Conservation work on the Senusret mummies

Consulting conservator Mimi Leveque returned to the Carlos Museum for two weeks in mid-June to conserve mummies from the Senusret Collection. Mimi is the principle at ArcheaTechnica Conservation based outside of Boston and has held positions at the Peabody Essex Museum, the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. As a conservator of objects and textiles, Mimi treats a wide variety of collections and is known at the Carlos as “our mummy conservator.” Chief Conservator Renée Stein says she would not undertake a mummy treatment project without Mimi. The two colleagues began collaborating in 1999 with the treatment of the museum’s Lichirie Collection mummies. In addition, even though neither thought it possible, they successfully stabilized the museum’s Old Kingdom mummy of a male, reassembling the disarticulated body and restoring dignity to the remains. Their teamwork has resulted in ethical guidelines as well as treatment protocols for the conservation of ancient Egyptian mummies.

Guided by Mimi’s extensive knowledge and experience, Carlos Museum conservators and student interns treated the mummies of a female named Taosiris and a male known as Padibastet. Based on the style of wrappings as well as the associated coffins and cartonnage, both mummies very likely originate from the ancient city of Akhmim and date to the Ptolemaic Period. The mummies have been imaged with CT-scanning by Dr. William Torres and colleagues at the Emory University Hospital. The data is being studied by Dr. Jonathan Elias and a team of researchers with the Akhmim Mummy Research Consortium. This study is revealing information about the health of the individuals as well as their preparation for burial. Taosiris and Padibastet were probably contemporaries, although Taosiris died at a younger age.

The conservation project actually began more than 18 months prior, when Mimi visited the Carlos Museum to examine the mummies in storage and develop a plan for the work. Funding for the project was provided through a grant from the Forward Arts Foundation, a generous supporter of the 2023 exhibition Life and the Afterlife: Ancient Egyptian Art from the Senusret Collection. The work was delayed by the pandemic but resumed as soon as it was possible for Mimi to travel to Atlanta. The conservation team set up a temporary lab in Ackerman Hall in order to live-stream their work. Over a two-week period,

opposite page: Consulting conservator Mimi Leveque returned to the Carlos Museum to conserve mummies from the Senusret Collection. top left: Chief Conservator Renée Stein stabilizing Padibastet. top right: Dr. Jonathan Elias imaging the Senusret mummies using CT-scanning at the Emory University Hospital. bottom right: Toosiris after treatment viewed from above.

online viewers could tune into the Carlos Mummy Cam and observe the progress as linen wrappings were realigned and painted cartonnage was reshaped. Mimi demonstrated techniques that have evolved through her many projects to stabilize mummies in collections around the United States. Carlos conservators and interns assisted with the work to secure loose wrappings and stabilize flaking paint.

The mummy of Padibastet was dusty, brittle linen layers were torn, and the toes were partially visible. By introducing a compatible adhesive solution between the layers, the wrappings were gently coaxed back into position and secured in place. The mummy of Taosiris was very well preserved, with the outer shroud mostly intact. However, the cartonnage was separated from the mummy. Fading of the linen resulted in outlines of the cartonnage sections, confirming their locations on the head, chest, abdomen, legs, and feet. The cartonnage was humidified and reshaped to conform to the mummy and secured with modern dyed linen bands corresponding to evidence of the original strapping. Progressive reshaping allowed the distorted mask to be fit back over the head. The damaged foot cartonnage was partially reconstructed to accomplish both stability and legibility. It is now possible to discern the straps and buckles of a pair of sandals. To document this conservation work, the live streams and a collection of mummy diaries are available on the website. Visit carlos.emory.edu/ mummycam to watch these recordings of the conservators examining, documenting, and stabilizing these mummies to prepare them for display in 2023. The conservators gave a virtual public program inviting the audience to engage with their efforts as the work was underway. After two weeks of focused attention, the mummies are now stabilized for future exhibition, further documentation, and long-term storage.Z