Abasseya Project



SEASON 2019


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TENTH SEASON – SUMMARY





Start date: February 2nd, 2019
Duration: 20 days



Sector B - Abasseya

Restoration and conservation work


We have made a first evaluation of the state of conservation of Abasseya - Sector B. According to this first evaluation, we organized the restoration and conservation tasks that had to be carried out during this last season.

The past year the rains have been stronger and some of the mudbricks used for restoration in the previous season were not of enough quality, so the long term conservation of the mudbrick side walls of both ramps could have been compromised. For this reason it was necessary to partially disassemble the restored layers of the mudbrick side walls on both ramps. On the east ramp, the broken mudbricks covering the original walls (UE213 and UE238) have been replaced and reconstructed.



As a result, it has been necessary to reinstate the upper layer of mud that covers the ramps.



​In the East ramp it has also been repaired the bonding between the mudbrick wall and the lime mortar that protects the original sandstone blocks (UE104 and UE105).





​Likewise, once the state of conservation of the sandstone blocks has been analyzed, those whose preservation were more compromised have been intervened by applying a solution of limewater.





Restoration and maintenance works have also been carried out on the stele, located on the north side of the East ramp. The stele was reconstructed in 2012 and since then, only tasks of monitoring the deterioration have been done. This year, when noticing that the layer of colored mortar that was applied in the joints of the blocks had been detached in some parts of the external face, it was decided to restitute that final layer.



​​A general cleaning of both the exterior and interior surfaces has been carried out and the lime mortar has been reinforced at those points where it was deemed necessary.



​On the west ramp, the protective layer of the south wall (UE122 and UE131) also affected by rain, has been partially dismantled. The exterior row of mudbrick has been replaced by a row of redbricks following the restoration criteria adopted for the conservation of the building.



​As in the East ramp, it has been necessary to partially restore the layer of mud that covers the ramp.



​Regarding the maintenance tasks on the podium, different types of interventions have been carried out to guarantee the stability of the structures and the coating, so it is not affected by a serious risk of deterioration in the near future.


The white plaster covering the perimeter walls has been cleaned (UE142, UE143, UE204, UE217, UE218, UE219 and UE220). The environmental factors like rain and wind have mainly affected the northern wall (UE143 and UE220). The result is that the layer of mud that has been used for the bonding of mudbricks and redbricks has partially disintegrated and has stained the outer layer of plaster.



​​In places where stability was most compromised, the mud layer has been restored and protected with a consolidating chemical solution to avoid as much as possible the erosion by water and wind.



In the coating at the south side (UE219) the layer of plaster has been consolidated with lime mortar, closing its lower side.





The fill up layer of the outer area between the podium and the exhibition walkway has been leveled.





The upper closures of the plaster coating on the walls of the podium (UE142, UE143, UE204, UE217, UE218, UE219 and UE220) have been consolidated again and restored where necessary.


The upper part of the interior walls of the podium have been repaired only at those points where it was necessary. In no case the conservation of the ancient levels of the building have been compromised.





As for the works related to preparing the site for exhibition, the exterior and interior walls have been covered with a colored coating to give a uniform finish to the construction.





An explanatory panel with a short description of the site has been placed in the entrance hall.





The access door has also been painted to give it a better appearance.





The entire inner perimeter has been delimited by a chain.​





On February 19th, an inauguration ceremony was held on the site which has been definitively finalized and handed over to the NCAM authorities.





The inauguration was attended by the authorities of NCAM: Dr. Al Hassan Ahmed, Dr. Murtada Bushara and Dr. Mustafa Ahmed El Sharif by the local authorities: Mr. Montasser and Mr. Mohamed and by the Department of Archeology of the University of Dongola: Dr. Faisal Abdulla. Representatives of the international missions working in the Napata area were also present: on behalf of the American missions: Dr. Timothy Kendall and Dr. Geoff Emberling and members of their teams, the Italian missions was represented by: Dr. Irene Vicentelli, Dr. Maria Concetti and Dr. Claudio Prosperi and members of their teams. Also present were the representatives of UNESCO who were carrying out the inspection of the sites in the area of Napata and a large number of workers who have participated in the archaeological work during these years.





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