Project Director: John Shearman

Historic era: Dynastic Period (New Kingdom)

Project Location: Luxor - East Bank

Project Duration: January 2015 – June 2018

The Khonsu Temple, located in the southwest corner of the Karnak Temple Complex in East Luxor, stands as one of the most complete and best-preserved examples of a New Kingdom temple. Dedicated to the god Khonsu, a deity associated with the moon and the son of Amun and Mut, the temple was initially constructed during the reign of King Ramesses III and further developed by successive rulers. Although modest in scale, the temple contains almost all the essential architectural elements of New Kingdom temples, including a pylon, an open courtyard, hypostyle hall, barque shrine, and multiple chapels, several of which retain vivid polychrome decoration.

Between 2015 and 2018, Dr. John Shearman directed a significant conservation and training field school project at the site. The conservation field school focused on both the preservation of the temple’s architectural and decorative features and the training of a number of Egyptian conservators. This project was embedded within a larger field school framework that offered practical experience to the Ministry of Antiquities personnel. One of the primary focuses of this project was the consolidation and treatment of surviving polychrome reliefs in six of the temple’s twelve chapels. This included careful cleaning, stabilization, and conservation of delicate wall reliefs, many of which had survived intact since antiquity. 

The conservation efforts extended beyond the decorative program. Structural repairs were carried out on compromised areas of the flooring and exterior walls, especially in zones affected by water infiltration and/or outdated restoration techniques. In addition, a photography field school was conducted for two Ministry inspectors, enhancing documentation standards and capacity at the local level. These combined efforts not only stabilized key features of the temple but also elevated the level of conservation practice and documentation in Egypt.

While the American Research Center in Egypt’s (ARCE) work was the most extensive in scope during this time, other projects contributed to the broader understanding and preservation of Khonsu Temple. Notably, the Epigraphic Survey of the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago (Chicago House) under the supervision of Dr. W. Raymond Johnson conducted detailed documentation of reused inscribed blocks between 2008 and 2013, offering new insights into the temple’s complex construction history. 

In parallel with the Chicago House work, a complementary project was carried out under the supervision of Dr. Edward Johnson of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE). ARCE’s project focused on the physical conservation of the Khonsu temple, while Chicago House undertook the documentation of inscribed reused blocks embedded in the temple’s structure. The Chicago House team recorded hundreds of blocks originating from earlier New and Middle Kingdom monuments, reused during the 20th Dynasty construction of Khonsu Temple. ARCE supported this work by coordinating conservation activities to allow access for epigraphic recording. The collaboration ensured that vital historical and textual information was documented before the repaving and restoration of floor and wall surfaces, contributing significantly to the understanding of the temple’s architectural history and reuse practices in ancient Egypt. In addition, from 2020 onward, ARCE launched further conservation campaigns involving digital documentation and structural stabilization, continuing its long-term commitment to the site.

Overall, the work led by Dr. John Shearman from 2015 to 2018 was a pivotal phase in a decades-long effort to conserve one of Egypt’s most remarkable and informative New Kingdom temples, ensuring its survival for future research and public engagement.

Statement of Responsibility

The Khonsu Temple conservation and training field school, carried out between 2015 and 2018 under the direction of Dr. John Shearman was a comprehensive effort to restore and conserve this unique New Kingdom temple, originally commissioned by King Ramesses III. Khadiga Adam (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) managed 75 conservators from the Ministry alongside six supervisors: Ahmed Gad; Asmaa Saied; Shymaa Abo Elabbas; Ahmed Sallam; Mohamed Abu El Makarem; and Saady Zaki. The Khonsu Temple conservation and training field school was made possible with the support of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities (currently the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities).

Funding

The Khonsu Temple Conservation and Training Field School was facilitated with support from the Cultural Heritage Tourism in Egypt Project (CHTE Program 3), under cooperative agreement No.263-A-15-00007. The Conservation and Training Field School was administered by the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities (MoA).

See the temple of Khonsu on Google Maps here

Additional Resources

• Sullivan, E. (2008). Introduction to the Temple of Karnak. Digital Karnak, Los Angeles. http://dlib.etc.ucla.edu/projects/Karnak.

• Khonsu Temple - ARCE

• Conservation Field School at the Temple of Khonsu

• Epigraphy at Khonsu Temple

• ARCE’s Conservation at Khonsu Temple

• The Temple of Khonsu at Karnak: Conservation Challenges

• Khonsu Temple 30 Second Tour

• Ray Johnson Talks About Khonsu Temple

• The Epigraphic Survey, ARCE, and Khonsu Temple: Collaboration and Ancient Secrets Revealed

• Conservation at Khonsu Temple: the 2021-22 Season

• Khonsu Temple Conservation Project

• Khonsu Temple Campaign

• Conservation Field School at Khonsu Temple