The Strength of the Deir el Medina Workforce in the Years Following the Ramesside Renaissance

Summary This article has a critical look at J.-C. Antoine’s research on the Deir el Medina workforce following the reign of Ramses XI as published in ZÄS 146 (2019). For the two reigns following the Renaissance the strength of the workforce is established by combining the workmen named in an ostracon or graffito with those of earlier and later sources. It is shown that Antoine’s conclusion that the workforce still functioned under a third reign following the Renaissance is highly unlikely. All the available sources can be seen to fit a reign of some 10/11 years followed by a reign of some 20/21 years.