An Integrated Archaeometric Approach to Ancient Egyptian Woodcraft: Insights from the Medjehu Project

The Medjehu Project is the first large-scale international research programme dedicated to ancient Egyptian woodcraft, combining archaeological and archaeometric approaches. Established in 2021, its distinctive contribution lies in integrating material analyses with technological, historical, and cultural evidence through a multidisciplinary framework bringing together Egyptology, archaeology, xylology, conservation, and material science. Particular emphasis is placed on non-invasive and minimally invasive methods for wood anatomical identification, including newly developed protocols, enabling the investigation of raw material selection and woodworking practices while preserving the artefacts. Research conducted to date has highlighted the extensive use of local and imported woods and provided insights into regional traditions, specialised production practices, and long-distance exchange networks. This contribution presents the Medjehu Project and its archaeometric framework, highlighting how its integrated methodology has yielded new insights into ancient Egyptian woodworking, including timber procurement and circulation, craft production, workshop organisation, and the social and ritual significance of wooden objects. It summarises the results obtained to date and demonstrates the value of combining material analyses with technological, textual, and contextual evidence.