The Fitzwilliam Museum - University of Cambridge

38 Research
Research
RIGHT
The mummy board
of Nespawershefyt
FAR RIGHT
X-radiograph through
the lower part of the
mummy board of
Nespawershefyt: one
of the rectangular
tenons used for
joining the planks is
visible at the top of
the image
Ancient Egypt under the microscope
Environmental conditions in Egypt are so favourable to the preservation of organic materials
that museums around the world contain striking examples of the ancient woodworker’s craft.
The Fitzwilliam houses some excellent examples of ancient Egyptian wooden coffins, many of
which have been on permanent display for many years. When the museum’s Egyptian galleries
closed in October 2004, the department of Antiquities had its first opportunity for a long time
to examine closely some of the larger coffins that had been, quite literally, built into the
display cases housing them. The scientific research and conservation programme involved a
team of conservators, led by Julie Dawson, Senior Assistant Keeper (Conservation).
The coffin set of Nespawershefyt (E.1.1822) is one of the
most beautiful and arresting objects in the Egyptian
collection. It consists of an inner and an outer coffin,
plus a mummy board, which would have been placed
directly on top of the mummy. The set was given to the
University in 1822 by Cambridge graduates, Barnard
Hanbury and George Waddington, and was the first
Egyptian artefact received into the collection.
In common with other coffins of this date (late
Dynasty 21 to early Dynasty 22, c. 950-900 BC),
the coffins and mummy board are richly decorated,