Egyptology News from 20th to 23rd May 2013

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 

Egyptology News for 15th - 20th May 2013

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. news92fm http://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 

Egyptology News 12th-14th May 2013

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

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

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