Dr. Abdelrhman Fahmy Archaeology

My Journey into Archaeology and Conservation Science

My passion for archaeology and conservation science began in childhood. I grew up in El Badarashin, a historic region in Egypt that lies at the heart of one of the world’s richest archaeological landscapes. Located near the ancient royal necropolises of Saqqara, Dahshur, and Memphis, the first capital of Ancient Egypt, El Badarashin offered me a unique connection to humanity’s earliest civilizations. Growing up surrounded by this extraordinary cultural heritage inspired a deep curiosity about the past and a lifelong commitment to understanding and preserving it.

My father, El Sheikh Mohamed Fahmy, played a significant role in shaping this passion. He often took me to the archaeological sites of Dahshur and Saqqara, where he introduced me to Egypt’s remarkable monuments and shared stories about the achievements of our ancestors. He also helped me explore ancient quarrying sites and stone sources, experiences that sparked my fascination with both cultural heritage and geology.

During high school, geology quickly became one of my favorite subjects. This interest led me to pursue a degree at Cairo University’s Faculty of Archaeology, where I studied Ancient Egyptian art and architecture, Ancient Egyptian writing systems, Islamic architecture, and Islamic art. While I was deeply interested in archaeology, I was equally drawn to the scientific study of the materials that make up our cultural heritage.

For this reason, I specialized in conservation. My studies covered a wide range of disciplines, including stone conservation, mural painting conservation, ceramic and glass conservation, excavation and documentation techniques, chemistry, physics, engineering drawing, geotechnical engineering for archaeological sites, built heritage restoration, mineralogy, petrology, and archaeological site rehabilitation and management.

After completing my undergraduate degree, I pursued a Master’s degree in Stone and Architectural Conservation while simultaneously earning a postgraduate diploma in Geology. Through my academic training and research, I recognized a significant gap between heritage conservation science and geology. Understanding the geological nature of ancient materials is essential for interpreting their history, diagnosing deterioration processes and developing effective conservation strategies.

This realization shaped my research career. Today, my work focuses on bridging the fields of geology, archaeology, geoarchaeology, archaeometry and conservation science to better understand archaeological materials and improve the preservation of cultural heritage. I am committed to advancing interdisciplinary approaches that connect earth sciences with heritage conservation, ensuring that archaeological sites, monuments, and historic landscapes can be protected and appreciated by future generations.

My journey, from growing up among the monuments of Memphis, Saqqara, and Dahshur to becoming a researcher in conservation science, has been driven by a desire to uncover the stories hidden within ancient materials and to contribute to the sustainable preservation of humanity’s shared heritage.