Mummified Makeover: Ancient Egyptian Fit for the Future After Co…

Known as Pa-Sheri, the mummified man lived around 300 BCE during Egypt's Ptolemaic period. Since at least 1859, Pa-Sheri has been part of the Museum collection at Derby Museums, who sent him to the University for much-needed conservation work.

Pa-Sheri's intricately painted cartonnage and gilded mask suggest high social standing in ancient Luxor but a very different story lies beneath - shaped as much by Victorian curiosity as the rituals conducted after his death.

During the 19th century, it was common for mummified people brought to Britain to be unwrapped and 'examined'. In Pa-Sheri's case, this included the removal of his head, pelvis, parts of his limbs, and the rearrangement of arm bones into his chest cavity. His outer wrappings were then reattached, concealing the invasive treatment until the Museum undertook x-rays which revealed his true condition.

Conservation of Cultural Heritage students Ella Maude and Ella Monteiro, with guidance from Senior Technician Josephine Mackenzie, are now helping to preserve both Pa-Sheri and his complex history, as part of a conservation project funded by the Pilgrim Trust.

Rather than restore Pa-Sheri to an imagined original state, the team is taking a minimal intervention approach, stabilising areas of damage while preserving the evidence of his unusual post-mortem journey. The hands-on work includes consolidating the flaking plaster and paint layers, cleaning the fragile surfaces using gentle techniques, as well as replacing aged supports beneath Pa-Sheri's mask with safer, more durable materials.

Ella Monteiro said: "Working on Pa-Sheri has been a very personal and humbling experience. His journey has been long and to conserve him is to become a part of his story. The work we are doing with Derby Museums ensures his legacy lives on and his story continues to be shared with the world."

Ella Maude added: "This project has been an incredible learning experience. Our aim has been to protect him as he is now, respecting both his original context and the history that has followed. Despite his removal from his original burial place, I hope that our work helps to safeguard Pa-Sheri's continued afterlife."

The project is also shedding light on ancient craftsmanship and Victorian-era interference. Through polarised light microscopy, the team identified vibrant pigments like Egyptian Blue, orpiment yellow, and both red and yellow ochres, whilst UV light analysis also revealed the use of animal glue used during the 19th-century reassembly.

The conservation treatment is offering new insight into how these ancient materials were used, and how Victorian practices have altered the integrity of these artefacts.

Josephine Mackenzie, Senior Conservation Technician at Lincoln, said: "This project has offered the students a unique opportunity to engage with a complex conservation challenge. Pa-Sheri represents a rare case study, illuminating not only the materials and techniques of his period but also the evolving history of collecting and conservation practices. Our responsibility is to preserve him with the highest level of respect, acknowledging both his original cultural context and the ways in which his story has been reframed over subsequent centuries.

"By adopting a careful, minimal-intervention approach, we safeguard the object's integrity while retaining the evidence of its lengthy historical journey. It is gratifying to know that this work will directly inform the museum's forthcoming exhibition and enhance public understanding."

Laura Phillips, Head of Curatorship at Derby Museums said: "It has been a pleasure continuing our long-term partnership with the team and students at Lincoln. Arranging the appropriate care for Pa-Sheri is a challenge and whilst this essential conservation takes place, we know he is in safe and caring hands.

"Derby Museums promotes skill sharing and career development opportunities whenever possible and is committed to supporting students to engage with our collections through partnerships like this".

After conservation, Pa-Sheri will return to Derby Museums to be displayed alongside another mummified individual, Pypyu, in a new exhibition. The exhibition will not only explore the lives of ancient Egyptians but how material originating from Egypt came to museums like Derby, and will encourage a reflection on how museums can care for human remains with dignity, respect, and accountability. This project highlights that the story of artefacts like Pa-Sheri does not end in antiquity but continues through modern handling and display.