QV 36

Anonymous Princess

According to the GCI-SCA, the tomb exhibits structural compromise due to fracturing in the ceilings and walls, and substantial ceiling loss in all chambers. Large areas of the main chamber (B) ceiling and east wall have been lost, and fallen rock fragments on the ground are evidence of recent loss. Many small fragments of fractured rock are loose and at risk of falling off. Of particular concern is a large wedge-shaped loss along a major fracture in the ceiling of chamber (B) that extends over a meter up into the rock. This and other losses are related to heavy jointing in the ceiling. Similar rock fracture and loss are evident in side chamber (Ba) and have resulted in a small break in the west wall to the exterior. The floor of the tomb is very irregular in places, probably due to localized surface loss of the rock. However, in other areas of the walls and ceiling there has not been much stone loss, as mason marks and traces of original plaster are still present.

The proximity of QV 37, and the break in the rock wall between them near the entrance, has resulted in lack of stability in the rock above the entrance and forming the west wall of QV 36. This is exacerbated by inherent rock jointing and presence of substantial fibrous salt bands. In chamber (B), very little raised relief painting survives on the east and west walls and only small fragments of painting around the gate (Ba) on the north wall. The south wall has the largest area of surviving painting but there have been substantial losses since the 1903-4 Schiaparelli images. The surviving paintings are fragile. There are cracks in the plaster, flaking off the paint and upper plaster layers, and general abrasion of surfaces. The white background of the paintings is almost completely lost and there is substantial paint loss revealing the plaster below. Surviving areas of painting on the ceiling near the major fracture are also vulnerable. The condition of the raised relief plaster decoration in the side chamber (Bb) is far better, having been extensively treated with major plaster repairs. These repairs may conceal structural problems. There is surface pitting of the plaster at the base of the wall in rear chamber (Bb). The cause may be salt-related and connected with previous moisture problems. For the most part, the paintings in main chamber (B) have not been treated except around gate (Ba) and a few localized edging repairs. The condition of the tomb is largely related to the inherent quality of the rock, which is fractured and weak due to its susceptibility to shrinking-swelling stresses. The presence of salt veins and, perpendicular to them, bands of chert, make the rock susceptible to separation along those features. This tomb shows some signs of flooding, though extant plaster at the base of the west wall in main chamber (B) suggests this was a localized phenomenon. Adjacent tomb QV 37 has clear evidence of recent flooding in the form of cracked mud deposit on the floor, which indicates that this tomb is susceptible as well. The extent of loss of painted plaster on the south wall of chamber (B) since the 1903-4 Schiaparelli images also suggests rapid rate of loss due to flooding.