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.

Egypt Relics Chief Pulls in Revenue as He Fights for Nefertiti

Originally published January 26, 2010 | Bloomberg | by Daniel Williams | This article highlights the past and future endeavors of one Dr. Zahi Hawass, none of which have come without controversy. Such endeavors have been the following: the request to return fragments from the Louvre, numerous attempts to regain the Nefertiti bust in the Neues Museum, the discovery that Egyptian workers had built the pyramids and not Hebrew slaves, the collection of billions in revenue from the Tutankhamun traveling exhibit to fund Egyptological projects, and the like.

More Regarding Pyramid Builders' Tombs

Originally published January 13, 2010 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass | Not to be outdone by the mass of media disseminating the recent news about new tombs of the Giza Pyramid builders, the finding of which prove that Jewish slaves did not build the pyramids (this is nothing new to the Egyptology world, but it definitely shows that Ancient Egypt - more specifically pyramid building - still intrigues the world, even if "most people" believe aliens helped the Egyptians execute this feat that we moderns have not yet executed), Dr. Hawass' speaks of his press conference on Monday about this subject, which spans much details.

Video: Tombs of the Pyramid Builders

Originally published January 14, 2010 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass | The following video showcases an extra scene from the upcoming Nova special - Riddles of the Sphinx - and talks about Hawass' discovery of the pyramid builders' tombs near the Giza necropolis. (Just imagine, if it hadn't've been for a horse's misstep, we would be less knowledgeable on this subject!) Take a peek:

Egypt Tombs Suggest Pyramids Not Built by Slaves

Originally published January 10, 2010 | Yahoo! News |

Hardly a surprise is what this article chronicles (along with many other sources): a new set of tombs built for the pyramid builders of the Giza Pyramids proves that they were Egyptian citizens rather than slaves.

Here are some another great sources concerning this recent piece of archaeological news, which includes a little more information and pictures: Press Release - New Tombs Found at Giza - Zahi Hawass' Blog and Tomb Discovery Helps Solve Ancient Slavery Riddle of the Pyramids - Daily Mail

Somewhere in the world, 57 academics just punched the air.

The Pyramids of Dashur 3: The Black Pyramid

Originally published September 30, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass

Exact Date Pinned to Great Pyramid's Construction?

Originally published September 21, 2009 | National Geographic News | by Andrew Bossone

Sothis, the Dog Star, turns out to be the variable that solves the problem of the exact dating of the construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza for one Egyptian team. Like any good debate, this article examines both sides: the Egyptians present their evidence and others counteract.

I like to stray from saying "a culture always did something this way" when describing a peoples' endeavors because people are quite unpredictable (even Ancient Egyptians, who seemed to be very purposeful when it came to all aspects of the humanities!). Although scholars like to pin things down (or try to), sometimes one has to be satisfied with words like "probably," "about," "perhaps" and the like.

Archaeology Magazine's Special Ancient Egypt Issue

Accessed August 20, 2009 | Archaeology Magazine Online The following is quoted from AIA's e-Update, which will bring you to more information on what's inside this issue and how to purchase it:

Learn why mummies are the icons of ancient Egypt and why the pharaohs' tombs were designed to last forever. Discover how Napoleon's expedition led to the birth of Egyptology and how the Great Pyramid was built. Explore a City of the Dead and the Valley of the Kings. Come along with Archaeology to the banks of the Nile--and beyond. There are mummies, pharaohs' treasures, unsolved mysteries, and an entire civilization to uncover.

I think I voted for this cover! I'm glad to have helped Archaeology Magazine :)

I'm thinking I might request that my library buy this issue for its magazine collection. I'm sure someone other than myself will find this a great addition.

Children's Workshop at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts - Egyptomania

Originally published August 12, 2009 | Indianapolis Examiner | by Rebecca Barnabi

The following is an excerpt from the Indianapolis Examiner, which features information about a workshop at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for children interested in Egyptology (be prepared to cough up a lot of dough if your child wants to participate):

"Egyptomania" will give children ages 5-6 the opportunity to learn about ancient Egyptian culture. Each day will be dedicated to a particular subject of ancient Egypt and Liles will show children how to make something related to that subject.

One day they will talk about tombs and make canopic jars and another day they'll talk about the pyramids and make structures of pyramids.

The Pyramids of Dashur: The Bent Pyramid

Originally published August 10, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass

Dr. Hawass talks about the background history about King Sneferu, his family, and his role in bringing to light many significant events; the unusual process of building the Bent Pyramidm, inside and out; and what he will be discussing in his next article, which will feature another of Sneferu's pyramids. Pictures, a map, and links to related articles accompany this post.

Egyptian Researchers Claim to Have Exact Date for Great Pyramid

Originally published August 4, 2009 | RIA Novosti

Has the Great Pyramid given up another secret?

A group of Egyptian researchers claims to have hit on an exact date for the construction of Khufu's pyramid, the largest of the three Great Pyramids at Giza.

The team, led by Dr. Abdel-Halim Nureddin, says work on the pyramid was started on 23 August, 2470 BC. The local governor told reporters that the date will now be celebrated as National Giza Day.

Click the above link to read the full story at RIA Novosti.

Self-Preservation

Originally published July 12, 2009 | Inquirer | by John C. Maxwell

John Maxwell gives a run-down of the purpose of building pyramids and how abouts they executed the feat. He then continues with the irony of the self-preserving leader, how the "me-first" mentality may just have weakened their authoritative role in society, thereby deteriorating their mighty dynasties. He concludes with the root causes of the self-preserving leader.

Egyptologist Pulls Together Threads Woven Through Ancient Civilizations

Originally published June 30, 2009 | UCLA Today | by Meg Sullivan

The anticipated new six-part series that will be airing on the Discovery Channel entitled Out of Egypt follows Kara Cooney and other authorities in discovering reasonable explanations for parallels in religious and burial traditions and settlement patterns across a range of cultures with no documented previous contact with each other. They will trace themes and variations on six traditions across 12 cultures and 10 countries. In addition, this article describes the series' development.

Archaeologists Uncover Secrets of Daily Life Among the Great Pyramids of Giza

Originally published June 28, 2009 | The Columbus Dispatch | by Doug Caruso

This article examines what Mark Lehner and his team have uncovered and plan to do with their findings near the Giza Necropolis: lots of structures and streets and plenty of artifacts that give their discoverers a good look at how the pyramid builders and their families lived, all of which will be brought to a lab to be analyzed. The article also lists Lehner's and various members of his team's mission and contributions, particularly to the COSI exhibit, Lost Egypt.

Update: Return to the Great Pyramid

Accessed June 15, 2009 | Archaeology Magazine Online | by Bob Brier

Archaeology Magazine features Bob Brier's update on Houdin's internal ramp theory, where he and Houdin focus their attentions on an L-shaped room that could have been created deliberately for the construction of the Great Pyramid.

This article features nice pictures with descriptors and a link to Archaeology's previous update and a web site dedicated to the theory from Dessault Systemes.

The "Machine" Reconstructed - How the Egyptians Built the Pyramids

Originally published June 4, 2009 | La Repubblica Torino | by Ottavia Giustetti

Herodotus might have been right in his description of how the pyramids were built - via a machine that has been recreated and tested with success.

This article is in Italian, but an English version is also provided.

Click here to see an enlarged picture, which is followed by a descriptor, published June 5.

COSI Exhibit Helps Visitors Solve Mysteries of Past

Originally published May 28, 2009 | The Columbus Dispatch | by Michele Lemmon

This article gives more information on the COSI Columbus exhibit called Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science and follows up with featured programs at the museum that focus on Ancient Egypt, which is for people of all ages. The exhibit will travel to other member museums in the Science Museum Exhibit Collaborative.

How Where the Pyramids Built?

Originally published May 20, 2009 | Talk Pyramids Blog

This 6-part blog post on Talk Pyramids announces a new model at the Boston Museum that shows how the pyramids were built according to the external spiral ramp theory. Following this small blurb and accompanying photo, are a handful of other blog posts that describe previous theories on Egyptian pyramid building. They include:

1. Donald B. Redford's traditional theory, where a mud brick ramp was employed, oiled to help teams of oxen and men, not slaves, bring up blocks of limestone, and where local limestone served as the pyramid core and finer quality limestone as the casing
2. A docudrama from the BBC entitled Building the Great Pyramid.
3. John Romer's unique theory based on the traditional theory, documented in a video entitled Secrets of the Great Pyramid
4. The cement pyramid theory, first introduced by David Davidovitts, where he states that the Egyptians used limestone-based concrete to create perfectly formed blocks, using the Famine Stele as his proof. His theory was later supported by Michel Barsoum who proved it with science and by Linn Hobbs' team that tested the theory in creating their own concrete limestone block.
5. Jean-Pierre Houdin's internal ramp theory, inspired by the spiral ramp theory, that he hopes to prove with technology.
6. And Mark Lehner's theory that it was a band of Egyptians and not slaves who built the pyramids, using the remains of a "pyramid city" nearby as his evidence.