Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Archaeology held in Toronto, Ontario, in February 2000.

The Theban Tombs Publication Project recently completed five seasons working in Theban tombs no. 121 and 72. These tombs belonged, respectively, to Ahmose, Second Prophet of Amun-Re, and his son, Rây, First Prophet in the mortuary temple of Thutmose III. They are located in the upper enclosure of Sheikh abd el-Gurna, situated on either side of the upper tomb of Senenmut.

In the tomb of Rây (no. 72), five seasons have seen the completion of all epigraphic photography of the decorations of the walls and ceilings, the continuation of drawing hand-copies for study purposes, and preparations for facsimile drawing and archaeological clearance and conservation. In the tomb of Ahmose (no. 121), the project has initiated epigraphic photography of the walls, ceilings and stelae fragments, and it has begun close study of the inscriptions, including drawing hand-copies of the inscriptions. It has also begun to survey the six burial chambers or shafts associated with the tomb.

Our recent discovery of new texts, previously inaccessible, in tomb 121 has revealed new titles for Ahmose, including, "Seal-bearer of the King of Lower Egypt" (sd3wty-bity) and "Overseer of Upper and Lower Egypt" (imy-r Šm^cw Mhw), as well as the names and titles of his parents, heretofore unknown, "the Magistrate (s3b) Ramose," and the "Lady of the House Bak[...]." In this manner, we now know the names of members of at least three generations of this important family of Theban priests during the reigns of Thutmose III and Amenhotep II.

Architectural investigations of tomb 72 reveal the probable existence of a pharaonic structure on the hill above the tomb (beneath the modern cenotaph of Sheikh abd el-Gurna), probably a pyramid or shrine associated with the tomb. Survey also reveals a pattern of reuse and rebuilding of Rây's tomb in Coptic times to accommodate a bakery or workshop for ceramics or metal-working. Despite Winlock's earlier uncertainty, there is no doubt that tomb 72 did become an outbuilding of a nearby monastery, either St. Cyriacus or St. Epiphanius. Survey also suggests a second phase of rebuilding and enlargement in the tomb of Ahmose that would have occurred while it was still under construction, lengthening the axial corridor and extending the north and south wings of the transverse hallway. If true, this enlargement occurred specifically when Rây completed the tomb for his deceased father. Ahmose's senior-most title in his tomb is "Second Prophet of Amun-Re." His title, "First Prophet of Amun in Henqet-Ankh (also Rây's title), occurs only on selected funerary cones, on funerary stelae which Rây placed into the tomb, and in texts inside Rây's own tomb. Therefore, we suggest that Ahmose was promoted posthumously to the title of high priest, perhaps at the request of his son.

The project has also undertaken a formal condition survey of the two tombs as the first step in cleaning and conserving the structures. Close examination of the pigment and plasterwork in Rây's tomb reveals a general pattern of color shift in the wall decorations and underlying mud plaster that is related to the intense and continuous heating which the tomb experienced as a workshop in the Coptic era.

Historical issues and findings pertaining to these and other activities of the project will be presented.