“What makes these discoveries so significant is that they belonged to regular people, not royalty or the elite. These were the forgotten builders of Egypt, and their stories deserve to be told.”
This is how renowned British archaeologist John Ward described the work of the Gebel el-Silsila Project. His work unearthed not just ancient artifacts but the forgotten stories of the everyday people who helped build ancient Egypt.
Until his passing on 4 August 2025, John served as the Assistant Director of the Gebel el-Silsila Project. He dedicated his life and career to telling the story of Silsila’s craftsmen and their families, revealing their contributions through the discovery of lost villages, sacred shrines and over 80 tombs.
But John’s passion was not limited to the past. He believed in empowering local Egyptian communities by providing them with training and employment. He ensured the legacy of discovery was shared with the very people whose heritage he sought to preserve and who he so deeply respected.
The First Joint Egyptian-Swedish Mission in Egypt
John worked alongside his wife and research partner, Dr. Maria Nilsson of Lund University, to transform our understanding of the massive sandstone quarry site located approximately 40 miles north of Aswan.
Unlike many high-profile archaeological expeditions which focused on royal treasures, John and Maria’s Swedish-Egyptian mission shone a spotlight on ordinary ancient Egyptians – the quarrymen, craftsmen, and their families who lived, worked, and died at Gebel el-Silsila while cutting stone for Egypt’s most iconic temples and monuments.
Their groundbreaking approach has yielded spectacular results and created the most comprehensive picture to date of how everyday Egyptians lived during the New Kingdom period (1550-1070 BCE).
In 2016, John and Maria’s team announced the discovery of 42 rock-cut tombs and an elaborate shrine decorated with a winged sun disc along the banks of the Nile River. While their most jaw-dropping find came in 2019 when the team unearthed what has been dubbed “The Lost Village of Tutankhamun’s Workers” – a remarkably preserved settlement of quarrymen and their families dating to the famous boy-king’s reign. The discovery offered unprecedented insights into daily life, housing, and community structure.
A charismatic presence both on excavation sites and in documentary appearances, John became known for his ability to communicate complex archaeological concepts to public audiences. His work earned him recognition as a National Geographic Explorer and Fellow of the prestigious Explorers Club.
Beyond the Academic Value
Beyond the academic value of his discoveries, John focused on connecting ancient finds to modern communities.
This community-centered philosophy set John apart in his field. Under his guidance, the Gebel el-Silsila Project trained dozens of local Egyptians in archaeological techniques, providing sustainable employment and ensuring local communities felt ownership of their cultural heritage.
John always made it a priority to hire from nearby villages and regularly organized educational programs for local schoolchildren.
While the Mission’s focus on everyday ancient Egyptians garnered widespread praise, some initially questioned whether investigations of worker communities merited the same resources as royal tomb excavations.
“There was skepticism at first,” acknowledged Dr. Thomas Schneider, Professor of Egyptology at the University of British Columbia. “Some colleagues wondered if worker villages could yield significant historical insights. John’s discoveries silenced those doubts completely.”
John explained: “The pharaohs have had their moment in the spotlight for centuries. It’s time we honoured the thousands of skilled workers who actually built ancient Egypt. Their contribution was just as important.”
John’s legacy continues
John’s passing has left a void, not just in the archaeological world, but in the lives of his wife and research partner, Dr. Maria Nilsson, and his five children. Maria is committed to continuing their crucial work at Gebel el-Silsila.
Many people have reached out to the Project since John’s passing to ask how they can help continue his work. So the Friends of Silsila Association has re-ignited its GoFundMe campaign in John’s memory. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps to secure John’s legacy.
To make a contribution to the Mission’s work, please visit www.gofundme.com/f/friends-of-silsila-association
To find out more about the work of the Gebel el-Silsila Project, please visit www.friendsofsilsila.org
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