2012

June 14, 2013, Dr. Salah el-Kholy and Dr. Ola el-Aguizy, Department of Archaeology, Cairo University came to Kansai University as exchange researchers under the Agreement between Kansai University and Cairo University.

For one month and half they stay in Japan, they will research at ICP with researchers and graduate students of Kansai University. They also plan various activities at Kansai University such as lectures, seminars for students.

As part of the Egypt Air Fair at Kansai International Airport, ICP exhibited panels and 3D images in the special exhibition room on the third floor of the Main Hall in the Observation Deck from December 22, 2012 to January 31, 2013.

In this exhibition, we attempted to present the projects ICP has conducted at Idout’s mastaba in a clear, easy-to-understand manner in which explanation was given from the view of Princess Idout buried in the burial chamber.

Thank you for many people coming during a period.

The International Symposium 2012, “Forefront of the Restoration of Wall Paintings in the World” was held at Kansai University in November 11, 2012.

In the symposium, Ahmed Shoeib and Masaaki Sawada, ICP members, presented Egyptian paintings of Idout, Saqqara, and environmental conditions of murals in the world, and Dr. Chen Gangquan, Conservation Institute of Duhuang Academy, presented cave 351 of Mogao Grottes in China.The posters covered scientific branches as bio-organism, chemical analyses, high polymer, and fungus.Moreover, we invited Mr. Kamal Gaballa, Editing Manager of Al Ahram newspaper, Egypt, and he gave a talk on the situation of Egyptian monuments after the revolution. At lunch time, a belly dance was performed by the members of the Kansai University circle called the “Belly Divas.”

This symposium featured various approaches from both liberal arts and sciences, and also had viewpoints such as internationalism and interdisciplinarity.

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The research conducted at Machu Picchu in this August was introduced in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper (Morning edition).

The mission which Tadateru Nishiura (Conservation and Restoration Group) is in charge of is aiming to prevent the heritages from deterioration, and to pass on knowledge and skills of conservation and restoration to the specialists. This is conducted in collaboration with the Peruvian government. Atsushi Ito (Geotechnical Engineering Group) also has worked as a member of the mission

The research conducted with the Peruvian government on Machu Picchu was introduced in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper (Morning edition).

The mission which Tadateru Nishiura (Conservation and Restoration Group) is in charge of started conservation and restoration work of the Temple of Sun since August 24, 2012. Haruhiro Fujita (Niigata University of International and Information Studies) and Atushi Ito (Geotechnical Engineering Group) also joined this mission. They attempt to restore deteriorated stones of the temple

The research on Machu Picchu was introduced in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper (Morning edition).

From August 21, 2012, Japanese mission starts research with the Peruvian government on Machu Picchu. Tadateru Nishiura (Conservation and Restoration Group) and Atushi Ito (Geotechnical Engineering Group) are included as the member of the mission.

From July 25 (Wednesday) to 27 (Friday), 2012, Masaaki Sawada (Conservation and Restoration group) had an intensive course at Kansai University.

Students who had registered this course learned basic knowledge of natural scientific methods. With this course, they have got a better understanding of conservation technique for ancient cultural properties. Not only that, by using conservation techniques and the data gotten from them, we can deepen our understandings of cultural properties.

On 27th, they visited Nara national Research Institute for Cultural Properties and received explanations about facilities and the way to conserve cultural properties. They also visited at the remains of Heijo-kyu, and Masaaki Sawada (Conservation and Restoration Group) had lectures about conservation and utilization of cultural properties.

This course is very important to develop young researchers who are interested in conservation of cultural properties, and it’s also meaningful for our research.

From June 23 to 24, 2012, the annual conference of Japan Society for Scientific Studies on Cultural Properties was held at Kyoto University. Ryuichi Arakawa (Technology Development Group), Hideya Kawasaki (Technology Development Group), Ahmed Shoeib (Conservation and Restoration Group), Adel Akarish (Conservation and Restoration Group), Atsushi Ito (Geotechnical Engineering Group), Tatsuaki Nishigata (Geotechnical Engineering Group), Hiroshi Suita (Culture and Town Group), had a presentation.
The title of the presentations is as follow:

Oral Presentation, June 23 (Sunday).

Ryuichi Arakawa, Hideya Kawasaki, Ahmed Shoeib, Adel Akarish, Atsushi Ito, Tatsuaki Nishigata and Hiroshi Suita
“Identification of the Binding Media Used in Ancient Egyptian Painting Layers by MALDI Mass Spectrometry”

Poster Session, from June 23(Saturday) to 24 (Sunday).

Atsushi Ito, Tatsuaki Nishigata and Hiroshi Suita
“Reinforcement Work of Mother Rock in Burial Chamber of Mastaba in Egypt”

We have conducted research on cultural properties and local citizens in Saqqara. As for the conservation of cultural properties, cooperation and collaborative efforts with local citizens and communities is essential. However, so far, they have had little conscious of conservation and restoration of cultural properties, hence it’s become one of the tasks we have to face.

Meanwhile, although it hasn’t gained attention of the public, conservation action gradually starts to spread among local citizens and each community in part of Egypt.

We would like to show the article about the change of awareness to cultural properties from Egypt Independent.

2012, ICP had an agreement of academic exchange with Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University in Egypt. We will advance further research of cultural properties in Egypt.

This allows mutual support for training students and young scholars, exchange or visiting researchers and co-sponsoring international seminars. It also will be meaningful for our research activities.