Woodworking Techniques in Ancient Egypt

What is it about?

Woodworking Techniques in Ancient Egypt, wood species, wood properties, and Methods of decoration.

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Why is it important?

Timber was extensively used in manufacturing ancient Egyptian daily life items and funerary furniture. This chapter focuses on the woodworking techniques and carpentry tools in ancient Egypt are well known through the wall painting scenes of the ancient tombs, and the model of the carpentry workshop dates back to the Middle Kingdom, in addition to the excavation finds. The ancient Egyptian carpenters used many types of wood, including indigenous trees (Acacia sp., sycomore fig, and Tamarisk sp., etc.) and foreign trees (cedar, cypress, Juniper sp., etc.). This chapter illustrates the types of these trees and their wood properties and uses. The techniques of woodwork include bending plywood, drilling, turning, and smoothing, in addition to the wooden joints (corner joints, butt joints, mortise and tenon joints, dovetail joints, scarf joints, etc.). The ancient Egyptians developed several methods for fittings and fixtures, such as nails and tacks, hinges, brackets, and locks. The author sheds light on methods of repairing wooden artifacts and the reuse of earlier wooden artifacts, as well as the materials used in decorating wooden artifacts, including painting materials, leather, varnish, inlay, bark, gilding, plating, etc.