The exhibition Invisible Archaeology shows how scholars analyse ancient items using Historical Sciences, Natural Sciences (physics, chemistry, biology) and the resources offered by Archaeometry, the discipline that studies ancient objects by applying analyses with scientific technological tools. 

What are the modern technologies used on an archaeological excavation? What did the pigments that covered the objects look like? How did Egyptians mummify animals?  A selection of ancient objects, multimedia installations and immersive reality stations will provide an answer to all these questions and to many more. Visitors will take on a temporal journey from the future to the past and back again. 

3 MAIN SECTIONS
The exhibition layout offers a path towards the invisible and back again, which shows how we study objects at Museo Egizio and take care of them through conservation practices, so that they can be subjected to the new questions that future generations would be able to ask them. 

9 FOCUSES
Each focus will display the different techniques used to study materials, production methods and the conservation history of finds. Thanks to interactions with chemistry, physics or radiology, the material culture of Museo Egizio's collection reveals elements and new information that would otherwise be inaccessible. These new technologies will allow visitors to see what is invisible.

Invisible Archaeology is conceived and curated by the Touring Exhibition Office of Museo Egizio.

The curators are available to adapt the exhibition according to the spaces and needs of the interested museum and work together to build the best exhibition path for their venue.

3-6 months (negotiable)

At least 6 months before the opening date (1 year even better)

The list of objects will include a fine selection of collection items held at Museo Egizio, displayed alongside digital objects, virtual reconstructions and 3D models. All the multimedia contents and digital installations are an integral part of the exhibition.

The nature of digital objects is to help us understand real objects and investigate them further, not replace them. They enable us to more fully define the biography of an artefact, to discover its specific features and help ensure the survival of its past.

Among the 40 exhibits:

• 2 human mummies

• 9 animal mummies

• 3 coffins

• 4 papyri

All contents for the exhibition panels, labels and other texts are produced by the curators of Museo Egizio. The Invisible Archaeology display is particularly characterised by a rich and engaging multimedia setup and includes:

An information system consisting of panels written by expert-staff from Museo Egizio will accompany the whole exhibition.

All objects will be exhibited with a label containing basic data and a description.

13 VIDEOS
The exhibition videos are made by scholars and curators from Museo Egizio, as well as other institutions. The videos will illustrate:

• Composition of Egyptian pigments, in particular Egyptian blue: the first synthetic pigment in human history

• Conservation and restoration of Egyptian papyri

• Neutron imaging and its use to reveal the contents within sealed alabaster jars

• 20th century photography and its use on archaeological sites

And more...

VIRTUAL UNWRAPPING OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL MUMMIES
Computerised tomography (CT) scans and virtual unwrapping will allow visitors to see the treasures hidden underneath the bandages: bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings made with the most precious materials!

VIRTUAL RECONSTRUCTIONS
The digital reconstruction of the chapel of Maya will take visitors inside an Egyptian tomb.

3D PHOTOGRAMMETRIC MODEL OF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION
Visitors will be guided on an archaeological mission of the Museo Egizio in Saqqara, discovering the current research tools used on the field.

STEREOSCOPIC PICTURES
From Museo Egizio Archives, the pictures of tombs and excavations come to life thanks to stereoscopy.

INFOGRAPHICS
Accompanied by infographics, selected objects will illustrate the analyses done and the precious information obtained from their results. 

VIDEO-MAPPING ON THE COFFIN OF BUTEHAMON
A perfect 3D print of the outer coffin of the royal scribe Butehamon engages in a dialogue via projections that describe the phases of its construction; from carpentry to decorative design.

Museo Egizio will collaborate with the host institution to create the exhibition catalogue, providing texts and images.

• Introduction to the exhibition written by the Director of the Museo Egizio, Christian Greco

• One or more articles written by the Exhibition Curator

• Descriptive texts of all exhibits

• High-resolution pictures of all exhibits

An engaging display with original ancient Egyptian artefacts and digital objects will guide visitors on a journey towards the invisible and back again, to discover the life of people who lived more than 3000 years ago.

Thanks to the rich multimedia setup, Invisible archaeology will allow visitors to unveil the secrets of ancient Egypt. How was an Egyptian coffin made? What lies inside the wrappings of the mummies? What were Egyptian pigments made of? These are just few of the questions that will be answered in the exhibition.

Museo Egizio's technical staff supervises all handling and transportation procedures, ranging from packing the artefacts until their final installation at the exhibition venue. Museo Egizio provides all needed support to the local staff in order to make sure that the artefacts are handled in the most safe and secure manner.

Square meters required to display the exhibition:

• Max: about 600 mq

• Min: about 400 mq

All the collection items will be protected using security systems designed to prevent intentional or malicious contact by visitors; systems such as barriers and display cases equipped with alarm/detection sensors are required.

The standard showcase requested by the lender should be secured, lockable and stable enough to protect the object from any vibration and/or bumps. All materials used in manufacturing have to be chemically inert without any kind of gas emission. Lighting and conditioning are not allowed inside the showcases unless otherwise specified and agreed upon in writing. 

All objects that require a purpose-built mount (from a conservation point of view) will travel with their mount.

Max n.03 couriers

It takes about 10 working days