An ancient Egyptian coffin dating back to around 650 BC has been returned to Swansea University after nearly three decades. The artefact, originally made for a man named Ankhpakhered in Thebes, underwent extensive restoration over 26 years at Cardiff University before making its way back to the award-winning Egypt Centre at Swansea University. Dr. Ken Griffin, the museum’s curator, oversaw the transportation and restoration process, expressing delight at having the coffin back. He explained, “The coffin had to be painstakingly cleaned, reconstructed, and consolidated to prevent further deterioration.”
The coffin, gifted to Swansea University by Aberystwyth University in 1997, was repurposed as a storage box at one point, housing other Egyptian objects for safekeeping. Now fully restored, the coffin showcases brightly coloured depictions of Egyptian gods and hieroglyphs that provide insight into its history. Notably, markings on the coffin lid suggest it was later used for a different individual, Djedher, while in the UK it contained a female mummy, potentially to increase its sale value to collectors at the time.
Although currently in storage, plans are in place to display the ancient Egyptian coffin in the House of Death gallery at the Egypt Centre. Wendy Goodridge, the museum manager, described the remarkable transformation of the coffin, noting the collaborative effort that went into its restoration. Through the dedicated work of conservation experts and generations of students at Cardiff University, the coffin has been stabilized for exhibition.
Dr. Griffin remarked on the coffin’s significant role in educating future experts, with over 50 students utilizing it for research purposes. The restoration project not only preserved an intriguing piece of history but also contributed to the development of valuable skills among students. This ancient Egyptian coffin’s return to Swansea University marks a momentous occasion for the institution and its Egypt Centre, celebrating the culmination of years of preservation work and academic engagement.