Conserving Ancient Egyptian Artifacts

Working with ancient Egyptian artifacts can feel like a dream to a conservator. The excellent state of preservation offers unparalleled opportunities for understanding materials and technologies and connects us with the people who created, handled, and used these objects in the past. Once excavated, however, these artifacts pose significant challenges for conservators to protect and prepare them for display. Conservator Molly Gleeson discusses the role of conservation on field projects and the preparations currently underway for the upcoming Ancient Egypt and Nubia Galleries.

Molly Gleeson, , the Head Conservator at the Penn Museum, has a great passion for public outreach, community engagement, and connecting people with cultural heritage. With more than 20 years of experience in the field, she has worked in museums and archaeological sites in the United States, Chile, Easter Island, and Egypt. She has a B.A. in Art Conservation from the University of Delaware and an M.A. from the UCLA/Getty Program.