The story behind the project

The Project
Project

the project

What is the Gebel el-Silsila Survey Project?

The Gebel el Silsila Archaeological Project was established in 2012 by Dr Maria Nilsson and John Ward of Lund University, with the kind permission of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities. The project seeks to document and preserve the archaeological evidence contained within this 30km² site.

The project is concerned with the conservation of the archaeological sites, including the preservation of quarries, inscriptions, and monuments. The harsh desert environment poses significant challenges to the conservation of stone structures, and the project works to mitigate the effects of weathering and looting. The Gebel el-Silsila Archaeological Survey Project engages local communities and the broader public through educational outreach and the dissemination of findings, offering a deeper understanding of Egypt’s ancient industrial activities and their cultural significance.

The Gebel el-Silsila quarries were in active use from the New Kingdom period (c. 1550–1070 BCE) through to Roman times, with the site yielding important evidence of quarrying methods, transport systems, and the labor force involved.

The project aims to explore the methods used by ancient Egyptians to extract and transport the large sandstone blocks, which involved sophisticated tools and techniques. Quarry marks, inscriptions, and unfinished stone blocks help provide insights into these practices. The survey also focuses on identifying the remains of workers’ settlements, which can offer clues about the lives of laborers, who were likely seasonal workers, as well as the organization of the workforce. This includes investigating workers’ camps, residential structures, and related infrastructure. Inscriptions and reliefs found in the quarries reveal that the area had religious significance, with temples and shrines dedicated to local deities. The project examines the role of religious and administrative activities in the quarrying process, highlighting how quarrying and worship were intertwined.

Overall, the project contributes greatly to the broader understanding of ancient Egyptian quarrying practices and the socio-economic and cultural context in which they occurred, shedding light on the complexities of labor, technology, and administration in the ancient world.

Photographs by Anders Andersson

Meet the Directors

Who started the Gebel el-Silsila Survey Project?

Maria Nilsson - Director

Maria Nilsson

Director

I have lived and breathed archaeology and research since I was a child and I’ve always known I was going to be an archaeologist. That we are here today, working to explore and preserve Gebel el-Silsila, is not a surprise.

I am passionate about my work, my family (who join me on site every season), and my team who number more than 10, coming from all over the world and together creating an amazing interdisciplinary group!

I started the Gebel el-Silsila Project in 2012, the only Swedish-led archaeological mission in Egypt, with my husband and research partner John Ward.

As Director of the Project, I am responsible for seeking funding for the fieldwork and ongoing conservation of the site and producing reports for the Ministry of Antiquities and ensuring that everything we do on site is in accordance with their regulations. I also work to promote and preserve the site and train local workmen and ministerial inspectors.

I previously lived in Egypt for more than a decade but am now based in Sweden, with John and our two children, Freja and Jonathan. My research on Gebel el-Silsila is combined with my senior lectureship at Lund University.

Amongst my work I have written two books and presented results at over 50 international conferences or symposia. I am a familiar face to viewers of documentaries on National Geographic and the Travel Channel.

I have a special interest in quarry marks, rock art, and ancient graffiti, iconography, ancient quarries and the overall site of Gebel el-Silsila, including the most intriguing life stories of the ancient people who built Egypt!

John Ward

Assistant Director

Originally from Hereford in the UK, I’m an archaeologist with more than 20 years’ experience of living and working in Egypt. I’m currently based in Sweden.

Along with my wife, Professor Dr Maria Nilsson, we set up the Gebel el-Silsila Project in 2012. It’s the only Swedish-led archaeological mission in Egypt.

My role is that of Assistant Director and I am responsible for all the logistics and security on site and ensuring the team’s health and safety protocols are in place.

Getting a team of people on a boat and across the Nile, along with all their equipment, is no small task.

We all need to be on site and ready to start work by 7.30am, once all the kit has been dragged up the hill. I take a roll call once we’re on the other side of the river and make sure teams are allocated to the correct areas on site. Security is so important so I make sure I know where every team member is at any given time.

Maria and I are on-call every second that we’re on site – to make sure everything is being undertaken correctly and safely and to keep abreast of any discoveries and ensure everything is recorded accurately.

Amongst our other work, we have published material from the last 12 years of on-site research and documentation, presented results at over 50 international conferences or symposia, and written two books.

Every season me, Maria, and our two children, Freja and Jonathan, decamp to Egypt for several months so we can continue our fieldwork and research.

I’m a familiar face to those with an interest in ancient Egypt, having appeared with Maria on National Geographic’s Egypt’s Treasure Guardians as well as the Travel Channel’s Expedition Unknown and the Science Channel’s Unearthed.

I’m also a National Geographic Explorer and an Explorers Club Fellow, and one of the founding trustees of Friends of Silsila.

My interests lie in quarry marks, rock art, and ancient graffiti, iconography, ancient quarries, and of Gebel el-Silsila, which tells the story of the everyday people who built ancient Egypt.

John Ward - Assistant Director

frequently asked questions

Silsila FAQs

Sponsors & Partners

Official sponsors of The Gebel el-Silsila Survey Project