HARD WORK WAS WORTH THE EFFORT

Jul 9 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

THE Japan tour saw a mummy from Durham University’s Oriental Museum undertake the longest journey in his 2,300-year history.

The mummy, thought to be a priest aged 50 to 60 from Akhmim, has probably been in the North East since the 19th Century. X-rays have shown it has an artificial lower arm and hand. Conservators worked on the mummy to prepare him for the year-long tour of Japan.

Also taken down and packed was a 3,000-year-old Egyptian granite obelisk from the Duke of Northumberland’s collection. Moving the 400-kilos obelisk involved specialist technicians will having to manoeuvre a gantry above the obelisk and lift it clear using two slings.

A stone conservator travelled from London to chisel the obelisk clear of the concrete block in which it has been set since the museum opened in 1960.

The piece, made of red granite and 2.15 metres high, dates from around 1420 BC.

It was presented to the Duke when he visited Egypt in 1838. Its twin is now in the Cairo Museum.