Valley of the Kings News on other blogs

Mark Jones: Come to Egypt – you'll have the place practically to yourself - News & Advice - Travel - The Independent

Jane Akshar — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:07:00 +0000

Mark Jones: Come to Egypt – you'll have the place practically to yourself - News & Advice - Travel - The Independent:

I especially liked the end of the article although all of it is true

................................The official slogan of the Egyptian Tourist Board is "Egypt: where it all begins". Instead, they should lift one which the Australians ditched a few years back: "Where the bloody hell are you?"

I'll tell you where the bloody hell I am. I'm sitting on the balcony of the Hilton Luxor hotel. It's pleasantly hot outside and I'm looking through the palm trees over the Nile towards the Valley of the Kings. I was over there yesterday morning. I spent 10 minutes alone with Tutankhamun in the tomb excavated by Howard Carter in 1922. This wasn't a VIP visit. There was just hardly anyone there.

It was the same in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. You could gaze into the young Pharaoh's gold death mask for as long as you liked. In normal times, you'd queue 40 minutes just to get into the museum and a further to get anywhere near Tutankhamun.

The Hilton is running at 15 per cent occupancy, which is about average for Luxor just now – "now" being right at the end of high season. It's a lovely property, just refurbished. Or rather, refurbished just before the revolution of 2011, and that's the crucial point. Tourism ground to a halt then and it's barely shifted since. Plans for a new Four Seasons in Luxor are on hold. The historic Winter Palace hotel, managed by Sofitel but owned by the government, awaits a badly needed restoration. The east bank of the Nile is clogged with mothballed cruise ships.

Then, in February this year, the hot-air balloon disaster happened. The world's focus was once again on Luxor, and once again for the wrong reasons.

So where the bloody hell are you? At home, not putting Egypt on your travel list. At home, worrying about the images from Tahrir Square.

I can't blame you. All I can say is that I haven't had a moment's concern for my safety – and that includes a couple of hours hanging out in Tahrir. As for the hassle? Well, the trinket and postcard sellers are desperate – you can hardly blame them – but they do take "no" for an answer. You'll get more grief in India, believe me.

They need your help and your pounds. But don't visit for their sake: do it for your own. You'll never get a better chance to see these temples, treasures and burial chambers with so much time and space to contemplate them properly.

There's a useful travelling principle here. As the BBC foreign correspondent, John Simpson, wrote recently in High Life magazine: "If I can, I always go somewhere which has just suffered a political upheaval, because security is always hugely reinforced, prices are rock-bottom, there are no other tourists and everyone's delighted to see you."

Following Simpson's Law, I've already been to Tunis and Greece. Apart from the rock-bottom prices, every word is true.

- Sent using Google Toolbar

The Civilization of Ancient Egypt

tim — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 21:16:00 +0000

Paul Johnson
Seven Dials
Wellington House
London
2005
ISBN: 184188068X

This attractive book is filled with numerous coloured pictures which accompany a text of some sophistication explaining the foundations of the Egyptian culture and its desire to live in memory and in soul for eternity, that is an eternity engraved in stone. Mr Johnson deals with man in accordance to his shifting environment;

"As the savannah turned into desert, paleolithic man began to descend to the Nile terraces and then to the valley bottom. Of course the valley was initially marsh. For many millennia, the tract from the First Cataract to Thebes was a lake; and much of the delta remained marsh throughout our period."

The rise and fall of the Nile river determines the seasons in an agricultural civilization which now flourishes in the valley as hunter gatherers become farmers. Among the beautiful pictures accompanying the text is one from the tomb of Nakht of men gathering grapes, its caption telling us that it is from the time of Thutmosis V?

The author puts forward the acknowledgement that the birth of civilization occurred much earlier in areas of Mesopotamia and the Middle east where excavations at Jericho and in Turkey at sites like Catal Huyuk have evidence going back to 8000 bc, where no evidence at this early date is known in Egypt. From the dawn of the Egyptian state come about a dozen stunning votive cosmetic palettes which deal with the unification of the peoples of Upper and Lower Egypt and the establishment of the office of the king at around 3100 bc.

The theology of these early people is beautifully explained by the author;

"it was only in the closing stages of the development in predynastic times that force seems to have been employed to group medium-sized units into two large ones, and eventually into a united country. In this process gods fought alongside men, in the sense that village and district totem-figures cannibalized subject deities and absorbed their power. These obscure struggles formed the basis of later myths and emerged in historic times to constitute the structure of Egypt's polytheology."

The battle of Osiris and Seth comes to symbolize the tale of good and evil with Horus the mythical embodiment of almost all of Egypt's mortal kings. In the death of Osiris we find the Lord of the Underworld and the one through which all souls must past to find eternity in the allusian fields.

The shaping of stone tools leads to the supernatural art of creating stone vases which were meant never to be seen or used except to be buried in a dark tomb. The power of royal authority culminates in the god-kings of Dynasty 4 and their pyramids on the Giza plateau.

Mr. Johnson presents a good read moving through developments in kingship and government from the god-kings and their families who hold the offices of government on to the decline of the centralized king to a population of provincial kings unifying ultimately in a Prince of Thebes at the start of the second millennium bc. The book is wonderfully thought provoking on elements of the Egyptian civilization which are rarely dealt with, the nuances and laws written or more often not written which governed the state of Maat are well put forward and developed.

Having said this it must be mentioned that the book is not for kids as the language and content would be more appropriate to someone with a more advanced education. I loved the consecutive pictures of the Abydos Kings Lists from the incredibly delicate raised relief of Seti I's list to the crude sunk relief of Ramesses II's list.

One of my favorite chapters was on hieroglyphs and linguistic developments not only in Egypt but among her neighbors as well while the hieroglyphs remain static and in finished development for their sacred purpose, the civil off-springs of hieretic, demotic and Coptic in turn develop the script into the Roman period and on into the Christian Era. The stelea that accompany this chapter are stunning and unusual examples as is the granite statue of Dersenedj from Giza.

A stelea of a married couple on page 172 is a masterpiece of austerity where pictograph meets inscription to produce a primitive yet modern/timeless image to please gods and ancestors. There again appear the mistakes, a picture of the famous model of Meketre and his scribes doing the cattle count is mistakenly referred to as terracotta.

The sitting statue of Sekhema, supervise of the writers, is an amazing example achieved of sculpture and the strict conventions with which the Egyptian artist followed faithfully, in this case of Sekhema and his family, the artist has overcome a complex composition to create a state of authority and serene presence, a state of Maat.

In chapter 8 the author deals with the decline of royal authority which as usual is the result of the lack of wealth as the kings of the late Ramesside period lost the rich booty which had been the result of dominance of Egypt's neighbors by the 18th dynasty kings at the beginning of the New Kingdom.

Now at the end of the second millennium bc Egypt's economy is eventually stabilized by the liberation of precious metals and objects stored away in tombs, hence the assets of the glory days became a major force on the weak economy, From here Egypt would go through many occupations that would complete the last millennium of pharaoh's, with kings who would hold on to the bronze age and Egypt's glorious past as the rest of the world ran headlong into the Iron age.

In the final chapter Mr. Johnson bring us back to our own time with the rediscovery of the hieroglyphs bringing a renewed appreciation of the value, tradition and the function of art of the ancient Egyptian's and their desire for their destinies of eternity to which they have succeeded.

"The Civilization of Ancient Egypt" though sprinkled with many big words and small technical irregularities was a thoughtful and thought provoking read that one day I may read again!

Make holiday, have a good time without wearying. For it is not given to man to take his property with him. No one who leaves this life ever comes back.

News from Manchester University - Egyptology Online

Jane Akshar — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 16:08:00 +0000

News from Egyptology Online

We are now getting to the end of a very busy year which has seen the successful launch of the two-year Diploma in Egyptology, and the use of an “Investing in Success” award to film sites and artefacts in Egypt and in the stores of The Manchester Museum. These film clips will now be incorporated into the Diploma and Certificate Courses. As some of you may have noticed, we have put four of these short films onto the “News and Events” page of our website for everyone to enjoy:

http://www.egyptologyonline.ls.manchester.ac.uk/newsandevents/

Please note, you may not be able to view these on an ipad or phone.

April saw the 90^th anniversary of the death of Lord Carnarvon, which heralded a flurry of interest in the theory of “Tutankhamen’s Curse”:

http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=9799

Some of you may have seen the recent publicity surrounding research into the use of iron in Predynastic Egypt. This research project was devised and developed by Certificate Student Diane Johnson, and was focused on an iron bead in the collections of The Manchester Museum:

http://www.nature.com/news/iron-in-egyptian-relics-came-from-space-1.13091

Click here to watch Diane lecture to the Royal Society, exploring potential links between ancient Egypt and meteorites:

http://royalsociety.org/events/2013/meteorites-ancient-egypt/

Following on from the success of February’s Daughters of Isis: Women in Ancient Egypt study day, we have started to plan our February 2014 event. Having reviewed the feedback received from previous events (good, except for the fact that the lecture theatre has for a few years been too cold for those who have to spend the day sitting still) we have decided to transfer the event to the Museum’s Kanaris lecture theatre which is slightly more intimate, but which will definitely be warmer. The theme will be Sons of Osiris: Men of Ancient Egypt, and we hope to explore various aspects of what it meant to be a man in ancient Egypt. The subject was suggested by the casual remark of a publisher when Joyce suggested a book on this subject: “Oh no, no one is interested in men in ancient Egypt”. We hope to prove that publisher wrong.

Details of this study day will appear on our website in September, but in the meantime, keep the date of 8 February free.

We are currently recruiting new students for the Certificate and Diploma Courses, starting in September/October 2013. If you know anyone who may be interested in joining either of these courses, please pass this email on:

http://www.egyptologyonline.ls.manchester.ac.uk/

News and Events from The Manchester Museum

Campbell Price and Anna Garnett have recently discovered part of the Amarna Princesses Fresco, now in the Ashmolean Museum, when looking for samples of ancient plaster for a researcher. Click here for more details:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=405809199516255&set=a.185828818180962.37761.185391424891368&type=1&theater

14^thJune: screening of the Polish film Faraon. This is a free event, but booking is essential.

Click here for more details:

http://egyptmanchester.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/film-screening-14-june-2013-jerzy-kawalerowiczs-pharaoh-faraon/

Saturday 29^th June: Lecture: Talking Trees in Ancient Egyptian Love Poetry given by Cynthia Sheikholeslami of the American University in Cairo.

An ancient Egyptian papyrus, dating to around 1100 BC, contains a series of love songs related to trees and fruits. This lecture will explore the themes and imagery of these Egyptian love songs, and how they were related to the worship of the Egyptian goddess Hathor, a deity associated with fertility – but also with trees:

http://egyptmanchester.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/lecture-290613-talking-trees-in-ancient-egyptian-love-poetry-by-cynthia-sheikholeslami/

Housing for secretaries and tomb raiders - FT.com

Jane Akshar — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 13:25:00 +0000

A very interesting article about the Hassan Fathy village about 1 mile from my flats.

Housing for secretaries and tomb raiders - FT.com: Financial Times

New Gourna was begun near Luxor in 1946, with Egypt then still effectively under British rule. It was designed by one of the greatest architects of the modern era, Hassan Fathy (1900-89), to rehouse a community of light-fingered amateur archaeologists who had been stealthily stripping Luxor’s tombs of their treasures.

Wary of losing their livelihoods, the residents – working-class people and with little interest in design – were initially reluctant to move. Fathy tried to persuade them with a new kind of architecture. Or rather, with a very old kind of architecture.

Fathy looked to the buildings in a traditional Egyptian village, an architecture of domes and courtyards, of cool arcades and thick walls sheltering shady rooms from the fierce heat. He began building not with concrete, which had become the default construction material of the age, but with mud-brick, the material used to build the first villages around the Nile at the beginning of civilisation.

When Fathy embarked on building the village there was no electricity or running water. The architect adopted the traditional Egyptian malqaf, or wind-catcher, a small chimney built on the roofs of houses to draw down a breeze into the heart of the house.

He also eschewed any ideas of modernist town planning, instead creating tight shaded alleys, giving houses small windows or no windows on south-facing walls and centring the structures around the courtyards that had traditionally formed the core of Arab houses.

The natural ventilation, the use of low-impact materials, the revival of traditional forms (particularly the beautiful domes and open-work grilles which gave even the smallest houses a sense of grandeur and symbolism) all contributed to making this a prototype in sustainable development. Its legacy lives on through the book that Fathy went on to write based on his experiments in New Gourna, Architecture for the Poor , which remains one of the great texts of 20th-century architecture.

New Gourna was not an unqualified success. The foundations proved inadequate, the mud-brick was occasionally unstable and residents altered many buildings, often for the worse. But it has survived as a real village and it continues to inspire architects across the world, especially on the fringes of developing cities.

- Sent using Google Toolbar

Update from Amarna: Human bone study at Amarna and other topics

Andie — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 10:40:00 +0000

The latest email news update from Barry Kemp and Anna Stevens:

2013 physical anthropology study period

Following a break of two weeks at the end of the spring excavation season (for the cemetery part see the Amarna Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/amarnaproject?ref=mf), the house and expedition opened again, on May 18th, for the start of the 2013 physical anthropology study period, that is due to end on June 13th. Led by Prof Jerry Rose, assisted by Dr Gretchen Dabbs, the 15-person group travelled by chartered bus to Amarna and quickly got to work. Facing them this time is twice as many bones as in the past. Since the 2012 study period, two full field seasons of excavation at the South Tombs Cemetery have taken place. The result is whole or partial skeletons of 141 individuals, who take the full total of individuals since excavation began in 2006 to 401.

The bones are stored, by individual, in large plastic crates and skull boxes, labelled as to circumstances of finding (date, location, etc). They still retain, however, a coating of sand that needs to be carefully brushed off over fine-mesh sieves. In order to hasten this, four of the regular cemetery workmen (led by Walid Mohammed Omar) are doing this necessary job. As the individuals emerge from their 'dry-cleaning' episode, they are laid out in full anatomical order on the tables in the workrooms. They are then recorded according to a full bioanthropological protocol. Beyond this, several specific research projects are under way, some of them assisted by the expedition's on-site x-ray facility.

A few photographs can be seen at:
https://www.facebook.com/amarnaproject/photos_stream

In some cases, the hair remains on the skulls, sometimes as a full head of hair. Often, however, ancient robbery has separated skull and hair, and the latter is found loose in the sand. When taken together, the eight seasons of excavation have provided a large collection. For a second time, the team was joined by Jolanda Bos from The Netherlands. Jolanda is an archaeologist and heritage consultant who has studied hair plaiting and beadwork amongst African societies. She began this time by improving the means of storing skulls with hair that will keep them stable, creating for each a paper bonnet that still allows the anthropologists access to the jaw and front of the skull for cranial measurements and dental research.

Her Amarna findings are exciting. "The amount of complete hairstyles dating to such a limited and specific period is unique, especially in combination with the preservation conditions and the ethnic complexity of the group." A wide variety of types of hair, ranging from very curly black hair, to middle brown straight hair were present amongst the skulls, showing the ethnic diversity of the Amarna sample. No wigs were found, the preference being for hair extensions for which abundant evidence is present. The extensions were either braided or tied into the hair of the individual. It became clear that on almost all skulls which were analyzed, fat was used to model the hairstyles. On all skulls very fine pieces of textile were found covering the hair. Whether or not this was only done for burial or whether it was the general practice in daily life as well remains unclear. The textile found on the top of the head retained traces where fat cones had been placed, but textile was also present on the back and side of the head.
The remains of possible fat cones were discovered on most of the skulls examined.

At least three cases were identified of sidelocks on the skulls of children, the ages being four and a half, eight and a half and nine and a half. On the back and the side of some of the skulls, botanical remains were found. They seem to have been bound with string to the back of the head of the individual; sometimes they were found in relation with a strip of textile. Possibly these are the remains of floral garlands draped around the head of the deceased.

Bones, hair and much, much more is stored in the expedition storerooms, or magazines, situated beside the expedition house. This time the keys and responsibility are entrusted to Inspector Edward Rushdi, who otherwise helps to look after the central regional magazines at El-Ashmunein.

Enhancing and enlarging storage is a constant need. We have just added two new sets of steel storage racking, manufactured by two brothers who have a wrought-iron business in Mallawi across the river. One of the sets was paid for by a donation from the Sussex Ancient Egypt Society.

New publication

The Egypt Exploration Society has recently published a further Amarna monograph, one arising from research on Amarna's other major archaeological period, that of the early Christian communities who established themselves in the rock tombs and on desert sites. The details are:

Jane Faiers, Late Roman Glassware and Pottery from Amarna and Related Studies. With contributions by Gillian Pyke and Wendy Smith. One Hundred and Second Excavation Memoir. London, EES 2013. 267 pages and many illustrations. It includes detailed information on the distribution of glass and pottery from the excavations carried out at the Kom el-Nana monastery.

Forthcoming tours

1) Between Saturday, October 5th and Saturday, October 19th Barry Kemp will accompany a tour from Aswan through Middle Egypt to Cairo. Two full days will be spent at Amarna. The tour, entitled 'Cities of the Nile', will be run by Ancient World Tours, a long-time supporter of the Amarna expedition.
A further, similar tour is planned for October 2014. Consult:
www.ancient.co.ukand tel. +44 844 357 9494

2) Between Monday, December 9th and Sunday, December 22nd the Thames Valley Ancient Egypt Society plans to run a Study Tour to Lower Egypt, including the Faiyum, Alexandria and the Delta, taking in a number of rarely visited sites. The trip will be led by Barry Kemp and Dr Rawia Ismail. A donation will be made to the Amarna Trust. Attached are an itinerary, booking form and information sheet. See also chairman@tvaes.org.uk

Major conservation grant

We are delighted to report that the Amarna expedition has been awarded a major grant for the conservation of the decorated wooden coffins from the South Tombs Cemetery. The grant comes from USAID, as administered by the American Research Center's Antiquities Endowment Fund. This stage of the conservation programme will commence at Amarna during 2014.

That the Amarna expedition is able to run lengthy seasons of fieldwork, conservation and research also owes a great deal to the continuing support of members of the public. Thank you!

Barry Kemp/Anna Stevens

Egyptology News from 23rd May to 1st June 2013

Andie — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 11:59:00 +0000

Tomb of Pennut, Lake Nasser

There's been some really interesting news in the last couple of weeks from different research projects, including the use of meteorite materials to create ornamental items 5000 years ago, and a rather tragic case of child abuse in Roman-Christian Dakhleh Oasis. Sadly, there has been even more news on the subject of threats to heritage in Egypt. It reads as something of a litany of disaster when assembled in one place. Hopefully the new minister, about whom there is a piece on Al Ahram Weekly, will begin to tackle it, although with a shortage of funds it is difficult to see what steps he will be able to take. Fortunately, there is some good news as well, about the protection of certain sites and the removal of graffiti.

Fieldwork

Update on the reconstruction of the false door in the tomb of Karakhamun, South Asasif, Luxor. South Asasif Project http://bit.ly/11K1l14

Amarna period discovery, Luxor: Arqueólogos hallan los primeros relieves del gobernador perseguido por Ajenaton. IEAE http://bit.ly/19oxTPD

Excavating at Amarna South Tombs Cemetery: pondering the ethics of working with human remains. Powerhouse Museum http://bit.ly/1aeHczo

Research

Canadian researcher uncovers first evidence of child abuse in ancient Egypt at Roman Dakhleh Oasis. The Star http://bit.ly/140R6Vi

More re 2-3-yr-old child in Romano-Christian cemy in Dakhleh Oasis whose remains suggest physical abuse. Live Science http://bit.ly/12Lp11e

Report on how iron was obtained from meteorites in AE millennia before the earliest evidence of iron smelting. Nature http://bit.ly/17uRDTs

More re new research showing that AE iron bead found inside a 5000-yr-old tomb was crafted from meteorite. Discovery http://bit.ly/18zj9ic

The first ever complete leatherwork of an AE chariot will reveal the technology used to produce it. Ahram Weekly http://bit.ly/199Llqs

Some Notes on Health Problems in Ancient Egypt and Nubia: part 3. By Joyce Filer on her blog: http://bit.ly/10ExKVc

Heritage Management and Looting

Two weeks ago Ahmed Eissa became minister of state for antiquities and now faces an uphill battle. Al Ahram Weekly http://bit.ly/17yNj5D

AE artefacts deteriorate in Cairo’s central museum due to poor conditions, lack of resources. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/1aebHoX

Shenhur Temple, Qena, needs restoration after stone robbing, lime burning + groundwater and now used to dump rubbish http://bit.ly/1145NBG

Egypt's lost antiquities: After the uprising of 2010, much was stolen or neglected. Philly http://bit.ly/13eCXl7

Historic gate in Islamic Cairo was demolished, Sunday, raising questions about saving Egypt's heritage. Aswat Masriya http://bit.ly/141fvGS. If you have Facebook access here are some photos of the demolished Islamic Cairo gateway. So sad. Aswat Masriya http://on.fb.me/12MKwyL

Chinese Tourist Vandalizes Egyptian Temple, Pisses Off China. With photo. Gadling http://aol.it/14TsEoh

Adolescente chino desfigura una escultura egipcia milenaria y desata la ira de Internet. CNN http://bit.ly/13YSPqP

Egypt's antiquities face bigger problems than Chinese graffiti. CS Monitor http://bit.ly/11v9ztL

Video: Graffiti clean-up at Luxor. Reuters http://reut.rs/13fQb0T . Via @JaneAkshar

Beautiful Islamic antiquities looted or neglected over the last 2 years following the 2011 uprising. Huffington Post http://huff.to/189w4XJ

Local community's campaign to protect Dashur pyramids has resulted in police and army protection. Past Preservers http://bit.ly/11tCfmT

Demolerán el cementerio ilegal construido cerca de las pirámides de Dahshur. Ushebtis http://bit.ly/13W2ku0

In Spanish. Inauguration of plan to improve security and visitor experience at the Giza pyramids. El Confidencial http://bit.ly/12TSo1A

Protecting temples of Luxor. Lanzan un proyecto hispano-egipcio para iluminar y vigilar los templos de Luxor. Yahoo http://bit.ly/12jFuz3

Books

New Book: French, P. 2013. The Anubieion at Saqqara III: Pottery from the Archaic to the 3rd Intermediate Period. EES http://bit.ly/ZcFw7L

Book review: S. P. Vleeming, Demotic and Greek-Demotic Mummy Labels and Other Short Texts. Peeters 2011. BMCR http://bit.ly/10Zd0TD

Conferences

In the Nilo-Saharan Linguistics’ Colloquium. Medieval Sai Project http://bit.ly/17d2uQV

Curator’s Diary 25/5/13: Advocating Ancient Egypt. Manchester Museum http://bit.ly/13U9xYa

35th Annual Conference of the Theoretical Archaeology Group to be held at Bournemouth University, UK, 16-18 Dec 2013 http://bit.ly/11m6QN3

Museums and exhibitions

Cairo Museum director says objects need restoration, but money is not available to do so. North Africa Post http://bit.ly/12UIwpR

Univ Washington report: King Tut exhibit at Seattle generated more than $78 million for the local economy. PSBJ http://bit.ly/11gvAut

Museums Confront the Skeletons in Their Closets. New York Times http://bit.ly/1atdJle

UCL Museums survey to improve promotion and public engagement. You don't have to have visited any of the museums: http://bit.ly/132y26y

Free online articles and resources

New on Osirisnet: T51, the tomb of Userhat, also called Neferhabef, complete with description, images, and site plans http://bit.ly/10tI16A

Object biography #13: The upper part of a female statuette from Kahun (Acc. No. 269). Manchester Museum http://bit.ly/177Ny6K

The electronic publication of Oriental Institute Annual Reports is now complete. Oriental Institute http://bit.ly/13kRgo4

Thesis: The ideological significance of flint in Dynastic Egypt Graves-Brown, C.A. (2011). Doctoral thesis. UCL http://bit.ly/qBR9ni

New Egyptology blog: Tetisheri by Julia Thorne http://www.tetisheri.co.uk/blog.html

Journals and Magazine

The new edition of the Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections is now out (JAEI/ 5:2.). Table of Contents at http://bit.ly/jBBHdJ

Free online: Atiqot 74. Underwater Ptolemaic Coin Hoards from Megadim by Danny Syon, Catharine Lorber + Ehud Galili http://www.atiqot.org.il

Job Openings

Job: Trainee Curator in Ancient Egypt and Sudan. 6 months at British Museum and 12 months at Glasgow Museums http://bit.ly/18yTTWJ

Job: One month internship with the Online Egyptological Bibliography team in Oxford. Griffith Institute on Facebook http://on.fb.me/197XVGW . For those interested in the 1 month internship at the OEB, Oxford, but unable to access Facebook, I've copied it here http://bit.ly/13PlOka

Miscellaneous

AE words seep powerfully through the sands of time, war and massive political changes to persist today. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/150ITjt

Userhat ; TT 51 ; TT51 ; Thebes, Luxor ; Sheikh Abd el-Qurna ; tomb Egypt (1 of 6)

Jane Akshar — Sun, 26 May 2013 17:24:00 +0000

A new tomb from those wonderful people at OsirisNet

Userhat ; TT 51 ; TT51 ; Thebes, Luxor ; Sheikh Abd el-Qurna ; tomb Egypt (1 of 6): TT51, the tomb of Userhat or , also called Neferhabef .

The tomb of this Userhat, TT51, was created in the north-east wall of a large sunken courtyard, located in the slopes of the foothills of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna. This character named Userhat must not be confused with one of the same name, whose tomb, TT56, lies nearby (already published on OsirisNet - see TT56 pages).

- Sent using Google Toolbar

Egyptology News from 20th to 23rd May 2013

Andie — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:06:00 +0000

Fragment of fallen ceiling in the open air storage
of the lovely Temple of Tod complex, south of Luxor

Fieldwork

Penn curator Joe Wegner continues excavations at mortuary complex of Pharaoh Senwosret III, Abydos.Penn Artifactlab http://bit.ly/11a1cnf

Research

Hand in Hand with Politics: The Challenges of Egyptian Studies in Serbia by B. Anđelković. Friends of ASOR Newsletter. http://asorblog.org/?p=4490

Heritage Management and Looting

Egypt’s poor management of ancient monuments draws threat from UNESCO. Daily News Egypt http://bit.ly/19WhtLS

Minister for Antiquities says that UNESCO is not threatening to remove 6 sites from World Heritage List. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/11Vvw6J

Archaeologists denounce “disgraceful” plundering of the city of Antinopolis, built by Emperor Hadrian. The Art Newspaper http://bit.ly/164Sxpk and Past Horizons http://bit.ly/18g5wBS

Books

Ancient Egyptian Literature Theory and Practice. Edited by Roland Enmarch and Verena M. Lepper. OUP http://bit.ly/184k21N

Extended edition of Anubis, Bibliography on Mummies, Mummification and; Related Subjects. C.de Vartavan and I.Waanders http://bit.ly/10S3K4F

From Old Cairo to the New World: Coptic Studies Presented to Gawdat Gabra. Colloquia Antiqua 9. Peeters http://bit.ly/184krkP

Conferences

The British Museum continued its support of Sudanese archaeology with an international conference. Sudan Vision Daily http://bit.ly/ZdItHt

Czech Inst. of Egyptology announces international conference: Profane landscapes, sacred spaces. miroslav.barta [at] ff.cuni.cz

Museums and exhibitions

Alexandria plans for a new maritime museum at site of Qaitbay citadel. Archaeology News Network http://bit.ly/13NhuSj

Call for general public volunteers (14-65 yrs old) for the new Petrie Museum website to appraise work done so far: Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology http://bit.ly/16b4PfU

Free online/ open access

Ancient Egyptian Architecture Online provides vetted, standardized architectural drawings of a selection of buildings http://dai.aegaron.ucla.edu

MUDIRA: Joint project to digitize and provide access to the collections of images held at two Munich institutions. http://bit.ly/168xGBq

Short article: "Archaeology after the Arab Spring" by Jesse Casana. Friends of ASOR Newsletter http://asorblog.org/?p=4417

Short article in Spanish about the Turin papyrus that shows a Ramesside map of the Eastern Desert goldmines. Ushebtis http://bit.ly/Zabio1

Journals, Magazines and Newsletters

Damqatum, the CEHAO newsletter, 2012, nº 8, in English: UCA http://bit.ly/10VjbJj

Job Opportunities

Job: British Museum: Curator, Department of Ancient Egypt & Sudan, with responsibilities for research and outreach. http://bit.ly/10iJ7hX

Miscellaneous

Northampton faces legal challenge over Sekhemka statue sale from Marquis of Northampton. Museums Journal http://bit.ly/10U7Vgf

The Ancient Egypt Research Associates (AERA) archives now officially registered with the Library of Congress. AERA http://bit.ly/13LfZkl

Zahi Hawass, long-reigning king of AE antiquities was forced into exile but is now plotting a return. Smithsonian Mag http://bit.ly/16a12PH

For fun. This really made me laugh (and a good moral in the tale too). How NOT to hand in your PhD. The Thesis Whisperer http://bit.ly/192trWM

An open letter to the govenor of Luxor

Jane Akshar — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:17:00 +0000

Dear Governor

When the Theban Hills were fitted with lights it caused a lot of controversy, some liked it and some didn't however NOBODY has actually asked for it. A poll of departing guests at Luxor airport was never asked for their views. I am not aware of a single tourist who said "the Valley of Kings was great and Karnak wonderful but what I really wanted to see was the Theban Hills lit up". It is not an attraction that people come to Luxor for. Nobody is going to cancel their holiday if it is turned off.

Under the current circumstances as reported here Electricity and Energy Ministry to cut down on summer time electricity flow - Daily News Egypt: there is a shortage of electricity. Yesterday I had 7 power cuts, during the last one I watched the lights on the hills with increasing resentment.

On Sunday night I went to a Pizza restarant where there was a power cut for over an hour and the staff were unable to serve pizzas, the hills were lit during this time.

Hospitals are going without electricity, food shops are having food spoilt but the hills are lit.

Please turn off the lights on the hills.

Jane Akshar

Edited: This article asks the citizens to cut down, let the government cut down first Egyptian government urges citizenry to cut down on summertime use of electricity in hopes of reducing need for periodic power outages http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/71998.aspx

I have used this form to ask to governor of Luxor to turn off the lights on the hills, if there is an electricity shortage this is a complete waste and very irresponsible. I used google translate to get my name in Arabic and 1234 as an id card number. Give it a go if you agree http://www.luxor.gov.eg/citizens/complaints/All2.aspx

Egyptology News for 15th - 20th May 2013

Andie — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:00:00 +0000

The Temple of Karnak

Fieldwork

Egyptian-Nubian soldier skeleton discovered by Dr.Irene Forstner-Müller at late Roman site Hisn Al-Bab. Luxor Times http://bit.ly/15MvbEE

Hallan los restos de un soldado de origen nubio fallecido hace 1.400 años. With photo. EFE Ikuna http://bit.ly/10ZkpBW

Research

Research in Dakhleh Oasis suggests that Roman period babies were conceived in the heat of July, August. Live Science http://bit.ly/10IHp9u

Cornell Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections (RMC) identify unique Ptolemaic funerary text. Cornell Chronicle http://bit.ly/10z12Up

Just in case you missed it, here's another account of the theory of why pyramid construction was abandoned. Huff Post http://huff.to/10oaEkN

Video re the Oxford Uni project to involve the public in translating the Oxyrhynchus papyri. Guardian http://bit.ly/19FZZ6r Via @SJRoyce

Scientific Insurgents Say 'Journal Impact Factors' Distort Science. Science Daily http://bit.ly/10VptgD

Heritage Management and Looting

Egyptian heritage body calls for authorities to halt unauthorized renovation at Sayyeda Zeinab Mosque. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/115zBDH

Archaeologists and Cairenes call on antiquities ministry to save Qaitbay’s water basin from encroachment. AhramOnline http://bit.ly/16Cexad

In French: A livestock market is set to encroach upon the Matariya archaeological site. Ahram Hebdo http://bit.ly/10tcktr

Egyptian antiquities with "convincing provenances" were withdrawn from sale at Christie's. Looting Matters http://bit.ly/148JGOR

Video: Cairo's Abu el-Ela Bridge, featured in film and music videos, may be rebuilt. Aljazeera http://aje.me/10CrIDV . Via @PatriciaSpencer

Although times changed, many of the ancient Egyptian funeral customs have lingered on. Al Ahram Weekly http://bit.ly/11IfvRu

Books

Forthcoming book: Diachronic Trends in Ancient Egyptian History. Eds. Miroslav Bárta + Hella Küllmer, Charles University in Prague.

Conferences

The International Congress of Egyptologists in Alexandria has been postponed for a year until September 2014: http://www.iae-egyptology.org/

Museums and exhibitions

In Spanish. The artificial dome that houses the relocated Nubian Abu Simbel temples will be converted into a museum. http://bit.ly/10IIbmZ

How the British Museum protects more than seven million objects (including a touchable Rosetta Stone copy). BBC http://bbc.in/19Jcga6

Interview with Dr. Yazzez from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo about the current state of the museum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=O-Zjgd9N2lg …

Houston Museum of Natural Science has welcomed a giant coffin to its new Egyptian displays. kuhf.fm http://bit.ly/184oLOD

AE antiquities featured at Western Australian Museum, part of ongoing collaboration with British Museum. Australian http://bit.ly/YUZzaG

Houston Museum NS Unveils Egyptian Sarcophagus, Hall of Egypt. With slideshow of green-faced sarcophagus. news92fmhttp://bit.ly/10tbjBC

Museums at Night Report: Gavin Turk, pyramid power and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Culture24 http://bit.ly/15SZmtY

Free online

Free online: Analysis of wooden finds from burial shafts of A38 (from ABUSIR XXII, Abusir, Egypt). J.Beneš. Academia http://bit.ly/110ZUuJ

Article free online: "The History and Research of the Naqada Region Collection" by G. J.Tassie + J.van Wetering. UCL http://bit.ly/YN7ruR

Journals and Magazines

Pyramids : special issue of Pharaon Magazine, cahier supplémentaire #2, digital volume. in french. http://goo.gl/RbZ2J

Travel and Tourism

Why cultural heritage, cultural and creative industries, tourism can help poverty & unemployment http://ow.ly/l38gJ

Job Opportunities

Job: British Museum Dept of Anc. Egypt & Sudan seeks Project Curator to support exhib re science of mummies. Details http://bit.ly/1175Igk

Obituary

Sad news: Kew botanist and Africa / Egypt specialist Nigel Hepper, author of “Pharaoh’s Flowers,” has passed away.

Miscellaneous

A railway journey to the Giza pyramids in 1910 - wonderful footage from the Huntley Film Archives: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3oTKK4IS8M …

Superb slideshow of the discovery of an Egyptian statue found in a hidden chamber of the tomb of Meketre. Met Museum http://met.org/YJftF5

British Virgin Islands have officially issued a new and unique coin featuring the Great Pyramids of Giza. Coin Update http://bit.ly/17u7n8d

Think you're an expert on all things Egyptian? Houston Museum Ancient Egypt quiz. http://www.hmns.org/quiz/

Cairo's 19th Century transformation in 7 points. Cairobserver http://bit.ly/16yZKgC

Hypostyle Project :: The Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project :: University of Memphis

Jane Akshar — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:53:00 +0000

I bumped into some members of this team last night and had a poke around the website, very interesting.
Hypostyle Project :: The Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project :: University of Memphis: - Sent using Google Toolbar

A surprising number of teams working this summer South Asasif, this team and apparently the University of Arizona are coming next week.

Akhmim's Collosal Head Put in Storage

tim — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:57:00 +0000

The colossal head of Ramesses II found a few years back in a modern cemetery in the city of Akhmim along with the sculptures from the temple have been removed from the site and placed in storage for their protection. The temple on the site was described by Herotodus as larger than Karnak temple and no doubt much of the temple still lye's buried beneath.

Since the January 2011 revolution there has been no money to continue excavations and left unprotected locals have turned the site into a garbage dump.

Egyptology News 12th-14th May 2013

Andie — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:42:00 +0000

Copied from @egyptologynews


Beautifully preserved Faiyum Neolithic basket British Museum Registration number: 1927,0312.10 BM/Big number: EA58696

Fieldwork

Halfway into the Spring season at Gebel el Silsila, with some lovely photographs from the project team. http://bit.ly/10pL8HY

Más hallazgos, Oxirrinco: un posible nilómetro, cripta con pinturas coptas, una esfinge y peces sagrados. Vanguardia http://bit.ly/125x8We

Research

Useful overview of the new theory re why pyramids are collapsing. Structural Engineering Mag http://bit.ly/YG1WQH

More Coptic Manuscripts (Sahidic fragments) from Monastery of Apa Shenoute (White Monastery) at Gallica. Alin Suciu http://bit.ly/138sjdX

Un uovo di struzzo mette in discussione la datazione delle piramidi di Giza? (dating of pyramids) Sotterannai do Roma http://bit.ly/19hNGwX

Karnak Project. Dépouillement exhaustif des documents et inscriptions de Karnak collationnées sur l’original. CFEETK http://bit.ly/10tu7wy

Heritage Management

Local cemetery expansion in Akhmim threatens site of Ramesses II, forcing authorities to place items in storage. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/12nokwH

As Egypt's tourism industry languishes, antiquities under threat. Gadling http://aol.it/10I9jak

National Geographic releases documentary behind CINTEC's Pyramid of Djoser project. World Architecture News http://bit.ly/13ejG1F

Conferences

The Institute of Archaeology Annual Conference will take place 20-21 May on the topic of 'Forming Material Egypt' UCL http://bit.ly/18AUOqF

5th International Fayum-Conference, 29 May – 1 June 2013, Leipzig. http://nadine-quenouille.de/fayum/

Overview of aspects of “Dialogue of Civilizations” conference that looked at 5 ancient cultures. National Geographic http://bit.ly/13PinZ9

Museums and exhibitions

Grand Egyptian Museum pushing forward with the allocation of a 4-year O&M consultancy contract Yahoo http://yhoo.it/10VAzfQ

In Spanish. Traveling exhibition, El Museo de Abu Simbel, with a copy of the RII temple. http://bit.ly/12rdN3p and http://bit.ly/10KCN7B

Travel and Tourism

Egypt tourism still struggling despite upswing: Industry insiders. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/13bLNhL

Some common sense comments and advice about visitor safety in Egypt. Via @maraegypt. Mara House Luxor http://marahouseluxor.com/is-it-safe-to-go-to-egypt/ …

Travel: Tourists chanting/meditating to what they believe is enlightenment through mystical experience. Egypt Today http://bit.ly/11l71Ku

Online resources

Ancient Egyptian Architecture Online provides vetted and standardized architectural drawings of various sites. AWOL http://bit.ly/18F425f

Miscellaneous

A Dec 2012 article, but it makes still-relevant points about Egypt's ongoing environmental issues. Egypt Today http://bit.ly/ZYW7fX

Egyptology news for the 9th-11th May 2013

Andie — Sat, 11 May 2013 16:29:00 +0000

Copied from Twitter @egyptologynews


The Two-Dogs Palette from the Main Deposit, Hierakonpolis. c.3300-3100BC 1896-1908 E.3924 Ashmolean Museum

Fieldwork

The week one dig diary for the South Asasif Conservation Project is up on their blog, with photos, at http://southasasif.wordpress.com/

The South Asasif Project has just opened its 8th season in the South Asasif tombs and now has a new website and blog. http://southasasif.com/ Via @JaneAkshar.

Heritage Management and looting

New minister of state for antiquities Ahmed Eissa, unveils strategy for protecting landmarks and heritage. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/18wGDmi

Serious problems are facing some of Egypt's famous sites, while others may be storms in teacups. Al Ahram Weekly http://bit.ly/YIlkwo

Más saqueos en las pirámides de Dashur (more looting at the pyramids of Dashur). Ushebtis http://bit.ly/13lQCbV

Main suspect bailed in Britain’s Egyptian antiquities investigation. Will return for questioning later. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/15T8led

Espionage and historical research. Egypt's researchers face suspicion and misguided obsession with security. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/14460bI

Research

A New Theory About Why Egypt Stopped Building Pyramids: Is it possible they were too perfect? The Atlantic http://bit.ly/12lwbJX

Analysis of linen mummy bandage (EC951) displayed in the Egypt Centre’s House of Death. Egypt Centre Swansea http://bit.ly/10uDtcq

Novelist Sean Thomas on his Egypt-inspired idea that monotheism might be a form of real cerebral virus. Telegraph http://bit.ly/15sRkHW

Good use of ThingLink to create a nice interactive map of Djoser's Saqqara complex. Ancient Egypt Site http://bit.ly/17Nv09h

A 19th century French poet (Rimbaud) in Harwa’s Cenotaph. EES Publishing Blog http://bit.ly/ZHSrM0

Books

New book: Vocabulaire d'architecture égyptienne par F.Monnier. 900 terms, with photos, illustrations. Éditions Safran http://bit.ly/13TBX6w

Article about Richard Wilkinson and his book about QueenTausert. University of Arizona http://bit.ly/149orf7

Conferences

Call for papers: Amphorae VII Conference. Postgraduate and honours students in. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, post-Roman antiquity http://bit.ly/13MwM9b

Museums and exhibitions

Should human remains be displayed in museums? 'Absolutely no' or 'Definitely yes. Tweet your thought at us ... https://vine.co/v/b0WxPOjZjdj Via ‏@PetrieMuseEgypt

Exhibition: Secrets of the Afterlife: Magic, Mummies and Immortality in Ancient Egypt (Australia). thewest http://yhoo.it/18YLZUV

Exhibition: La última moda en entierros: ataúdes de faraones. ABC http://bit.ly/10yJFEW

Exhibition: Making the Invisible Visible. Conservation and Islamic Art. April 2–August 4, 2013. Met Museum of Art http://bit.ly/10CnOwu

Article celebrating an open-mic night for museum professionals: The Guardian http://bit.ly/15TosbD

NOT free. World's 50 best museums. Chinese armies, Viking ships, Egyptian jewels and Elvis’s gold Cadillac. The Times http://thetim.es/14b84il

Job Openings

Job: Head ceramics supervisor at AERA http://www.aeraweb.org . Email Dr Claire Malleson, Director of Archaeo Science AERA. mally @liv.ac.uk

Job: Professur auf Zeit für Ägyptische Archäologie und Kunstgeschichte. Ludwig-Maximilians http://bit.ly/YyBPci + http://bit.ly/12l4ZuR

Egyptomania

Downtown Philadelphia's Wanamaker Building and Masonic Temple. Penn Museum Artifact Lab http://bit.ly/RUJaNa

Free online

Short article: Life and Death in Roman Egypt - Artemidoros and his family. Faces and Voices http://bit.ly/17P2DaL

Peter Lacovara of Michael C. Carlos Museum describes objects loaned to Houston Museum. Emory Uni http://bit.ly/11Vz9Et Via Yvonne Buskens

The Facing Stones of the Large Pyramids—An Interview with Jean-Pierre Houdin. Em Hotep http://bit.ly/10KgYiw

Death and Taxes in Ancient Egypt: http://youtu.be/K2CcicIsths?a via @YouTube

Article online: Rules of decorum and expressions of gender fluidity in Tawosret's tomb by H.L.McCarthy. Academia http://bit.ly/13m0x1k

BBC 2 video: Life and Death in the Valley of the Kings. Marriage and family in Ancient Egypt. http://bbc.in/17DcCQr Via Yvonne Buskens

Review: Second episode of "Archaeology: A Secret History." Petrie's Sardines http://bit.ly/12gINlp

Travel

Another article addressing the question of whether Egypt is safe for tourists. Quite Alone http://bit.ly/16XP5Mk

Travel and heritage: Alexandria - Lighthouse of East and West. Al Ahram Weekly http://bit.ly/194HaJE

Miscellaneous

The Academic Benefits of Twitter. Savage Minds http://bit.ly/13A1iD2

NOT FREE: 5 Jewelry Collectors, Past and Present: A look at Tutankhamen, King Henry VIII, Sultan of Brunei and J.P. Morgan. WJS http://on.wsj.com/10eZLBV

Protection of Cultural Property: Culture wars: why attack heritage? BBC History http://bbc.in/10K6n7l #heritage #UNESCO Via ‏@Amesemi

Egyptology News 6th - 8th May 2013

Andie — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:32:00 +0000

Copied from Twitter @egyptologynews

Wadi es-Sebua, Lake Nasser, Nubia

Fieldwork

A new temple and palace of Meroitic Queen Amanitore found in Wad Banaga area, Sudan. Sudan Vision http://bit.ly/Zx1VcY

Yet more re the submerged 1200 year old city of Thonis-Heracleion. The Telegraph http://bit.ly/14x8rrq

Silsila from a topographer’s perspective. Gebel el Silsila Survey http://bit.ly/17L6ghX

A Tell Abou-Saify (Sinai) une mission archéologique a mis au jour une zone commerciale antique. Al Ahram Hebdo http://bit.ly/10FKndy

Research

Salima Ikram is working with an international team to reconstruct a replica of a chariot using AE technology. AUC http://bit.ly/XyaQye

Heritage Management and looting

Who's who: Egypt's new ministers, including the new Minister for Antiquities Ahmed Eissa. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/18SLhbQ

Art & Antiquities Squad arrest a UK-based businessman on suspicion of looting Egyptian antiquities. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/16aqtQl

UN agencies announce campaign to better inform tourists about funding of illicit goods. UN News Centre http://bit.ly/16Mx7fC

Conservation

Officials look for advice on how to prevent further decay of 3000 year old Lucknow museum mummy. Times of India http://bit.ly/13h429a

Museums and exhibitions

Digital archives: making museum collections available to everyone. http://bit.ly/16H22tK

"Echoes of Egypt" takes a holistic view of AE's impact on the art, architecture etc of more recent cultures. theday http://bit.ly/10iGr3y

Exhibition at the Musée du Louvre featuring drawing in Ancient Egypt, from 19th April to 22nd July 2013. AMA http://bit.ly/16OsDFk

Travel and tourism

Comprehensive report on the current state of travel in Egypt with emphasis on safety. Travel Reportage http://bit.ly/10af8Ny

Books

A new book Hidden Luxor (For Kids) | by Jane Akshar http://nblo.gs/L1hma

Egyptomania

Pyramids of E. Lothian and Edinburgh: looking at Egyptianized pyramids in Scotland. Lothian Life http://bit.ly/18pqWNL

Free online

Interview, in Spanish, with Myriam Seco. Ushebtis http://bit.ly/10FLIBe

BBC 1974: Magnus Magnusson talks to Sir Mortimer Wheeler about Sir Flinders Petrie. http://bbc.in/YaPrdB

The twists and turns of the early days of the Napoleonic expedition to Egypt at the end of the 18thC. Al Ahram Weekly http://bit.ly/12fpNDP