Hatshepsut Temple in Deir el-Bahari, Egypt – research and conservation work

Situated in the southern section of the Upper Terrace at Deir el-Bahari, the Hatshepsut chapel is the largest hall chapel in ancient Egyptian architecture. For over a century, archaeological and conservation efforts have been conducted at the temple and Hatshepsut chapel. Much of the research has never been published, while others are mentioned in the mission’s annual work reports. The research and conservation work at the site needs to be ordered and summarised. The article aims to aggregate and structure information on the research and conservation efforts undertaken at the Hatshepsut chapel. Over the last century, various archaeological and conservation missions have worked at the temple and contributed their findings to understand the site’s history better. However, much of the work has not been published and is only known from field notes or typescripts. The research presented in this paper highlights the limited knowledge about Hatshepsut’s chapel, particularly in terms of conservation. Egyptological, archaeological, and architectural research conducted in recent years, which is nearing completion, will provide an in-depth understanding of the largest chapel in ancient Egypt. Supplemented with relevant research, particularly in the preservation of stone and polychrome, a comprehensive conservation program can be developed, thus paving the way for the chapel reconstruction project.