Here’s the usual, albeit belated roundup, with an emphasis in the media on the terrible looting of Egyptian sites. It needs highlighting, so that’s a good thing, but it is a ghastly outcome of the so-called revolution that it is happening at all. Other stories, with much better news, are inevitably overshadowed but should not be forgotten.
This is, inevitably, a rather long post. Sorry!
| The recently excavated Avenue of the Sphinxes, Luxor (photograph taken in early 2011) |
Fieldwork
Town of admin staff and workers who built Giza pyramids suffered multiple flash floods in Old Kingdom. New Scientist http://bit.ly/18Xk8Zy
4 minute YouTube video, in Spanish, re recent work at Qubbet el Hawa (Aswan), including opening of a sealed chamber. http://bit.ly/17iwwE3
Arqueólogos españoles hallan un doble sarcófago de 4.000 años en Egipto http://qwapo.es/16D8NKT
Acceden a una cámara intacta de más de 4.000 años en la necrópolis faraónica Qubbet el Hawa, Aswan. Europa Press http://bit.ly/14fOVeT
Update on work being carried out in Karakhamun’s burial chamber. South Asasif Project http://bit.ly/1bERhpT
Update from recent excavations at Abydos. Penn Museum Artifact Lab http://bit.ly/11X4yEG
Archaeos excavating in the Sudan have uncovered a necropolis where hundreds of small pyramids once stood. Archaeology http://bit.ly/117JS1c
Human bone study at Amarna and other topics. I have copied the latest email update from the Amarna team to my blog at http://bit.ly/13MSp8p
Gebel el Silsila Survey Project season finale – lots of info and some great pics http://bit.ly/198HZ8P
A section of a New Kingdom stele listing offerings made to gods was discovered at Matariya in Cairo. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/OXjl0m
Research
Polish scientists will examine how climate changed in Egypt thousands of years ago. Nauka W Polske http://bit.ly/14aEPvt
Pyramids of Giza built by trade unions of hired workers? Pravda http://bit.ly/10VfGCO
Unpublished 18th century manuscript on hieroglyphs, believed lost, now presented by the Griffith Institute: http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/bracci-special/
A previously unknown album of drawings by Amelia Edwards recently identified in the GI Archive. Griffith Institute http://bit.ly/1bMEbXR
Elephant and giraffe hair? No problem! Includes 18th Dynasty elephant-hair basket. Penn Artifact Lab http://bit.ly/17fGFRY
More re conservation work by Massachusetts General Hospital on mummy Padihershef. Washington Post http://wapo.st/18VX7ni
The Edinburgh Casing Stone – A piece of Giza at the National Museum of Scotland. Arkysite http://bit.ly/17ldAU5
Scientists investigate a 3,000-yr-old mummy discovered in Scotland after more than 7 decades in storage. Channel4 http://bit.ly/15Gegzu
Boston hospital cleaning 2,500-year-old mummy of Padihershef. PhysOrg http://bit.ly/14laVXz
The mysteries of the Egyptian hairstyles by Collection Correspondent Monika Zgoda. UCL Collections blog http://bit.ly/12qDvJ2
Heritage Management and Looting
Why does Shura Council’s culture, tourism + media committee want to modify present antiquities law? Al Ahram Weekly http://bit.ly/149TXch
More re the armed gang that attacked 5 Aswan tombs, robbed their contents + dug several holes nearby. Al Ahram Weekly http://bit.ly/11QKgwI
Activists in Cairo and Alex call for protests aimed at saving local historical site from destruction. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/11O1Jqt
More re looting at Dashour, Abusir al Malaq and elsewhere. With slideshow showing some of the travesty. Triblive http://bit.ly/1c2ZxAf
Ancient Heliopolis under threat. Daily News Egypt http://bit.ly/1bX7bMu
Forbidden by Islam, grave-robbing has exploded since the 2011 revolution. More from TribLive re looting in Egypt http://bit.ly/16fPWoj
More re the looting of Egypt’s ancient Roman Antinopolis. Hurriyet Daily News http://bit.ly/11GZzbl
Human bones lie scattered with broken ancient mud bricks at the looted settlement site of El-Hibeh. TribLive http://bit.ly/14dcftx
We only sell real thing, Egyptian grave-robbing family in village of Abu Sir al Malaq boasts. TribLive http://bit.ly/11G0bxY
Dr. Monica Hanna, an Egyptian archaeologist, risks life, career to expose looting. TribLive http://bit.ly/14cS5Qr
Depressing account of looting: Unchecked looting guts Egypt’s heritage with 1 ancient site 70 percent gone. TribLive http://bit.ly/16aUmgk
Minister for Antiquities says new committee will confront worsening conditions near Giza Pyramids. Daily News Egypt http://bit.ly/164JtMR
A nobles’ tomb site, not yet fully excavated, has been looted in Aswan. 4 other Aswan sites looted too. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/ZX0l7D
Antiquities ministry forms National Committee on heritage sites and plans monthly reviews. Daily News Egypt http://bit.ly/15XW18Y
Cultural non-profit complains of lack of access to Egyptian heritage site thanks to high fee. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/16aSfJp
Antiquities ministry leads a new govmnt committee that will aim to protect UNESCO World Heritage sites. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/17agvQi
Ministry for Antiquities awaiting the green light from Cairo Governorate to begin renovation. Daily News Egypt http://bit.ly/19wDJjA
Ministry of Antiquities issues a statement regarding monuments’ security. Daily News Egypt http://bit.ly/1a14TO8
After years of neglect the Abbey Church of the Apostles in Atfih in Giza regains its original splendour. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/183i7eX
Looting continues of sites, urban and rural, contributing to the dramatic loss of Egypt’s heritage. Daily News Egypt http://bit.ly/18XmSpK
Books
Book Review: Andrew Monson, From the Ptolemies to the Romans: Political and Economic Change in Egypt. CUP 2012 BMCR http://bit.ly/11k1nro
Conferences
27th International Congress of Papyrologists / XXVIIe Congrès international de papyrologie. What’s New In Papyrology http://bit.ly/17rsrgW
3DPetrie will give a workshop at the Museums Association conference in Nov ’13 in Liverpool. More information: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/petrie/research/3dpetrie/3dpetrie-news/2013-06-21MA-conference ……
1st International Conference on Heritage Conservation & Site Management, Cairo, 8-11 Dec 2013: http://www.heritage.edu.eg/index-en.htm
Museums and exhibitions
A plan to restore security in museums and archaeological sites across Egypt is finally going ahead. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/199PfkK
The Post Office Museum in Attaba recalls the days when pigeons, camels and boats transported mail. Egyptian Gazette http://bit.ly/11PAsE7
The revamped State Information Service page about the existing and new Egyptian Museums in Cairo. SIS http://bit.ly/19kowQ0
Unwrap a real mummy – Museum visitors explore historic artifacts using state of the art 3D reality capture. http://buff.ly/1bWexzS
The mystery of the spinning statuette (II) http://wp.me/pfm2O-zB
Eternal Egypt Lives on in the Hall of Ancient Egypt at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Houston Press http://bit.ly/11nWpO6
Somewhat confused story about the continuing decay of a mummy in the Hyderabad museum. Deccan Chronicle http://bit.ly/11kBmfw
Chiddingstone Castle has a new display of its Egyptian artefacts after shipping exhibits out to America. ThisIsKent http://bit.ly/1bMCJEI
Slideshow: Chiddingstone Castle in UK loans Egyptian artefacts to Houston (US) museum. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-22773779 …
Janet Kamien, internationally renowned consultant who brought museum exhibits to life. Chicago Sun-Times http://bit.ly/15XHytz
Exhib of photo portraits explores how cultural achievements of ancient Middle East contributed to modern life. O.I. http://bit.ly/11mn6y4
Art at Villa Borghese’s Egyptian Museum back in Cairo. ANSAmed http://bit.ly/16RCbk6
Secret Egypt, at Worcester City Art Gallery/Museum, will bring together more than 100 objects. Worcester News http://bit.ly/10T9bnx
El sótano de la La Casa de los Botines en León albergará mascotas embalsamadas hace más de 25 siglos. Ushebtis http://bit.ly/17kGjbN
Heracleion, lost for 1200 years below Mediterranean sea, set to go on display. With map, video and pics. Daily Mail http://dailym.ai/16M0lMP
Ancient Egpyt (and T-Rex) in Chicago: The Field Museum and the Oriental Institute Museum. Egyptian Archaeology blog http://bit.ly/16RxNBF
Antiquities ministry employees closed Cairo’s Egyptian Museum to tourists in protest re pay, contracts. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/1b0fLcR
Smuggling and repatriation
Director-general of Repatriation, Antiquities Department, resigns citing poor cooperation at Ministry of Antiquities http://bit.ly/ZtFGHW
Egypt asks UN to help stop auction of rare Quran manuscript that vanished from Al-Azhar mosque in 18thC. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/13ec8ia
Free online articles
A brief journey into medical care and disease in ancient Egypt by Richard Sullivan. http://bit.ly/19j4GVt . Via
Did the Ancient Egyptians of the Old, Middle & New Kingdom ever reach Malta and the Central Mediterranean? http://ow.ly/maA9s
Article in Spanish: Antes de Tutankhamon. Ushebtis http://bit.ly/17E7TAS
Rule and Revenue in Egypt and Rome: Political Stability and Fiscal Institutions http://ow.ly/lHzO0
Journals and Magazine
The new issue of the British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan (Issue 20, May 2013) is available free online http://bit.ly/169qXDH
Cahiers de Karnak 14, english summaries : http://www.cfeetk.cnrs.fr/index.php?page=karnak-14-resumes …
Digital Projects
Official launch of the Karnak project (v. 0.) based on a comprehensive inventory of documents + inscriptions. CFEETK http://bit.ly/1168es0
Historians and Digital History: Why Do Academics Shy Away from Digital History? ActiveHistory http://bit.ly/13zEWBM
Travel and Tourism
Travel and tourism: “Come to Egypt – you’ll have the place practically to yourself.” The Independent http://ind.pn/148urEE
US embassy in Cairo instructs nationals to avoid Giza Plateau, citing recent ‘criminal conduct’ in area. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/15p82UC
More re concerns about uncontrolled behaviour of some vendors and parking attendants at Giza plateau. Al Ahram Weekly http://bit.ly/17rvpSr
Ahram Online has more on the outcry over Luxor’s newly appointed governor, a story that has been taken up worldwide. http://bit.ly/11QI2O3
Concerns for tourism as new governor is member of militant group responsible for 1997 Luxor massacre. The Guardian http://bit.ly/13VaErX
Luxor tourism workers protested re new Islamist governor linked to a group responsible for 90s terror shooting. ABC http://abcn.ws/127mHzB
Tourism insiders voice misgivings over new Luxor governor, a leading member of a formerly-violent group. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/17TEh2s
New governor appointed to Luxor, good choice or the last nail in the coffin? Luxor Times http://bit.ly/1bMFVjU
Another new committee, this time to address harassment at the Giza pyramids. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/13O3Aii
Exploring the Fayoum Oasis. Egyptian Gazette http://bit.ly/10XGR3z
Minister of Antiquities says US embassy warning over Giza pyramids is baseless. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/16yU86O
Avec 14,6% de touristes en plus par rapport au premier trimestre 2012 le début de l’année semble positif. Ahram Hebdo http://bit.ly/18NiY06
Job Opportunities
New opportunity for training in risk management at World Heritage sites. UNESCO http://bit.ly/16QLopl
Obituary
Obituary: Kew botanist Nigel Hepper, author of Pharaoh’s Flowers: the Botanical Treasures of Tutankhamun (1990) http://ind.pn/16CjyRd
Miscellaneous
An “insanely rare” pottery seal mold from Tutankhamun’s workshop up for auction at Antiquities Saleroom. Art Daily http://bit.ly/17i3DXJ
Following in the footsteps of a British woman who believed she was the reincarnation of a priestess. Thailand Nation http://bit.ly/11nadZb
Congratulations to UCLA Egyptology for the NEH grant in Digital Humanities http://tinyurl.com/lokjme8
Call for submissions: The 2014 edition of *The Archaeology Channel* International Film and Video Festival. http://bit.ly/12LCP19
Interview with Zahi Hawass, who is clear of legal charges, free to travel and plans a comeback tour. Live Science http://fxn.ws/10Vx5yJ
Architect Hassan Fathy is perhaps Egypt’s most renowned architect from the 20th century, but why? Cairobserver http://bit.ly/15H5cef
Doing more in Egypt. Latest blog post from Egypt Exploration Society Director Chris Naunton.EES Director’s Blog http://bit.ly/16B0nqW