will allow the preservation of all materials and bring back dignity to the body that was prepared for eternity approximately 2800 years ago.
At the end of the project, Ta-sherit-en-Imen will be placed back into her cartonnage case and integrated into the new permanent exhibition of the Kulturama of Zurich.
Link to the blog: DOA – Daughter of Amun | blog
FUNDINGS
- Office fédéral de la culture, Service transfert des biens culturels bak.admin.ch
- Fondation Ernst Göhner ernst-goehner-stiftung.ch
PARTNERS
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine – University of Zürich iem.uzh.ch
- Hochschule der Künste Bern – Konservierung-Restaurierung hkb.bfh.ch
- Labor für Ionenstrahlphysik – ETH Zürich ams.ethz.ch
- Swiss Coffin Project swiss-coffin-project.ch
- Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Egypt egymonuments.gov.eg
