Research Activities | 2015

Our Center held the international symposium "Preservation of Cultural Heritage ～Local Challenges and Activities～" from February 27th to 28th, 2016.

On the 27th, the Center welcomed specialists from Egypt in archeological site administration, and in conservation and restoration. With Japanese researchers who are members of our Center in attendance, they reported the latest in what’s happening with the restoration of cultural properties in Egypt.

Then on the 28th, specialists in the conservation of cultural properties from Poland, Bahrein, Syria and China reported on the current situation with the conservation of cultural properties in their countries, along with the international links they have been forging. Japanese specialists engaged in JICA conservation projects for cultural properties was invited, as well, and joined in the proceedings. There were also lively exchanges of opinion during panel discussions held on both days to discuss current issues in the conservation of cultural properties and the way forward in this field in the future.

On the 29th the Center held a discussion seminar, allowing for the exchange of opinions on a more concrete level.

This year as last, the Center held a Seminar on the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Properties. The seminar ran from February 20th to 26th, 2016. Catering to students interested in the conservation of cultural properties, along with strongly interested members of the general public, the seminar offered talks from an outstanding range of researchers and experts active in the field. The seminar was an expanded and more hands-on version, featuring on-site lectures at the National Museum of Ethnology and practice sessions as well as the normal lectures.

This year's seminar featured addresses by Atsushi Ito (Science and Technology Group), Tatsuaki Nishigata (Science and Technology Group), Masaaki Sawada (Cultural Heritage Restoration Group), Tadateru Nishiura (Cultural Heritage Restoration Group), Kosuke Takatori (Science and Technology Group), and Osamu Kashiwagi (Global Culture Group).

Attendees had the opportunity to learn about a broad range of topics, from the basics about cultural properties to detailed examples of how they are conserved. Attendees with a perfect attendance record were given a certificate of completion.

Between January 27th and 29th of 2016, Masaaki Sawada (Cultural Heritage Restoration Group) held an intensive lecture entitled "Scientific Research on Cultural Properties" (fall semester) at the Kansai University Graduate School. In the lectures, we studied an overview of cultural asset science and learned the basics of conservation and restoration, with the aim of deepening our understanding of the preservation and utilization of cultural properties and cultural heritage.

On January 27th and 28th, lectures were held on the theme of "The Maintenance of and Activity Related to Archeological Sites." Discussions over the utilization and understanding of cultural properties were held and there was a lively exchange of viewpoints between graduate students while actual cases of conservation activity were also touched on.

On January 29th, those participating in the lecture visited the National Museum of Ethnology in Suita City. After a lecture by Prof. Naoko Sonoda (Research Center for Cultural Resources at the National Museum of Ethnology), participants observed the storage room and the conservation laboratory. The graduate students were able interact directly with the actual practice of conservation and exhibition for cultural properties. This proved to be a significant stimulus for them.

The "Second Seminar on Egyptology and Monuments" has been put together by seven researchers from the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University at the Center for the Global Study of Cultural Heritage and Culture (CHC), Kansai University, from January 23rd through January 24th, 2016 (a lecture by Mostafa Khalifa scheduled on January 24th had to be canceled as Dr. Khalifa had to go back his country in a hurry due to an unforeseen circumstance). During this seminar, a variety of specialized and multi-faceted lectures took place in the research fields of Egyptology and monument preservation.

The first day on 23rd, findings of a host of studies were reported, e.g. "A Study of the Deterioration and Conservation of Archaeological Glass" by Salwa Gadelkarim; "The Conservation Treatment of Papyri and Manuscripts" by Wafika Noshy Wahba; "The Conservation of Historic Areas in International Charters and Conferences" by Elsayed Mahmoud El-banna; and "Experimental and Applied Studies for the Conservation Treatment of Archeological Mummies" by Gomaa Abdelmaksoud.

The second day on 24th, the following research findings were reported as follows, namely; "The Royal Threat and its Historical Background" by Zakia Zaki Gameleldeen, "The intercession Scenes in Ancient Mesopotamian Cylinder Seals" by Soliman Elhewaily, "Councils of War: Hyksos, Thutmose III, and Ramses II Eras" by Mohsen Negmeldin.

The lectures provided the audience with precious content originating in many area of specialty and gave rise to heated opinions and questions exchange.

A class of "intermediate-level Middle Egyptian language" has been opened in the Center from December 12th, 2015 through January 9th, 2016.

This class has been designed for two types of audience: persons keen to obtain knowledge about ancient Egyptian society and culture through the command of ancient Egyptian Language; and persons eager to further their understanding of the ancient Egyptian Language. Plenty of Egyptology enthusiasts (mainly made up of students having successfully completed the Middle Egyptian language introductory- level class) have attended this course.

The study has enabled them to get a grasp of the ancient Egyptian society and lifestyle throughout several approaches, such as: in-depth analysis of the text; along with continuous reading of ancient Egyptian text; application of the knowledge acquired in the introductory class; and reading of ancient Egyptian work such as the Eloquent Peasant and the Story of Sinuhe.

The students who attended these intermediate-level lectures were awarded with a certificate of completion for the "intermediate-level Middle Egyptian Language Class" delivered by the Center upon completion of three sessions.

An intensive introductory-level class of Middle Egyptian language consisting of four sessions has been opened at the Center from October 10th through November 7th, 2015.

This class has provided students with an opportunity to study a variety of items, such as basics of grammar as seen in authentic written materials from ancient Egypt, usage of a dictionary, and reading and breaking of words.

This introductory class has fulfilled the function of substantially preparing the students to the subsequent intermediate Middle Egyptian language class (starting from December 12th of the same academic year) by providing an understanding of the main features of the Middle Egyptian grammar.

This class was primarily intended for beginners in Middle Egyptian; however, a diverse audience of all ages has attended the class, including students having taken the class in the previous year and the year before.

The students who attended the class were awarded with a certificate of completion for the 'Middle Egyptian Language Introductory Level Class' delivered by the Center upon completion of four sessions.

The 57th annual meeting of the Society for Near Eastern Studies was held from October 17th through 18th, 2015 at the University of Hokkaido. The head of this Center, Hiroshi Suita (Egyptology and Egyptian Society Group) has given a poster presentation entitled "Activities of the Kansai University Center for the Global Study of Cultural Heritage and Culture."

This presentation introduced a wide range of activities of the Center that aims at the establishment of "comprehensive cultural heritage studies," such as activities to preserve and restore the mastaba of Idout in Saqqara, Egypt, an interview survey in the village of Saqqara, a field survey in Bahrein, joint research in Japan and opening of a Middle Egyptian language class.

From September 21 to October 1, 2015, Salah el-Kholy (Egyptology, Egyptian Society Group), a researcher at CHC, came to Japan to give lectures to Kansai University students on the Middle Egyptian language.

The lectures used the "Tales from the Westcar Papyrus" to work on reading hieroglyphs of the Middle Egyptian language. Because the lectures were held entirely in English, it was a great opportunity to learn many technical terms. Furthermore, by covering many of the nuances of grammatical interpretation, the lectures were an inspiration to the students.

On September 20, 2015, as part of the Physical Society of Japan's Fall Meeting on Citizen Science, a lecture was held at Kansai University on "Science, Technology, and Our Daily Lives."

Director of CHC, Hiroshi Suita (Egyptology, Egyptian Society Group), gave a talk on, "Technology in Ancient Egyptian Civilization." In addition to discussing the relationship between modern technology and ancient Egyptian technologies, such as murals, faiences, and glass and other ornaments, the talk introduced some of the results coming out of CHC.

On September 18, 2015, the CHC held a special lecture by Dr. Hany Abo el-Azm, the General Director of the Foreign Missions Affairs and Permanent Committee, Egyptian Ministry of State for Antiquities, entitled, "Recent Archaeological Discoveries in Egypt."

The talk introduced relics recently discovered in Egypt and described the 2011 revolution's effect on archaeological survey activities.

Additionally, after the lecture, a workshop on cultural assets was held to discuss the history and evolution of the Japanese Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties.

On Saturday the 19th, we traveled to Nara to visit the Nara National Museum. Later, while touring Kofuku-ji Temple and the Kasuga Grand Shrine, we exchanged opinions on the significance of classifying cultural assets based on the Protection of Cultural Properties Law.

Kansai University held an international symposium on "Islam and the International Community" from September 14–16, 2015. In addition to the Japanese participants, experts from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates participated in the symposium and gave reports on a wide variety of topics.

On Wednesday 16, the director of CHC, Hiroshi Suita (Egyptology, Egyptian Society Group) gave a talk entitled, "The Influence of Changes in Political Situations on the Preservation of Egyptian Ruins" in which he discussed the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, the conditions that followed, and the influence of the revolution on cultural properties.

In September, 2015, Hiroshi Suita, Eriko Oka (both of the Egyptology, Egyptian Society Group), Ahmed Shoeib, Adel Akarish, Maisa Mansour (all of the Cultural Heritage Restoration Group), Atsushi Ito, Hiroaki Tsuruta, and Yoshinobu Nakamura (all of the Science and Technology Group) conducted a field survey in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Beginning with the World Heritage site Qal'at al-Bahrain and the Arad Fort in the Muharraq district, they visited the Barbar Temple, Saar Cemetery, A'ali Royal Mounds, among others. The group surveyed an impressive number of ruins and sacred spaces from many periods of Bahrain's history, giving the members an opportunity to witness the current state of the various cultural properties and see how they are presently being used.

The "2015 International Symposium on East Asian Cultural Heritage Conservation in Nara" was held from August 26–29, 2015.

This symposium was held to promote East Asian cultural exchanges within cultural and historical contexts, as well as improvements in cultural heritage conservation and restoration in East Asia. Over 300 experts in cultural asset conservation and restoration, mostly from China, Korea, and Japan, participated in the event and presented the most recent results of their research, engaged in discussion, and enjoyed cultural exchanges.

Many researchers from CHC participated in the symposium. Notably, Tadateru Nishiura (Global Culture Group) served as the head of the executive committee, and Masaaki Sawada (Global Culture Group) delivered a keynote speech as chairman. At the poster session, in addition to reporting on CHC’s activities, we shared opinions and the techniques for conservation and preservation of cultural assets in different cultural spheres.

In August, 2015, Hiroshi Suita, Salah el-Kholy (both of the Egyptology, Egyptian Society Group), Ahmed Shoeib, Adel Akarish, Maisa Mansour (all of the Cultural Heritage Restoration Group), Atsushi Ito, Tatsuaki Nishigata, Hiroaki Tsuruta, Yoshihiro Yasumuro, and Yoshinobu Nakamura (all of the Science and Technology Group) conducted a joint field survey in Saqqara, Egypt.

Activities centered on the confirmation of the results of the chemical tests performed in the last survey, and discussions with the local restorators. In the discussion, views were exchanged on appropriate chemicals for strengthening the bedrock at Idout. Additionally, the team visited the remains at Giza in order to check the progress of deterioration of a sphinx which was constructed from the same brittle bedrock used in the underground burial chamber at Idout.

Ahmed Shoeib and Adel Akarish (Cultural Heritage Restoration Group) visited Japan from July to August, 2015, and conducted meetings with the Japanese members of CHC.

In 28th July, they participated in meetings with Hiroshi Suita (Egyptology, Egyptian Society Group), Tatsuaki Nishigata, Atsushi Ito, Hiroaki Tsuruta, and Yoshinobu Nakamura (all of the Science and Technology Group).

This meeting, held in preparation for a survey in Egypt to be carried out in August, saw a lively exchange of views, primarily on chemicals to be used in the reinforcement of the bedrock of the mastabah at Idout.

Masaaki Sawada (Cultural Heritage Restoration Group), a researcher at CHC, conducted the first part of an intensive lecture series entitled, "Scientific Research on Cultural Assets A," from July 29-31, 2015.

In the lectures, we studied an overview of cultural asset science and learned the basics of conservation and restoration, with the aim of deepening our understanding of the preservation and utilization of cultural properties and cultural heritage. The lectures introduced many examples and the latest developments in the field, drawing great interest from all who attended.

On July 31, we visited Conservation Science Laboratory of Osaka City Cultural Properties Association, where we received a tutorial and watched a demonstration of preservation and restoration methods for wooden materials. In addition, in the afternoon we visited Osaka Museum of History and enjoyed a lecture on current conservation measures being taken at Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace ruins, then went to observe the nearby remains.

In June, 2015, the President of Cairo University praised Maisa Mansour (Cultural Heritage Restoration Group) of CHC for her 2014 publication in an international journal, which contributed to an improvement in Cairo University's position in global academic rankings of universities.