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Founder and Director of the Gebel el-Silsila Project, Maria is responsible for directing the archaeological mission.  Maria directs the fieldwork and ongoing conservation of the site, producing reports for the Ministry of Antiquities. Maria also works to promote and preserve the site and train local workmen and ministerial inspectors.

Maria's research on Gebel el-Silsila is combined with a senior lectureship at Lund University, Sweden.

Maria has written two books and presented results at over 50 international conferences and symposia. Maria is a familiar face to viewers of documentaries on National Geographic and the Travel Channel.

Maria has a special interest in quarry marks, rock art, and ancient graffiti, iconography, ancient quarries and the overall site of Gebel el-Silsila, including the most intriguing life stories of the ancient people who built Egypt.

Jo is an Egyptologist specialising in New Kingdom cult temple iconography.  As Assistant Director, Jo is Registrar, and supports Maria in operational aspects of the project.

Jo is working on the iconography of the Temple of Sobek (rediscovered in 2015) as part of her PhD candidacy with Durham University.  Jo was the recipient of the Barry Northrop Prize 2023, which funded the search for a third temple at Silsila.

Bob is Head Photographer, responsible for creating the photographic archive of the Mission.  Bob has a  BA in Sociology, University of Toledo and an MA in Archaeology and Heritage from the University of Leicester.

Previously, Bob worked as a military engineer in the army and a private pilot.  Bob has have excavated the Indian Hills site in Toledo; at Perrysburg Ohio; Tell Jawa and Wadi Thamad near Yadooda and Madaba, in Jordan.

From 1996-98 Bob was 

the Assistant Director of the American Centre of Oriental Research (ACOR) in Amman, Jordan. 

During 2013, Bob visited sites in the Eastern Desert and searched for new ones with geologist James Harrell.

Bob joined the Silsila team in 2014, and leads the team of photographers, which includes training of junior photographers. 

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Tricia is a field and research archaeologist, who has been working with the Gebel el-Silsila Project since 2016. After earning her Master of Arts in Archaeology and Heritage Management from the University of Exeter in 2013, Tricia first gained extensive experience in the field working at an Early Bronze Age settlement and a Roman Legion Camp before joining the Gebel e-Silsila mission.

Tricia's work focusses on several sites, including the 18th Dynasty and Roman Necropolises; the Thutmosid-Roman Temple of Kheny; the quarry of Amenhotep III; and the Tutankhamun workers village. In addition to large scale and comprehensive excavation, Tricia’s duties encompass all aspects of the mission’s work such as: tomb identification; landscape analysis; site survey and documentation; and small finds and artefact analysis, registration, and photography.

Tricia has presented the team’s work through professional conference papers and public presentations. 

Tricia founded Meet the Archaeologist, an educational program designed to introduce school children and interested general audiences to the wonders of archaeology and the ancient world. She believes that through archaeology we open a door and get a glimpse of the distant past, the shared past of all humanity.

Ahmed (known by the team as Apet) is the Reis/Site Supervisor, and has been part of the Gebel el-Silsila team since 2017.

Ahmed supervises the work on site, managing the skilled local team including health and safety. Ahmed also take part in excavation work.

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Archaeologist Tony joined the Gebel el-Silsila Project in 2016, after I completing his Masters in Archaeology from Lund University.

An expert in 3D photogrammetry, Tony records and creates 3D models of graves, sites and finds. Tony works with the total station shooting point.

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Barbara is a bioarchaeologist leading the study of the human remains of Silsila.  I have completed a Masters in human osteoarchaeology and funerary archaeology. After a period as a freelance physical anthropologist I joined the University of Brussels.

Barbara examines the skeletons systematically assessing what’s there and draw what’s missing and making a note of the state of preservation. If possible Barbara estimates the age at death, sex and any pathological anomalies. I found some individuals that seem to have vitamin D deficiency which is remarkable for a country like Egypt with so much sunlight.