Theban Tombs, Luxor (Egypt) Geological investigations of selected - - PDF document

| | Master in Engineering Geology

Geological investigations of selected Theban Tombs

Why did many tombs that were cut into sedimentary rocks of the Theban Formation partially collapse?

Martin Ziegler, Florian Amann

17/02/2015 Master topic proposals 1

Theban Tombs, Luxor (Egypt)

Aerial view of Sheik abd el-Qurna | | Master in Engineering Geology

Example: TT95

17/02/2015 Theban Tombs, Luxor (Egypt) 2

Project framework

• The Theban rock tombs are ~4000 years old
• Cut into tilted sedimentary formations

(lime- and marlstones, shales)

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Project framework

• The Theban rock tombs are ~4000 years old
• Cut into tilted sedimentary formations

(lime- and marlstones, shales)

• Many of the rock cut tombs show partial or

entire collapse of pillars and ceilings

• The damage is proposed to have happened

during or soon after construction of the tombs

• Archeologists from the University of Basel

are working on some of the Theban Tombs

• Study of timing and reasons of the collpase
• f the unique underground structures

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Project location

• Sheik Abd el-Qurna, Luxor

~1 hour flight from Cairo

• Between the Valley of the Kings

and the Valley of the Queens Cairo Luxor/ Theben

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Project location

• Sheik Abd el-Qurna, Luxor

~1 hour flight from Cairo

• Between the Valley of the Kings

and the Valley of the Queens Cairo Luxor/ Theben

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Project location

Dupuis et al. (2011)

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Site Geology

Dupuis et al. (2011)

Southwestern flank of the Hills of Sheikh Abd el Qurna

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Site Geology

Dupuis et al. (2011)

Southwestern flank of the Hills of Sheikh Abd el Qurna

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Sheik Abd el-Qurna (Luxor)

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Goals

• A. Detailed documentation of the geological settings of selected tombs
• B. Evaluate potential causes of early tomb damage and current stability

Tasks

• A. Develop detailed geological maps of the tombs and their surroundings
• Mapping will focus on lithology and on rock mass structures (fractures, faults, tension cracks)
• How? In-situ investigation, aerial photo interpretation, analyse photogrammetric models and

laser scans to obtain fracture statistics of different sedimentary rock layers

• B. Developed numerical models that reproduce the discrete nature of the

rock mass and the construction sequence

• Models will be built upon literature data (for geomechanical properties) and own field work
• Carried out with a distinct element approach (e.g., 3DEC)

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You will be integrated in a multi-disciplinary team

• Dr. Andrea Loprieno-Gnirs

Egyptologist and manager of the project TT95 (University of Basel)

• Prof. Dr. Christian Dupuis

Sedimentologist (Mons Polytechnics, Belgium)

• Prof. Dr. Andreas Wieser / Pascal Theiler

Geodesists (Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry, ETH Zurich)

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Your field site in winter 2015/2016 ?

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Your field site in winter 2015/2016 ?