The Tennessee papyrus

The restoration of the precious papyrus of Kha
in hieroglyphic writing executed by Antonio Basile
for the McClung Museum of the University of Tennessee, USA.

Book of the Dead of Kha

Prof.Basile and Prof.Evans, curator of the Frank H.McClung Museum, with the "Papyrus of Kha"

Dr. Alexander Lamar, President of the University of Tennessee; Prof. E.Evans and Dr.Jefferson Chapman, as they examine details of the papyrus.

from right: Prof.A.Basile, Prof.E.Evans, Curator of the Frank H.McClung Museum, Università Tennessee - Knoxville - U.S.A.; the journalist A.Rivelli; Dr.N.Gabrielli, Director of the Laboratory of Scientific Research of the Vatican Museums, with the "Papiro di Kha" executed by Prof.Basile in the Laboratory of Villa d'Este - Tivoli

In 1989 Prof. E.Evans, curator of the collection housed at the Frank H.McClung Museum of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, commissioned Prof. Antonio Basile, director of Laboratorio del Papiro della Villa d'Este (Villa d'Este Papyrus Laboratory) in Tivoli, to restore the Libro dei Morti ("Book of the Dead") of Kha conserved at the Museo Egizio (Museum of Egyptology) in Turin.
In line with the canons of experimental archaeology used in the restoration of writings and illustrations in original texts, the Laboratory/Museum based its work on meticulous technical, scientific and bibliographical research regarding the tools, materials and pigments used in the XVIII Dinasty.
A succession of chapters beautifully written in black ink with headings in red and illustrated with exquisite miniatures makes the volumen di Kha ("Volumen of Kha") an admirable product of the art of writing.