TT110: A Private Tomb with Royal Depictions
From A to Z, all about this ancient Egyptian tomb, the final resting place of an important official who served under two influential rulers.
Excavations at Sheikh Abd-el Qurna (2015-02-01) by Ayman DamarnyAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
A for ARCE
From 2012 to 2016, ARCE undertook projects to excavate the courtyard, entrance, rear chamber, and burial shaft of tomb TT110, and conserve and prepare the tomb for public visitors. A second project from 2014 to 2022 worked on recording the scenes and inscriptions.
East Wall in Hall of TT10 (2016-06-29) by ARCE Project PhotographerAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
B for Banquet Scenes
Banquet scenes were typical in the 18th Dynasty tombs. Here, Djehuty and his parents are in the upper scene, while Djehuty and his wife are seated below, receiving offerings from guests.
Cleaning Coffin (2016-06-27) by ARCE Project PhotographerAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
C for Conservation
An Egyptian team of ARCE conservators and trainees worked to stabilize the ceiling and repair cracks in the tomb’s walls. They also cleaned the tomb walls and consolidated those areas where the plaster was becoming detached from the walls in order to preserve the surfaces and inscriptions.
East Wall in Hall of TT10 (2016-06-29) by ARCE Project PhotographerAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
D for Djehuty
Djehuty was the owner of the tomb and an important royal official during the New Kingdom. He served as a Royal Butler under Hatshepsut and Royal Herald under Thutmose III, positions that carried great social and cultural weight in the Pharaonic period.
Epigraphy Line Drawing (2015-02-22) by ARCE Epigraphy Field SchoolAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
E for Epigraphy
Epigraphy, the study of inscriptions, was an essential part of the project in TT110. The work involved both traditional and digital methods to record the tomb and study the scenes and texts.
Working in tomb TT110 (2014-03-05) by Ayman DamarnyAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
F for Field School
ARCE ran several archaeological field schools from 2012 to 2016 to explore and clear the courtyard and entrance. The field school provided hands-on experience and training for the participants, all of whom are now conservators and archaeologists for the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.
Epigraphic Drawing of the Hall of TT110 (2016) by ARCE Project StaffAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
G for Gifts
In several scenes, Djehuty presents gifts to king Thutmose III so that the god Amun might grant him a long reign and victory over foreign countries. Near the tomb’s entrance, Djehuty stands presenting burnt offerings on behalf of Thutmose to Amun-Re.
Behind his legs, a row of men brings additional offerings.
H for Hatshepsut
After Hatshepsut and Thutmose III ruled Egypt together, Thutmose attempted to erase all mentions or images of her. However, TT110 contains the most complete representation of her from a private tomb. The inclusion of Thutmose III in a tomb that also depicts Hatshepsut is unique.
South Wall of Hall of TT110 (2014-12-16) by Ayman DamarnyAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
I for Inscriptions
The Htp-di-nsw inscription in the tomb’s first chamber contains a lengthy formula extolling Djehuty’s virtues and giving the titles he held under both Hatshepsut and Thutmose III.
Tap to explore
J for Jamb
As is common in 18th Dynasty tombs, Djehuty decorated the jambs of the entrance leading to the next part of the tomb with offering formulas dedicated to various important deities, including Djehuty’s name and titles. The lintel contains the cartouches of Thutmose III.
Hatshepsut Kiosk by Marco RepoleAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
K for Kiosk
Two scenes show Hatshepsut and Thutmose III sitting in a kiosk, or royal structure. In one, Djehuty presents an intricate bouquet to Hatshepsut, who is seated in the kiosk and wears an elaborate crown with a ram's horns. In another, Djehuty stands before Thutmose wearing the blue crown.
Pillared Hall Before Conservation (2015-02-22) by ARCE Project PhotographerAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
L for Layers of Debris
The tomb’s pillared hall was choked with debris, including funerary objects, paper, layers of ash, stones, bricks, and the remains of 45 individuals. Analysis suggests that the pillared hall was reused for Ptolemaic burials and possibly as a room where tomb robbers brought bodies.
Tap to explore
M for Matterport
ARCE scanned the tomb using a Matterport camera which takes 360-degree images at various points around the tomb and stitches them together to create a 3D model. Click on the image to move around.
Aerial View of Luxor, Egypt (2017-05-11)American Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
N for Nile
The necropolis where TT110 was built was just beyond the floodplains of the Nile River, the lifeforce of the ancient Egyptian civilization. The dry conditions of the desert have helped preserve the tomb and its contents.
Entrance of TT110 (2014-03-05) by ARCE Project PhotographerAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
O for Opening of the Tomb
From at least the early 20th century until 2014, the only way to enter TT 110 was through a break in an adjacent tomb, TT 42, as the courtyard was completely filled with debris. Part of the work of the field school was to clear the courtyard and entrance to TT 110.
Abydos Pilgrimage Scene (2016) by ARCE Project PhotographerAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
P for Pilgrimage
The images painted in four registers on the south wall of the passage depict the bringing of funerary items to the tomb and the Abydos pilgrimage. At the far (west) end, Djehuty stands before Osiris, seated within a kiosk.
The necropolis and village of Qurna (2008-07) by Raimond SpekkingAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
Q for Qurna
TT110 is located in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, a cemetery on the West Bank of Luxor. It has the largest concentration of private tombs in the area, with many belonging to high-ranking officials of the 18th Dynasty, like Djehuty, and is also a living community that has endured for centuries.
Hall of TT110 After Conservation (2015-01-07) by Ayman DamarnyAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
R for Royal Butler
Although difficult to see, this scene depicts Djehuty performing his official duties as Royal Butler. He stands at the right, overseeing men dealing with jars of various shapes and sizes. The text preserves Djehuty’s title as a member of the royal household who manages activities on the king's behalf.
S for Shirley, JJ
Dr. JJ Shirley was the director of the epigraphy project in TT110. Here she discusses some of the challenges of working in the tomb and the mission of the field school.
View of Luxor Temple (2018-11-11)American Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
T for Thebes
TT110 was built in the necropolis of ancient Thebes, an important capital city and religious center. The ruins of Thebes lie in modern-day Luxor in southern Egypt on the banks of the Nile River.
Working in the Entrance of TT110 (2014-11-01) by ARCE Project PhotographerAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
U for Unfinished Paintings
During the project, the team uncovered unfinished paintings in the tomb’s entryway and inscriptions on the façade for the first time.
Tap to explore
V for Visitors
As part of the project, the tomb has been prepared for visitors to admire the unique interior scenes without causing further damage to the tomb. The new additions include wooden walkways, railings, and lighting.
Wood Coffin (2016-11-14) by Ayman DamarnyAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
W for Wooden Coffin
The debris dumped in the forecourt was anything but garbage. The material yielded over 500 objects of interest, including funerary cones, portions of funerary furniture, an ostracon, and wood coffin fragments like the one pictured here. One person’s trash is another’s treasure!
Facade of TT110 (2016-07-25) by Ayman DamarnyAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
X for eXcavations
The English Egyptologist Norman Weigall first entered the tomb in 1909, followed by Norman de Garis Davies, who partially published its texts and wall scenes in 1932. However, extensive excavations to clear the tomb did not start until decades later, in 2012.
Pottery Fragments (2014-11-11) by ARCE Project PhotographerAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
Y for Yield
The tomb and surrounding area yielded vast amounts of pottery, including dishes, funerary cones, canopic jars, and colorful fragments.
Plan of Tomb TT110 (2016) by ARCE Project StaffAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
Z for Zones
The tomb layout has three distinct zones: the pillared hall, the perpendicular hall, and the connecting transverse hall. There are also two burial shafts. One that was unfinished, and one in the pillared hall with a side chamber that connects to the neighboring tomb.
Story by Tessa Litecky, with text by JJ Shirley and A. Bednarski.
The 3D scanning of the tomb was recorded by ARCE archivist Andreas Kostopoulos and Ayman Damarani.
This project was carried out by the American Research Center in Egypt, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.
