34 Craftwork for the ages A timeline of Ancient Egyptian woodworking techniques KEYWORDS: Ancient Egypt; woodworking; woodworking techniques; innovation. This paper is based on results from the author’s 2021 University of Lincoln MA thesis, examining developments in Ancient Egyptian woodworking. Primarily this research resulted in the compilation of technique timelines, mapping the evidence for a range of woodworking techniques onto the established historic chronology of the late Predynastic Period to the end of the New Kingdom (c. 3150-1069 BC). As such, it begins to fill a gap in the existing literature on the subject, providing the basis for a discussion on the fundamental characteristics of Egyptian woodworking and an investigation into the extent and nature of change over time. The techniques included in the study consisted of: shaping (carving, bending, sawing), joinery (board production and joints), applied techniques (veneers, inlay, gilding), fittings, adhesives, and tool technology. In seeking to accurately identify the first appearance of a technique, a wide range of objects were examined via documentation available through collection databases and existing literature. These ranged from articles of furniture to architecture, ships, coffins, statuary, weaponry and land transport. Such a range of evidence allowed for preliminary studies into the movement of techniques between artefact types and further discussion of the factors that drove innovation. Overall, a rapid, early development of a wide range of skills can be observed, with continual refinement of technique seen over the course of the study period. This work also highlights the interrelated nature of material availability and innovation, along with the practicalities involved in object construction. mair.trueman[at]yahoo.com
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