Excavations in the Valley of the Kings

Originally published March 14, 2010 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass | An excerpt:

One of the most famous sites in Egypt has always been the Valley of the Kings, which has revealed to us such wonders as the tomb of Tutankhamun. However, all of the major discoveries of the past were made by foreign archaeologists. I was determined that Egyptian archaeologists should become part of the process of excavation and discovery, so in November 2007, the first all-Egyptian team to ever work in the Valley began excavating the area behind the tomb of Merenptah.

In the cliffs behind the tomb we discovered channels that the ancient Egyptians dug to redirect the “tears of the gods,” the flood, in order to preserve the tombs. In the course of our excavations, we recorded many new graffiti in the Valley and found many ostraca, which are pieces of limestone or pottery with drawings and inscriptions. The inscriptions found were very interesting, including a picture of an old lady, the cartouche of Ramses II and many descriptions and other things.

Lecture & Symposium - Radiocarbon Dating & Egyptian Chronology

Accessed February 16, 2010 | University of Oxford | On March 17 and 18, the Research Laboratory for Archaeology & the History of Art, Oxford University will host a conference about radiocarbon dating and the Egyptian chronology. Accompanying this conference is a free public lecture and reception at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and a symposium (admission fee) that will discuss the results of the Egyptian Chronology Project (a program with the aim to investigate the consistency of the historical chronology with dates obtained via the radiocarbon method) at the Ashmolean Museum. For more detailed information, please visit the above web site. There is also a conference schedule available.

Three Decades of Discovery - New Insight to Egypt’s Past

Accessed February 14, 2010 | Egypt Today | by May Kaddah | Over the last three decades, technological advancement has allowed archaeologists to answer longstanding questions and refute misconceptions about missing details of Egypt’s history. From the remains of ancient rulers to Napoleon’s flagship, Egypt Today takes you through some of archaeology’s most significant discoveries in the last 30 years, which includes the following topics: tombs of the pyramid builders, the Valley of the Golden Mummies, DNA analysis of Hatshepsut's tooth, the Theban Mapping Project, tomb of Rameses II's sons, underwater archaeology at Alexandria, and more.

Lecture - Mummies, Science, and Egyptology II

Originally published February 3, 2010 | The University of Manchester | The University of Manchester and presenter Dr. Rosalie David will be hosting a lecture entitled Mummies, Science and Egyptology II on Saturday, February 6 to discuss the scientific study of Ancient Egyptian mummies, which will include the question, "Was the great Pharaoh Ramesses II a true redhead?" The day school will also reveal how modern scientific investigations and archaeological research are helping to reveal more about the lives of other Ancient Egyptians: Horemkenesi, high priest of Amun at Karnak; Meresamun, a temple singer; and Asetirikhetes, the Ptolemaic mummy from 305 B.C.E. Follow the link to book a spot for yourself.

Ancient Egypt on Exhibit in Little Rock

Originally published October 11, 2009 | Florida Today | by Chuck Bartels

Touring the New York City Obelisks

Originally published August 19, 2009 | Archaeology Magazine Online | by Morgan Moroney

Below is an excerpt from this article at Archaeology Magazine Online, which features descriptions and expandable pictures of Egyptian obelisks around the world, including Cleopatra's Needle in London, England and Ramesses II's obelisks at Place de la Concorde in Paris, France. At the bottom there are links to previous and further stories on obelisks (not necessarily Egyptian):

The obelisk originated during Egypt's Old Kingdom (2584-2117 B.C.) as a small solid structure associated with the sun-deity Re. Pharaoh Senworset I (1974-1929 B.C.) constructed the first giant obelisk at Heliopolis during the Middle Kingdom (2066-1650 B.C). Giant Egyptian obelisks weigh hundreds of tons and are composed of solid pieces of granite quarried at Aswan in southern Egypt. Modern obelisks, big and small, are found all over the world and the U.S. from the Washington Monument, to war memorials, to the grave markers of presidents (Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln's tombs all include obelisk memorials). New York City is filled with obelisks, and a tour of them will take you all over Manhattan and beyond to view monuments, tombstones, and even an authentic Egyptian original, known as Cleopatra's Needle. But how and why did the obelisk become and remains so popular?

It may seem a bit morbid (and certainly too soon to be considering this), but I'd like to have an obelisk for a tombstone, complete with hieroglyphic inscriptions and my name bound in a cartouche. With that, no, I do not want to be mummified! Everyone always asks me that :/

Ancient Coptic Church Discovered at Luxor Temple

Originally published August 16, 2009 | eTurbo News | by Hazel Heyer

This discovery, although not of the Pharonic Era, has strong connections with it, being found built over the top of an ancient Egyptian site (that of Ramesses II). The following is an excerpt from eTurbo News. Follow the above link to read this article in its entirety.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, last June, the Al Watani International said that at the Imam Abu-Haggag Luxor mosque and shrine, built on top of the open courtyard of Ramesses II in the Luxor Temple, the Supreme Council of Antiquities had launched a renovation project which, apart from repairing the damage from the fire, yielded some surprising finds. During restoration work the restorers came upon the remains of a Coptic church and some rare pharaonic inscriptions, the most remarkable of which were engravings picturing the erection of the two obelisks built by Ramesses II outside the Luxor Temple itself. The church and the mosque, said Sana Farouq.

Egypt's Great Wonders

Originally published August 7, 2009 | Top Valuable Article | by Debra Corbei

I'm not sure if this is the original source of this article, but it certainly lists some good advice and traveling tips (along with her reactions to the seemingly juxtaposition of modern and ancient Egypt and things that still baffle us such as the means the ancients used to build the pyramids) if you are planning on going to Egypt as a tourist (no necessarily a scholastic one). Her itinerary lists some of the more popular locations of which most everyone has heard: Cairo and Giza, the Valley of the Kings and "King Tut," the temples of Rameses IV and Merneptah, Hatshepsut's mortuary temple, Luxor, Abu Simbel, and the Ramesseum.

Exhibit - World of the Pharaohs: Treasures of Egypt Revealed

Accessed August 1, 2009 | Arkansas Arts Center

World of the Pharaohs: Treasures of Egypt Revealed explores the long-vanished world of ancient Egypt. This Egyptian exhibition is the first ever held in Arkansas. More than 200 mangificent objects, including mummies, a majestic colossus of Ramses the Great, Egyptian art, jewelry, statues, sculptures, and funerary artifacts, tell the story of not just how the Egyptians died, but how they lived!

Click the above link to visit the Arkansas Arts Center's official exhibit web site for ticket information, exhibit duration, and program details.

Ancient Fortress City Unearthed in Egypt

Originally published July 14, 2009 | Discovery News | by Rossella Lorenzi

More news regarding the recent discovery of a military town in Tell Dafna, the largest in the eastern Delta. Information is given about its size; its location compared to other cities; its importance throughout history, including the fairly recent present when Petrie excavated there, and to several well-known rulers such as Ramesses II and Psammetichus I; the current undergoings by the SCA to rescue it from modern development; the role the British Museum is playing in the project and their plans; the material findings there that support the fact that the site held military and trading importance in ancient times; and further developments as new discoveries are uncovered such as a temple and palace.

UN Nuclear Agency Helps Unlock Secrets Buried With Mummies

Originally published July 6, 2009 | All Africa

The United Nations nuclear agency is using its expertise to help archaeologists unearth millennia-old secrets, from the supposed murder of King Tutankhamun to the mysterious death of Great Pharaoh Ramesses II, from Egyptian mummies.

Press Release - Fortified Garrison Town Discovered in the Northeastern Delta

Originally published July 1, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog

A handful of pictures illustrate this blog post, which gives a more comprehensive description of the discoveries made at Tel Dafna, which include a mud brick temple and palace, storage magazines, drainage networks, pottery vessels, Amphora, grinding stones, amulets, and alabaster pots. Hawass and Maksoud give their accounts of the discoveries including the "who," "what," and "when." It ends with a generic list of people involved in the discovery.

Ancient Military Town Dating Back to 26th Dynasty Discovered in Ismailiya

Originally published June 30, 2009 | Egypt State Information Service

Tel Dafna is the most recent location to uncover it's archaeological secrets, an environ that had been used by Ramesses II and belonged to king Ibsemalik I.

Saving the Serapeum

Originally published June 25, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | Dr. Hawass

Zahi Hawass writes about the Serapeum, about the importance of the Saqqara plateau and the key figures who had a hand in its development; it's role in past and recent-present history, spanning from Strabo to Auguste Mariette; and his attempts to find a solution to preserving and protecting this unique monument, which has been closed to visitors for safety reasons, asking for every authoritative person's advice. He describes the Serapeum's current state and how he's keeping a loving and watchful eye on this mysterious place.

Featured in the post are beautiful pictures showcasing the support and ventilation systems that are meant to help preserve and stabilize the Serapeum.

Early Pyramid Photo Revealed

Originally published June 15, 2009 | Amateur Photographer | by Chris Cheesman

Images of Egypt will be part of a Vintage Photography sale at Dominic Winter Book Auctions in Gloucestershire, UK Wednesday, June 17.

Visit the Dominic Winter Book Auctions web site to view what's for sale.

The following are direct links to images of Egypt:

• Egypt and Syria


• Egypt


• Frith's Series. The Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx


• Frith - Egypt A


• Frith - Egypt B


• Sebah - Statue of Ramses II at Luxor

Upcoming Exhibitions: World of the Pharaohs-Arkansas Arts Center

Accessed June 15, 2009 | Arkansas Art Center

On display at the Arkansas Art Center from September 25, 2009 through July 5, 2010 are over 200 artifacts from Ancient Egypt. The upcoming exhibit is entitled World of the Pharaohs: Treasures of Egypt Revealed and showcases funerary objects, mummies, and more.

A beautiful picture accompanies the announcement, followed by a detailed descriptor of that picture.

Turin and Seville

Originally published May 31, 2009 | Dr. Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass

Dr. Hawass describes his travels to Turin, Italy and Seville, Spain. They include attending a book fair and the Egyptian museum and giving a lecture and interviews in Turin and attending seminars and lectures and giving a lecture in Seville.

A Trip to Sharkiya

Origianlly published May 20, 2009 | Dr. Zahi Hawass' Blog
Learn about the current and prospective projects set forth by the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) to turn Tell Basta (Bubastis), Tell El-Dab'a (Avaris), and San El-Hagar (Tanis) into "outstanding tourist destinations while [...] preserving and protecting them for the future." In addition, Dr. Zahi Hawass introduces a new tourist program that introduces people to the Sharkiya region and the three capital cities mentioned above. He also describes a school located in this region where Egyptian boys and girls can persue a training program and advanced courses in conservation techniques for many types of materials.