Wednesday, March 30, 2016

3,400-Year-Old Necropolis Found in Egypt

MAR 30, 2016 09:26 AM ET // BY ROSSELLA LORENZI

A remarkable 3,400-year-old necropolis has been discovered at an Egyptian quarry site, the Ministry of Antiquities announced on Wednesday.

Consisting of dozens of rock-cut tombs, the New Kingdom necropolis was found at Gebel el Sisila, a site north of Aswan known for its stone quarries on both sides of the Nile. Blocks used in building almost all of ancient Egypt’s great temples were cut from there.

“So far we have documented over 40 tombs, including a small shrine on the banks of the Nile,” Lund University archaeologist Maria Nilsson, director of the Gebel el Silsila Survey Project, told Discovery News. “Many tombs are in bad condition. They have suffered from heavy erosion and extreme decay due to the rising water and its high salt contents,” Nilsson said.

Nilsson and associate director John Ward concentrated on the cleaning of a small selection of tombs. Their team worked in cooperation with the Ministry of Antiquities as well as Kom Ombo and Aswan Inspectorates under General Directors Abd el Menum and Nasr Salama respectively.

The shrine is a small rock-cut sanctuary featuring two open chambers facing the river and an inner doorway crowned with the winged solar disc. The burials, meanwhile, consist of one to two undecorated rock-cut chambers, with one or more crypts cut into the bed rock floors.

In some cases the archaeologists found remains of the original lids.

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Boat discovery sheds light

A recently discovered 4,500-year-old non-royal boat in the Abusir necropolis is shedding new light on watercraft construction in ancient Egypt, reports Nevine El-Aref

Scholars have long debated the purpose of ancient Egyptian boat burials. Did they serve the deceased in the afterlife? Or might they have functioned as symbolic solar barques used during the journey of the owner through the underworld?

The Old Kingdom kings adopted the earlier tradition and often had several boats buried within their pyramid complexes. Unfortunately, most of the pits that have been found are empty of timber, while others contain little more than brown dust in the shape of the original boat. The only exceptions are the two boats of the First Dynasty king Khufu, and these have been reconstructed or are in the process of reconstruction.

However, no boat of such dimensions from the Old Kingdom has been found in a non-royal context until the newly discovered boat at Abusir.

Last December, a Czech archaeological mission from Charles University in Prague stumbled upon what is believed to be the first remains of a non-royal ancient Egyptian wooden boat ever found. The discovery was made during excavation work at the Abusir necropolis, in an area south of a still unidentified non-royal mastaba tomb identified as AS54.

Miroslav Bárta, the leader of the mission, told Al-Ahram Weekly that this unexpected discovery once again highlights the importance of this Old Kingdom official cemetery. He said that the excavation work that led to this important discovery started in 2009 on mastaba tomb AS54 and had been followed by several seasons of excavations.

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Scans of King Tut’s Tomb Reveal New Evidence of Hidden Rooms

Second round of radar scanning will look for more clues to what lies behind the walls of Tut’s burial chamber. One theory: the tomb of famous Queen Nefertiti.

By Peter Hessler
PUBLISHED MARCH 17, 2016

For at least 3,339 years, nobody has seen what lies behind the west and north walls of the burial chamber of Tutankhamun.  But this secret of three millennia might not last much longer.

On Thursday, Mamdouh Eldamaty, the Egyptian antiquities minister, held a press conference in Cairo to announce a tantalizing new piece of evidence:  Radar scans on those walls have revealed not only the presence of hidden chambers, but also unidentified objects that lie within these rooms. These objects, Eldamaty said, seem to be composed of both metal and organic materials.

“It could be the discovery of the century,” he said. Noting that he can’t speculate further about the things that lie within the chambers, he said that another radar test has been scheduled for the end of this month, in order to determine the best way to proceed with the investigation.

The results of the radar scan represent another step toward a radical new understanding of the most famous tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. First discovered by archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922, the tomb of King Tut yielded an astonishing array of grave goods—more than 5,000 artifacts, many of them in pristine condition. It was the most intact royal tomb ever found, providing Egyptologists with an unprecedented glimpse into the material life of a king who ruled during the 14th century B.C.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Statues discovered in Amenhotep III temple on Luxor's west bank

A collection of statues depicting the lion goddess Sekhmet was unearthed in the ruins of King Amenhotep III’s funerary temple on Luxor’s west bank

Photocredit: Ahram Online

by Nevine El-Aref , Tuesday 15 Mar 2016

A European excavation team working on the funerary temple of King Amenhotep III discovered a set of statues depicting the lioness goddess of war Sekhmet and a partial statue of King Amenhotep III.

Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh Eldamaty told Ahram Online that the newly discovered statues are to be put on display within two months at their original location in the temple after the completion of a wall now under construction around the structure.

Mahmoud Afifi, head of the ancient Egyptian antiquities department, explains that three of the statues are complete figures depicting the goddess Sekhmet sitting on a throne and holding in her right hand the ankh symbol of life.

Another of the statues depicts Sekhmet standing and holding the papyri slogan in her left hand, with a fifth statue depicting a standing King Amenhotep III wearing the official suit of his jubilee.

Sourouzian pointed out that during the last excavation season the mission unearthed a collection artefacts of the goddess Sekhmet wearing the triode wig and a long tide dress.

Source: http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/191039/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Statues-discovered-in-Amenhotep-III-temple-on-Luxo.aspx

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Wednesday Weekly # 107

Welcome to the Wednesday Weekly, your weekly dose of links to Egyptology news, articles, blogs, events and more!

Photocredit: Cleveland.com
THE ANCIENT WORLD ONLINE

Deep Imaging Mummy Cases: Non-Destructive Analysis of Multi-Layered Papyrus

http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2016/03/deep-imaging-mummy-cases-non.html

LUXOR TIMES


Ancient Egyptian masterpiece returned to Egypt

http://luxortimesmagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/03/ancient-egyptian-masterpiece-returned.html

Treasure of documents found in storeroom at SCA

http://luxortimesmagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/03/treasure-of-documents-found-in.html

Antiquities moved from Luxor to GEM
http://luxortimesmagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/03/antiquities-moved-from-luxor-to-gem.html

AL-AHRAM WEEKLY

The truth about the ministry

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/15699/47/The-truth-about-the-ministry.aspx

AMARA WEST PROJECT BLOG

Amara West 2016: a series of small walls and a “garden island”?

http://blog.amarawest.britishmuseum.org/2016/03/04/amara-west-2016-a-series-of-small-walls-and-a-garden-island/

IMBABA GOVERNORATE PREHISTORIC SURVEY


Work continues in the Wadi

http://imbaba.tumblr.com/post/140582922151/work-continues-in-the-wadi

AHRAM ONLINE


Egypt prepares for addition of 4 archaological sites on UNESCO Heritage List

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/190050/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Egypt-prepares-for-addition-of--archaological-site.aspx

Egyptian 'Seven Sacred Oils' relief recovered from Switzerland

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/190094/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Egyptian-Seven-Sacred-Oils-relief-recovered-from-S.aspx

18th and 19th centuries Egyptian archaeological documents accidently found
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/190381/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/th-and-th-centuries-Egyptian-archaeological-docume.aspx

778 Ancient Egyptian artefacts to bolster Grand Museum in Giza
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/190568/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/-Ancient-Egyptian-artefacts-to-bolster-Grand-Museu.aspx

STORIES FROM THE MUSEUM FLOOR

Mother’s Day Special: How To Make A Mummy

https://storiesfromthemuseumfloor.wordpress.com/2016/03/06/how-to-make-a-mummy/

NILE MAGAZINE

What Is It Like To Excavate A Tomb?

http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2016-january/2016/3/5/what-is-it-like-to-excavate-a-tomb

Happy Mother's Day U.K.

http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2016-january/2016/3/6/happy-mothers-day-uk

UCL MUSEUMS & COLLECTIONS BLOG

Fashions that are dated but timeless: the Petrie Museum wardrobe
http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/museums/2016/03/07/fashions-that-are-dated-but-timeless-the-petrie-museum-wardrobe/

ANCIENT ORIGINS

Ancient Tomb Reveals Cultural Entanglement between Egypt and Nubia
http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/ancient-tomb-reveals-cultural-entanglement-between-egypt-and-nubia-005477

Tiye: One of the Most Influential Women of Ancient Egypt
http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/tiye-one-most-influential-women-ancient-egypt-005481

Changing Beauty: The Use of Elaborate Wigs in Ancient Egypt
http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/changing-beauty-use-elaborate-wigs-ancient-egypt-005484

COLLECTING EGYPT...AND OTHER MUSINGS!

The Mummy Trial
http://collectingegypt.blogspot.nl/2016/03/the-mummy-trial.html

ERIC'S GUIDE TO ANCIENT EGYPT

Daily Life At Deir El-Medina
http://ericsguidetoancientegypt.com/?p=242

THE CAIRO POST

Turin exhibition spotlights Egypt’s influence on Greco-Roman culture
http://thecairopost.youm7.com/news/198292/news/turin-exhibition-spotlights-egypts-influence-on-greco-roman-culture

UNIVERSITEIT LEIDEN

Week 7 : 21 - 27 February
http://www.institutes.leiden.edu/nvic/education/egyptian/archeojourn-nvic.html#week-7--21--27-february

TOMBOS

Juniper Berries
https://tombos.org/juniper-berries/

Mysterious Subterranean Structure
https://tombos.org/mysterious-subterranean-structure/

End of the 2016 Season
https://tombos.org/end-of-the-2016-season/

THEBAN TOMB 110 EPIGRAPHY & RESEARCH FIELD SCHOOL

Field School Week 2
http://tt110erfs.blogspot.nl/2016/03/field-school-week-2.html

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Amazing Mummies: King Tut's Great Grandparents
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160303-king-tut-tomb-treasures-yuya-tuyu/

ABOUT.COM

Meet the Nubian Pharaohs of Twenty-Fifth Dynasty Egypt
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/egypt/fl/These-Nubian-Pharaohs-Sparked-a-Religious-Renaissance-in-Egypt.htm

APOLLO MAGAZINE

Ambassador proposes to ‘share’ ancient statue between UK and Egypt
http://www.apollo-magazine.com/ambassador-proposes-share-ancient-statue-uk-egypt/

BRITISH MUSEUM

Naukratis
http://britishmuseum.tumblr.com/post/140452789942/naukratis

Motherhood in ancient Egypt
http://britishmuseum.tumblr.com/post/140454371262/motherhood-in-ancient-egypt

Arsinoe II
http://britishmuseum.tumblr.com/post/140681978037/arsinoe-ii

CLEVELAND.COM

Cleveland Museum of Art's "Pharaoh: King of Ancient Egypt," opens Sunday (photos)
http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/2016/03/cleveland_museum_of_arts_big_s.html


Sunday, March 6, 2016

Amazing Mummies: King Tut's Great Grandparents

At 3,400 years old, Yuya and Tuyu don't look their age. And they were buried with treasures that hint at what might lie hidden behind Tut's tomb.

By A. R. Williams for National Geographic
PUBLISHED MARCH 3, 2016

Photocredit: National Geographic
A recent radar scan of King Tut's tomb revealed tantalizing hints that one or more rooms may lie behind the painted walls of the teenage pharaoh's burial chamber. The final report is due soon. If it confirms the existence of hidden spaces, Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves will be vindicated. It was his reading of the evidence that prompted the scan of Tut’s tomb, known to archaeologists as KV 62.

But that's only the first part of his hypothesis. Reeves also believes the hidden rooms likely hold the burial of the legendary Queen Nefertiti, Tut’s stepmother. The idea is breathtaking. The tomb of a beautiful and beloved royal wife, who became extraordinarily powerful in her own right, could hold treasures that eclipse the wonderful things that were buried with Tut.

But what if another relative is buried there instead of Nefertiti? What might that person's eternal possessions look like? Glimpses of the possible array of artifacts can be seen among the grave goods of Tut's great grandparents—Yuya, his great grandfather, and Tuyu, his great grandmother, who lived around 1400 B.C.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Finds reveal how ancient Egyptian and Nubian cultures blended

Study shows how excavations in Sudan reveal the transformation of Egyptian and Nubian culture.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - SANTA BARBARA—In a middle-class tomb just east of the Nile River in what was Upper Nubia, a woman offers a glimpse of how two met civilizations met, mingled and a new pharaonic dynasty arose. Her tomb was Egyptian, but she was buried in the Nubian style—placed in a flexed position on her side and resting on a bed. Around her neck she wore amulets of the Egyptian god Bes, the protector of households.
The Nubian woman is, according to Stuart Tyson Smith, a professor of archaeology and chair of the Department of Anthropology at UC Santa Barbara, a prime example of "cultural entanglement," the process by which colonizing powers and indigenous people influence one another and change over time.
In a paper published in American Anthropologist, Michele Buzon of Purdue University and Smith explore cultural identity and transformation in the ancient village of Tombos in what is now northern Sudan. "Entanglement and the Formation of Ancient Nubian Napatan State" details the findings from Smith and Buzon's excavations of cemeteries in Tombos, which became an important colonial hub after the Egyptians conquered Nubia around 1500 BCE.
"You get this really interesting entangled culture blending different elements in really different ways, but also there seems to be a lot of individual choice involved," Smith explained. "It's not just a matter of the two cultures mash up and then you get this new hybrid thing that's consistent. There seems to be a lot of individual choice—whether or not you want a Nubian bed and/or an Egyptian coffin and/or to be wrapped like a mummy or whether or not you want an Egyptian-style amulet and/or Nubian ivory jewelry."

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Wednesday Weekly # 106

Welcome to the Wednesday Weekly, your weekly dose of links to Egyptology news, articles, blogs, events and more!

Photocredit: Al-Ahram Weekly

THE ANCIENT WORLD ONLINE

Kitchen's Ramesside Inscriptions and a question
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2016/02/kitchens-ramesside-inscriptions-and.html

LUXOR TIMES

The space archaeologist unearthed 4000 years old tomb in Egypt
http://luxortimesmagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/02/the-space-archaeologist-unearthed-4000.html

IN THE ARTIFACT LAB

New mummies in the lab (teaser!)
http://www.penn.museum/sites/artifactlab/2016/02/20/new-mummies-in-the-lab-teaser/

Animal mummies: contents revealed part I
http://www.penn.museum/sites/artifactlab/2016/02/27/animal-mummies-contents-revealed-part-i/

EGYPT CENTRE, SWANSEA

Warrior queens, beautiful princesses and gentle Hathor: various aspects of women in ancient Egypt
http://egyptcentre.blogspot.nl/2016/02/warrior-queens-beautiful-princesses-and.html

ACROSSBORDERS

Hidden Highlights 2: SAV1E 2771
http://acrossborders.oeaw.ac.at/hidden-highlights-2-sav1e-2771/

Summary of week 7 at Sai Island: focusing on tombs, ceramics & finds
http://acrossborders.oeaw.ac.at/summary-of-week-7-at-sai-island-focusing-on-tombs-ceramics-finds/

A “killed” vessel and more human bodies in tomb 26
http://acrossborders.oeaw.ac.at/a-killed-vessel-and-more-human-bodies-in-tomb-26/

From Sai Island to the First Cataract with love
http://acrossborders.oeaw.ac.at/from-sai-island-to-the-first-cataract-with-love/

Hidden Highlights 3: SAC5 085
http://acrossborders.oeaw.ac.at/hidden-highlights-3-sac5-085/

AMARA WEST PROJECT BLOG

An introduction to Amara West: podcasts
http://blog.amarawest.britishmuseum.org/2016/02/29/an-introduction-to-amara-west-podcasts/

An introduction to Amara West: podcasts (Arabic)
http://blog.amarawest.britishmuseum.org/2016/02/29/an-introduction-to-amara-west-podcasts-arabic/

Amara West 2016: beneath pyramid G322
http://blog.amarawest.britishmuseum.org/2016/02/29/amara-west-2016-beneath-pyramid-g322/

AL-AHRAM WEEKLY

Celebrating Abu Simbel
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/15633/47/Celebrating-Abu-Simbel.aspx

BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

I Spy: A 3,500-Year-Old Ancient Egyptian Scarab
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/3500-year-old-ancient-egyptian-scarab/

BROOKLYN MUSEUM

Dig Diary, Feb. 19:      
http://brooklynmuseum.tumblr.com/post/139722160626/dig-diary-feb-19-this-will-be-our-last

Excavations wrap up at the temple precinct of the goddess Mut
http://brooklynmuseum.tumblr.com/post/139969049331/as-the-brooklyn-museum-excavations-wrap-up-at-the

This dagger from the Egyptian Middle Kingdom
http://brooklynmuseum.tumblr.com/post/140027985435/this-dagger-from-the-egyptian-middle-kingdom

DEMON BLOG

Headless Beings in Christianity – lecture in Berkeley
http://www.demonthings.com/headless-beings/

DR ZAHI HAWASS

Dr Zahi Hawass lectures in Italy in March
http://www.drhawass.com/wp/dr-zahi-hawass-lectures-in-italy-in-march/

IMBABA GOVERNORATE PREHISTORIC SURVEY

Wadi el-Gamal rescue project
http://imbaba.tumblr.com/post/139616246996/wadi-el-gamal-rescue-project

Good progress
http://imbaba.tumblr.com/post/139742168906/good-progress

Work progressing well!
http://imbaba.tumblr.com/post/140290327506/work-progressing-well

Visit of Dr Alaa Shahat
http://imbaba.tumblr.com/post/140335110331/visit-of-dr-alaa-shahat

AHRAM ONLINE

Egyptian Middle Kingdom tomb discovered at El-Lisht
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/188325/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Egyptian-Middle-Kingdom-tomb-discovered-at-ElLisht.aspx

NILE MAGAZINE

A Stunning Relief Saved By Tomb Robbers
http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2016-january/2016/2/17/saved-by-tomb-robbers

"It Is Full Of Treasures ... The Discovery Of The 21st Century."
http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2016-january/2016/2/22/tantalising-news-about-the-secret-chamber-in-tutankhamuns-tomb

In Ancient Egypt Cats Were Worshipped As Gods.
http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2016-january/2016/2/25/in-ancient-egypt-cats-were-worshipped-as-gods-all-the-internet-memes-say-so

POPULAR ARCHAEOLOGY

Finds reveal how ancient Egyptian and Nubian cultures blended
http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/winter-2015-2016/article/finds-reveal-how-ancient-egyptian-and-nubian-cultures-blended

THE ASOR BLOG

Sacred Violence: When Ancient Egyptian Punishment was Dressed in Ritual Trappings [PODCAST]
http://asorblog.org/2016/02/19/11596/

ANCIENT ORIGINS

New Investigations Begin on the Pyramid of the Mysterious Queen Khennuwa
http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/new-investigations-begin-pyramid-mysterious-queen-khennuwa-005405

Satellite Imaging Exposes 4,000-year-old Tomb in the Dahshur Necropolis
http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/satellite-imaging-exposes-4000-year-old-tomb-dahshur-necropolis-005410

The Sins and Glories of the Pharaoh Ay
http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/sins-and-glories-pharaoh-ay-005427

COLLECTING EGYPT...AND OTHER MUSINGS!

In the Spotlight with...Dr Chris Naunton 
Egyptologist, Director of the Egypt Exploration Society and Television Presenter
http://collectingegypt.blogspot.nl/2016/02/in-spotlight-withdr-chris-naunton.html

ERIC'S GUIDE TO ANCIENT EGYPT

Sex, Drugs, And Rock And Roll (Part 2)
http://ericsguidetoancientegypt.com/?p=225

King Tut
http://ericsguidetoancientegypt.com/?p=227

King Tut Show Notes
http://ericsguidetoancientegypt.com/?p=230

Mummification
http://ericsguidetoancientegypt.com/?p=236

Mummification Show Notes
http://ericsguidetoancientegypt.com/?p=239

THE CAIRO POST

Egypt struggles to halt sale of artifacts at Dutch auction house
http://thecairopost.youm7.com/news/197171/news/egypt-struggles-to-halt-sale-of-artifacts-at-dutch-auction-house

UNIVERSITEIT LEIDEN

Week 6 : 14 - 20 February
http://www.institutes.leiden.edu/nvic/education/egyptian/archeojourn-nvic.html#week-6--14--20-february

TOMBOS

Juvenile Burials at Tombos
https://tombos.org/juvenile-burials-at-tombos/

Settlement at Hannek
https://tombos.org/settlement-at-hannek/

Scribe-Reckoner of the Gold of Kush
https://tombos.org/scribe-reckoner-of-the-gold-of-kush/

Working at Abu Fatima
https://tombos.org/working-at-abu-fatima/

THEBAN TOMB 110 EPIGRAPHY & RESEARCH FIELD SCHOOL

Field School Week 1
http://tt110erfs.blogspot.nl/2016/02/field-school-week-1.html

LIVESCIENCE

New Scans of King Tut's Tomb May Reveal Hidden Burial Chamber
http://www.livescience.com/53881-scans-of-king-tut-tomb-hidden-chambers.html

MARÍA ROSA VALDESOGO

Superposition In Ancient Egypt. Isis And Nephthys Overlaped.
http://www.mariarosavaldesogo.com/superposition-in-ancient-egypt-isis-and-nephthys-overlaped/

ABOUT.COM

Ay and Horemheb: Final Pharaohs of the Eighteenth Dynasty
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/pharaohs/fl/Ay-and-Horemheb-Final-Pharaohs-of-the-Eighteenth-Dynasty.htm

APOLLO MAGAZINE

The importance of death in everyday Egyptian life
http://www.apollo-magazine.com/the-importance-of-death-in-everyday-egyptian-life/

HISTORY TODAY

The Afterlife of Ancient Egypt
http://www.historytoday.com/garry-shaw/afterlife-ancient-egypt

THE INDEPENDENT

Ancient Egypt: Citizen scientists reveal tales of tragedy unearthed from centuries-old rubbish dump
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/ancient-egypt-citizen-scientists-reveal-tales-of-tragedy-unearthed-from-centuries-old-rubbish-dump-a6905541.html