Technical studies became an important tool for studying gold and vitreous items associated with Wady Di. Fragments excavated at the site included glass inlay, glass beads, and gold work that was then studied with excavated material from other sites. The combined information was used to authenticate items, often of royal character, that came to light in Luxor with a Wady Qurud provenance between 1916 and 1922 as well as later. Archaeological and art historical information is often viewed as more limited than philological evidence in establishing authenticity (without reason, to the author); technical studies can add an important dimension to aU three areas of research.
It should be noted parenthetically that a few jewels excavated at the tomb do not have parallels among art market objects: tube beads of Egyptian blue and faience from both Chaban’s work (L i.0—1.2) and the MMA excavations (L 1.3, faience), and a bugle bead of Egyptian blue from Chaban’s investigation (Figs. lyh; 82a, c). Perhaps the former belonged to beadwork for the mummies (cf Wente and Harris 1980: microfiche Aio, sheet i of 5); note, too, that the mummy of Meryetamun had a beaded diadem (Winlock 1932: fig. 2).
It may be asked whether there was any technical evidence from the objects concerning their original placement in the tomb. Resin was noted on the hinged ornaments and several rosettes, but whether this means that they were on the deceased or in boxes is not known. Kha’s wife Meret and Tutankhamun had both “funerary” and “everyday” jewelry on their bodies.
Egyptian gold working techniques and construction features are widely described in the literature (Vernier 1907; Moller 1910; Moller 1924: 14-35; C - Williams 1924; Aldred 1971: 46-129 and 1979; A. Wilkinson 1971: i-io; Ogden 1982 and 2000; C. Andrews 1990: 67—99; Muller and Thiem 1998). Some observations are given next that have particular relevance to the gold and vitreous objects associated with Wady Di. They should be contrasted with observations made from objects thought modern, pp. 271-8.
World History
