Egyptian Bones Could Help Solve Canine Conundrum

Originally published November 29, 2010 | Spiegel Online International | Translated from the German by Christopher Sultan | Perhaps the secret to the mammalian evolution of canis lupus into the 400 breeds of dogs today, from dachshunds to Great Danes, can be found at Hamunaptra (Well, not per se; rather, the Temple of Anubis at Saqqara...but it's a romantic thought, no?). The article also features an array of beautiful art depicting the domesticated dog in ancient Egypt. On a side note, this gives me an idea for another historical fiction novel. I'll save it for the third in the series I'm currently working on, as I'm already working on an outline for the second.

Researchers Run Tests on Mummy to Shed light on Ancient Egypt

Originally published January 14, 2010 | Asbury Park Press | by John Christoffersen | An excerpt - click the above link to read in full:

The mummy, known as Pa-Ib and believed to be about 4,000 years old, has been in the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport since the 1890s and was a prized exhibit of the flamboyant showman P.T. Barnum. It will be transported Thursday in a coffin complete with a police escort from the museum to the university's campus in North Haven.

A CT scanner will take images that are eight times the resolution of tests done on the mummy in 2006, and a tiny camera will be inserted inside the mummy.

Researchers are trying to determine if bundles in the abdomen and pelvis cavities
contain a bird mummy or are organs. The earlier tests led to speculation that the
bundles might contain a bird mummy.

My money is on the bundles being her internal organs, but I would like to be proved wrong because I like the idea that we still have yet to reveal all of the secrets of Ancient Egypt.

New Tombs Found at Saqqara

Originally published January 5, 2010 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass |

Saqqara yields two rediscovered tombs, dating back 2,500 years, the oldest found in the area, replete with human and falcon remains and pottery. Despite it having been looted and explored throughout the millennia, it proves that Saqqara has many more secrets.

Three sources announce different facts about the discoveries in addition to Dr. Hawass' account, which is far more descriptive: The Sydney Morning Herald, which discloses mostly topographical information; IOL, which contains a few dates and measurements; and possibly the most interesting source from the Discovery New, which includes great photographs of the discovery.

National Geographic Article - Animal Mummies

Published in November, 2009 Issue | National Geographic | by A.R. Williams and Richard Barnes

This five paged article chronicles the history of animal mummies in Ancient Egypt and their role in archaeological and Egyptological history, from first discoveries and illegal activities to the science behind them and artifacts in general.

If you're anything like me and have heard the stories about animal mummies before, you'd quickly read through the paragraphs dedicated to their having been used as fertilizer because, upon their first discovery, there was a surplus. It's a shame they weren't discovered recently, as nowadays, modern archaeology is more about science than a trophy hunt, as the article puts it. It's a good read nonetheless and features one of my favorite Egyptologists, Salima Ikram.

Ancient Animal Graves From Private Zoo?

Originally published September 14, 2009 | National Geographic News | by Patrick Walters

Rosicrucian Museum's Been a South Bay Icon for 81 Years

Originally published September 14, 2009 | San Jose Mercury News | by Laura Riparbelli

Lost Egypt Coming to Museum Center

Originally published August 25, 2009 | The Cincinnati Enquirer | by Lauren Bishop

The following is an excerpt from an article at the Cincinnati Enquirer, which details the coming of a traveling exhibit called Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science:

"Lost Egypt gives people an in-depth look at the fascinating discoveries being made by archeologists working in Egypt today," Robert Genheimer, Rieveschl curator of archaeology for the Museum Center, said in an announcement about the exhibit.

Lost Egypt will be located in the Museum Center’s traveling exhibit hall across from the Duke Energy Children’s Museum. The Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibit, which closes Sept. 7, currently occupies the space.

Mummies, Hieroglyphs and Myths at the Nicholson

Originally published August 25, 2009 | The University of Sydney

Opening tomorrow (Wednesday, August 26) at the University of Sydney is an exhibit entitled Egyptians, Gods & Mummies: Travels with Herodotus, which will feature mummies of all kinds with 3D CT scans of one in particular, a column from the Temple of Bastet, and a column headstone of Bastet, just to name a few things, all of which will have descriptions as penned by Herodotus. Following the opening of the exhibit is a lecture given by forensic Egyptologist Janet Davey (ticket and booking information is provided). Featured through the exhibit's duration are several free Egyptian-themed Sunday lectures.

As envious as I am (once again, dear Reader!), I'm sort of leery about them providing information to the public using Herodotus' words. I'm hoping they will be descriptions only in terms of proportions and such and not an examination of meaning, symbolism, and dating (we've come a long way since Herodotus); though, I think I'd get a kick out of correcting errors I find (as I normally would do), whispering them softly into my sister's ear (but only if she asks, of course; she hates my little...ahem long...tangents).

Photo - the Catacombs of Tuna el-Gebel

Originally published July 8, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Photo Blog | by Ken Garrett

This photo showcases the subterranean animal necropolis at Tuna el-Gebel. Also included is a brief description of the photograph, the site and the site's place in history.

Archaeological Discovery in Saqqara

Originally published June 24, 2009 | Egypt State Information Service

More on the discoveries found near the Step Pyramid in Saqqara, including thoughts one what each purpose of the artifacts found could have been.

The following is the original press release from Zahi Hawass' blog.