Egyptian Mummy's Brain Imprint Preserved in 'Peculiar' Case

By Bahar Gholipour, Staff Writer   |   September 29, 2014

An ancient Egyptian mummy is sparking new questions among archaeologists, because it has one very rare feature: The blood vessels surrounding the mummy's brain left imprints on the inside of the skull.

The researchers are trying to find what process could have led to the preservation of these extremely fragile structures.

The mummified body is that of a man who probably lived more than 2,000 years ago, sometime between the Late Period and the Ptolemaic Period (550 – 150 B.C.) of Egyptian history, the researchers said.

"This is the oldest case of mummified vascular prints" that has been found, study co-author Dr. Albert Isidro told Live Science in an email.

The mummy was recovered in 2010, along with more than 50 others in the Kom al-Ahmar/Sharuna necropolis in Egypt.

But unlike his neighbors in the field, the inside of this man's skull bore the imprints of his brain vessels, with "exquisite anatomical details," for centuries. The prints were cast into the layer of the preservative substances used during the mummification process to coat the inside of the skull.

Al-Alamein site to re-open

Following an extensive restoration, an important archaeological site on the Mediterranean coast is to open next April, writes Nevine El-Aref

Holidaymakers to Egypt’s north coast will have more to entertain them than sun, sand and sea next summer: they will also be able to explore the archaeological site of Marina Al-Alamein, known 2,000 years ago as the town of Leucaspis.

Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh Eldamaty, following a tour of the archaeological site, this week gave the go-ahead for a resumption of restoration work, suspended in the aftermath of the 2011 revolution. Part of the site will be open to tourists next April.

The work is being carried out by a Polish-Egyptian team, led by archaeologist Erysztof Jakubiak from the Institute of Archaeology at Warsaw University. The aim of the project, said Mohamed Al-Sheikha, head of the projects section at the ministry, is not only to preserve the existing site, but also to develop it as a new attraction on the north coast.

The Taposiris Magna site, known as Abusir, is already a popular site with tourists. It is located on the shore of Lake Mariout, about 48 km southwest of Alexandria on the Alexandria-Matrouh road. The site includes the ruins of an ancient temple, a small lighthouse and a series of tombs.

The Marina Al-Alamein site is l96 km west of Alexandra and six km east of Al-Alamein, not far from the World War II memorial. The ancient town stretches over an area one km long and 0.5 km wide, making it the largest archaeological site on Egypt’s north coast.
Although there were historical records for the ancient site of Leucaspis, as well as rudimentary plans of its layout, these had been forgotten by the 1990s, when construction began on the giant Marina holiday resort that today stands near the site. Early construction work soon revealed marble columns and other debris, and archaeologists stepped in to preserve the ruins.

Hibis Temple to be reopened for public in November

By Rany Mostafa

CAIRO: Antiquities Minister Mamdouh el-Damaty has inaugurated the reopening of the 2,500-year-old Temple of Hibis, which is the largest and best preserved temple in Egypt’s Western Desert, Ahmed Mutawa, director of the ministry’s Archaeological Sites Development Department, told The Cairo Post Thursday.

“The third and last phase at the Hibis Temple restoration project, worth 30 million EGP ($4.3 million), has been completed and the temple will be opened for the public in November after decades of renovation,” said Mutawa.

The 71 million EGP project started in 2007 and included the restoration of the temple’s walls, carvings and paintings along with the drainage of groundwater present from the agricultural lands surrounding the temple, Mutawa added.

Located in Al-Kharga Oasis 600 kilometers southwest of Cairo, the temple dates back to the reign of Persian King Darius I in the 27th Egyptian Dynasty (c. 525 B.C.), and was also used as a garrison until 330 B.C., former Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Abdel Halem Nour el-Din told The Cairo Post Thursday.

“A Sphinx avenue flanks the façade of the limestone temple and goes through its gates, courts and sanctuary. It also contains evidence of use in later periods, including the early Christian and Islamic periods, when the temple is strongly believed to have been used by Muslim Pilgrims en route to Mecca,” said Nour el-Din.

Wednesday Weekly # 47

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


LIVESCIENCE

By Owen Jarus:

Ancient Egyptian Woman with 70 Hair Extensions Discovered
http://www.livescience.com/47875-ancient-egyptian-woman-with-hair-extensions.html

By Megan Gannon:

Pharaoh-Branded Amulet Found at Ancient Copper Mine in Jordan
http://www.livescience.com/47884-pharaoh-amulet-ancient-copper-mine.html

THE ANCIENT WORLD ONLINE

Open Access Journal: ENIM: Égypte nilotique et méditerranéenne
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2009/06/open-access-journal-enim-egypte.html

Acacdemia Fiorentina di Papirologia e Studi sul Mondo Antico Biblioteca On Line1http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2011/02/accademia-fiorentina-di-papirologia.html

IN THE ARTIFACT LAB

A gift from a late, great, beauty magnate
http://www.penn.museum/sites/artifactlab/2014/09/23/a-gift-from-a-late-great-beauty-magnate/

THE BRITISH MUSEUM BLOG

By Gianluca Miniaci, Research Fellow, British Museum:

Faience figurines from Middle Kingdom Egypt
http://blog.britishmuseum.org/2014/09/23/faience-figurines-from-middle-kingdom-egypt/

EGYPTIANS

New post by Timothy Reid:

Death in Ancient Egypt
http://tim-theegyptians.blogspot.nl/2014/09/death-in-ancient-egypt.html

MARIA ROSA VALDESOGO

“The Hand to the Mouth”. Suckling the Dead in Ancient Egypt.
http://www.mariarosavaldesogo.com/hand-mouth-suckling-dead-ancient-egypt/

AERA

By Rebekah Miracle (AERA GIS specialist):

The Canary in the Data Mine
http://www.aeraweb.org/blog/the-canary-in-the-data-mine/

By Dr David Jeffreys (director Survey of Memphis, Egypt Exploration Society):

Now comes the hard part…
http://www.aeraweb.org/blog/now-comes-the-hard-part/

AL-AHRAM WEEKLY

By Nevine El-Aref:

A dream comes true
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/7253/47/A-dream-comes-true.aspx 

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ANIMAL BIO BANK

Light at the end of the tunnel......?
http://ancientegyptbiobank.wordpress.com/2014/09/17/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/ 

Honorary Curatorships for the Bio bank Team!
http://ancientegyptbiobank.wordpress.com/2014/09/23/honorary-curatorships-for-the-bio-bank-team/ 

THE PATRONS OF THE ARTS

Vatican Tech to Help Restore Egyptian Artworks
http://www.vatican-patrons.org/vatican-tech-to-help-restore-egyptian-artworks-1940

AHRAM ONLINE

Egypt denies claims oldest pyramid damaged in restoration
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/0/110952/Heritage/Egypt-denies-claims-oldest-pyramid-damaged-in-rest.aspx

KELSEY MUSEUM

My Favorite Artifact
https://kelseymuseum.wordpress.com/2014/09/23/my-favorite-artifact-3/

GARSTANG MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY

Object In Focus: A Fragment Of A “Dummy” Funerary Vessel (E.586)
http://garstangmuseum.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/object-in-focus-a-fragment-of-a-dummy-funerary-vessel-e-586/

THE CAIRO POST

Organized crime behind $5B in smuggled antiquities: Lehr
http://thecairopost.com/news/125628/travel-antiquities/organized-crime-behind-5b-in-smuggled-antiquities-lehr

ANCIENT AVARIS

The fascinating world of small things
http://ancientavaris.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/die-faszinierende-welt-der-kleinen-dinge-the-fascinating-world-of-small-things/

SCRIBE ACADEMY

New blog by Julia Thorne:

The basics #1: types of signs
http://www.scribeacademy.co.uk/blog/the-basics-1-types-of-signs

EES IMBABA SURVEY

Return to Imbaba!
http://imbaba.tumblr.com/post/97988134886/return-to-imbaba

Starting work!
http://imbaba.tumblr.com/post/97990641836/starting-work

A dusty day at the site
http://imbaba.tumblr.com/post/98068163421/a-dusty-day-at-the-site

Pharaoh-Branded Amulet Found at Ancient Copper Mine in Jordan

By Megan Gannon, News Editor   |   September 19, 2014

While exploring ancient copper factories in southern Jordan, a team of archaeologists picked up an Egyptian amulet that bears the name of the powerful pharaoh Sheshonq I.

The tiny artifact could attest to the fabled military campaign that Sheshonq I waged in the region nearly 3,000 years ago, researchers say.

The scarab (called that because it's shaped like a scarab beetle) was found at the copper-producing site of Khirbat Hamra Ifdan in the Faynan district, some 31 miles (50 kilometers) south of the Dead Sea. The site, which was discovered during excavations in 2002, was home to intense metal production during the Early Bronze Age, between about 3000 B.C. and 2000 B.C. But there is also evidence of more recent smelting activities at Khirbat Hamra Ifdan during the Iron Age, from about 1000 B.C. to 900 B.C.

Credit: University of California, San Diego

The hieroglyphic sequence on the scarab reads: "bright is the manifestation of Re, chosen of Amun/Re." That moniker corresponds to the throne name of Sheshonq I, the founding monarch of Egypt's 22nd Dynasty, who is believed to have ruled from about 945 B.C. to 924 B.C., according to a description of the artifact published online last week in the journal Antiquity.

The lead author of the paper, Thomas E. Levy, an anthropology professor at the University of California, San Diego, said the function of scarabs changed throughout Egypt's history.

"Most of the time, they were amulets, sometimes jewelry, and periodically, they were inscribed for use as personal or administrative seals," Levy said in a statement. "We think this is the case with the Sheshonq I scarab we found."

Museum Pieces - Vase dedicated to Osiris

Vase dedicated to Osiris

This vessel of red terracotta was found in the tomb of king Djer of the 1st Dynasty at Abydos; it dates from the Ramesside Period and its shape, that of the hieroglyph for 'heart', is very striking. In the centre a mummiform figure of the god Osiris, squatting on a platform, is shown. He wears the white crown, and holds the sign for 'life' (ankh) on his knees. The vertical inscriptions on either side of the god give the names and titles of the two members of the Abydos priesthood who dedicated this vase to Osiris.

Photocredit: The Global Egyptian Museum

Present location: BRUSSELS
Inventory number: E.0579
Dating: 19TH DYNASTY
Archaeological Site: UMM EL-GA`AB/UMM EL-QA`AB
Category: VASE
Material: POTTERY
Technique: FORMED BY HAND; ENGRAVED; ENGRAVED
Height: 34 cm

Translation:

High priest of Osiris, Sawypaankh
Osiris, lord of the necropolis
Godsfather, priest of Osiris and scribe of the army, Wenennefer.

Bibliography:

L. Speleers, Recueil des inscriptions égyptiennes des Musées Royaux du Cinquantenaire à Bruxelles, Bruxelles 1923, 60 nº 251
L. Limme, in Schrijfkunst uit het Oude Egypte - Écritures de l'Égypte ancienne, Bruxelles 1992, 34-35


The tomb of "Osiris"

It is sometimes difficult for us to completely comprehend the great antiquity of Egypt. Consider the fact that by Egypt's 12th Dynasty, some of the tombs of the 1st Dynasty (and earlier) kings of Egypt at Abydos were already over one thousand years old. Yet the Egyptians of that later period in the Middle Kingdom knew that Umm el Ga'ab held the gravesites of Egypt's first kings and thus, they believed, of Osiris himself. These Egyptians investigated this necropolis around the 11th Dynasty, and though we do not know what sort of evidence they used to make their selection, chose the Tomb of Djer as that of Osiris.

At first, the attention given to the tomb was limited, though we see some limited dedications such as an offering table attributable to the 11th Dynasty king Montuhotep III, and a stela fragment we believe may have been contributed by Amenemhet II. However, by the 13th Dynasty, actually as Egypt sank into the Second Intermediate Period, the site began to receive monumental attention, and even as early as the end of the 12th Dynasty, many Egyptians desired to be buried at Umm el Ga'ab. Those who could not be buried there at least wanted to leave some memorial at the site, from a simple votive stela to a full scale cenotaph tomb.

So predominant was the desire to build in this area that eventually, a King Wagaf who presumably was the founder of the 13th Dynasty, erected four stelae in order to mark the sacred area, which was the key part of the wadi leading towards the Tomb of Djer (now the Tomb of Osiris). These stelae, of which one was preserved and placed in the Egyptian Antiquity Museum in Cairo, warned against trespassing and any attempt to build in the area under penalty of death by burning. Hence, we know that people were encroaching on the sacred ground itself with their building projects. Many people came to watch an enactment of a play surrounding Osiris which is referred to as the "Passion Play", and while visiting for this purpose, attempted to obtain preferable lots of land.

From this point onward, the "Tomb of Osiris" grew in importance. Hence, King Khendjer, who ruled soon after King Wagaf, adorned the tomb with the fine basalt image of the recumbent god discovered by Emile Amelineau and Neferhotep I, who was Khendjer's fourth successor to the throne and a fairly prominent ruler for the 13th Dynasty, usurped the four Stelae erected by King Wagaf. He also left behind a sandstone stela that was unearthed by Auguste Mariette near the entrance of the Osiris temple. It describes how Neferhotep I went to the Temple of Re-Atum at Iunu (Heliopolis) to research the correct forms due to Osiris, and afterwards, made renovations deemed necessary and exhorted the Osiris priesthood to maintain them.

The popularity of Umm el Ga'ab and the "Tomb of Osiris" continued into Egypt's late antiquity, only ending with the Persian invasion, though some offerings continued to be placed here even as late as the Roman period.

Sources:
http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/detail.aspx?id=133
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/djertomb.htm

Wednesday Weekly # 46

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


AL-AHRAM WEEKLY

By Nevine El-Aref:

Pyramid restoration restarts
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/7187/47/Pyramid-restoration-restarts.aspx

THE CAIRO POST

By Rany Mostafa:

Egyptian temple south of Luxor jeopardized by groundwater
http://thecairopost.com/news/124770/travel-antiquities/egyptian-temple-south-of-luxor-jeopardized-by-groundwater

ANCIENT HISTORY LISTS

Top 10 most popular ancient Egyptian food
http://www.ancienthistorylists.com/egypt-history/top-10-popular-ancient-egyptian-food/

THE ANCIENT WORLD ONLINE

Russian Academy of Sciences, Centre for Egyptological Studies, Moscow (CESRAS) & Russian Institute of Egyptology in Cairo (RIEC) Digital Library
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2012/11/russian-academy-of-sciences-centre-for.html

The Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2012/08/the-karnak-great-hypostyle-hall-project.html

MARIA ROSA VALDESOGO

“The Hand in the Mouth”: Nursing the Baby in Ancient Egypt.
http://www.mariarosavaldesogo.com/hand-mouth-nursing-baby-ancient-egypt/

AHRAM ONLINE

Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities celebrates New Coptic Year
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/42/110650/Heritage/Coptic/Egypts-Ministry-of-Antiquities-celebrates-New-Copt.aspx

Marina Al-Alamein archaeological site is set to open in April
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/41/110919/Heritage/GrecoRoman/Marina-AlAlamein-archaeological-site-is-set-to-ope.aspx

POPULAR ARCHAEOLOGY

Kingdom of Kush Iron Industry Works Discovered
http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/fall-09012014/article/kingdom-of-kush-iron-industry-works-discovered

HERITAGE DAILY

Study Traces Ecological Collapse Over 6,000 Years Of Egyptian History
http://www.heritagedaily.com/2014/09/study-traces-ecological-collapse-6000-years-egyptian-history/104773

AERA

By Walid Abd Elbary Attia (MSA ceramics student):

Different Methods to Drawing Pottery
http://www.aeraweb.org/blog/different-methods-to-drawing-pottery/

DAILY NEWS EGYPT

Google launches a 360-degree street view imagery of Egypt’s historical sites
http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/09/14/google-launches-360-degree-street-view-imagery-egypts-historical-sites/

FACES & VOICES

Magical Amulets and other Marvels – From Egypt to Manchester
http://facesandvoices.wordpress.com/2014/09/10/magical-amulets-and-other-marvels-from-egypt-to-manchester/

MUSEUM EGYPTOLOGY

Understanding Egyptian Collections, Part 1.
http://museumegyptology.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/understanding-egyptian-collections-part-1/

ANCIENT AVARIS

Welcome To The Official Avaris Blog
http://ancientavaris.wordpress.com/2014/09/10/willkommen-auf-dem-offiziellen-avaris-blog-welcome-to-the-official-avaris-blog/

MANCHESTER MUSEUM DIGITAL GAZETTE

Encountering Corpses
http://storiesfromthemuseumfloor.wordpress.com/2014/09/11/encountering-corpses/

Egyptian temple south of Luxor jeopardized by groundwater

By Rany Mostafa:

CAIRO: The 4,000-year-old Kom Mer temple south of Luxor is being threatened by rising groundwater and wastewater, a guard at the temple, who asked to remain anonymous over fears of repercussion, told The Cairo Post Friday.

“The foundation of the temple has been suffering from groundwater issues during the past decade, but there has been a notable increase in the groundwater levels, especially at the northern and western parts of the temple, during the last year. It is mainly because of the random drainage system installed in several unlicensed buildings in the neighboring villages,” the guard said.

Kom Mer temple, located in the town of Esna, 45 kilometers south of Luxor, was built during the New Kingdom (1580 B.C.-1080 B.C.) and was dedicated to Khnum, Esna’s local god of creation, Ancient Egyptian History Professor Sherif el-Sabban told The Cairo Post Friday.

The temple was excavated in 1830 by an Italian archaeology mission, Sabban added.

“In addition to the groundwater problem, the neighborhood of the temple has become a breeding ground for rats and mosquitoes due to the piles of garbage and stinking sewage dumped by the residents near the temple,” the guard said.

The deteriorating conditions at Kom Mer temple have raised fears among archaeologists that the saline groundwater could erode the bedrock under the temple and lead to its collapse.

Groundwater flow around the temple, which has caused the groundwater to rise in the area of the temple, is from newly irrigated areas nearby the Nile, Archaeologist Ayman Abd el-Rahman told The Cairo Post Friday.

“The groundwater, with a high salt content, would cause an exfoliation of stones, dissolution of building materials, and crystallization of salts in its walls,” said Abdel-Rahman. Kom Mer temple, like many other temples of ancient Egypt—including Karnak—was built nearby the Nile, and water collected in canals and ditches from the river is used to irrigate crops.

“Pumping groundwater from beneath the monuments, improving sanitation systems and re-digging the canals surrounding the temple will lower the underground water level and solve a considerable part of the groundwater problem,” said Abdel-Rahman, who called on involved parties to ban dumping garbage in the vicinity of the temple.

Source: http://thecairopost.com/news/124770/travel-antiquities/egyptian-temple-south-of-luxor-jeopardized-by-groundwater

Pyramid restoration restarts

Work on Djoser’s Step Pyramid in Saqqara is continuing despite a contracting controversy, writes Nevine El-Aref

When Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh Eldamaty announced the resumption of work at Djoser’s Step Pyramid in Saqqara this week, after some four years’ delay, the decision was generally applauded. But some archeologists are raising concerns about the company chosen to do the restoration.

They accused the ministry of negligence in awarding the work to the Al-Shorbagi Company, which, they say, was responsible for the earlier collapse of a block of the 4,600-year-old Step Pyramid.

Amir Gamal, representative of the Non-Stop Robberies pressure group, accused the company and the ministry of not following international restoration standards because they built a new wall around the pyramid. International rules prevent such new additions being made, he said.

Gamal added that the company, hired in 2006, had not finished the work by 2008, as specified in the contract. “Meanwhile, the condition of the pyramid has been going from bad to worse,” he said.

“The company does not specialise in restoration, and it has never carried out restoration work in Egypt,” Gamal said, adding that the Al-Shorbagy Company had previously only built cafeterias and other modern buildings at archaeological sites.

“If the ministry is confident in the restoration work that is being carried out, it should release a technical report for all to see,” he added.

Ahmed Shehab, an official of the Preserving Egypt Antiquities Organisation, an NGO, said that he was concerned because a 2011 UNESCO report had said that the pyramid was at risk and there was no proper restoration plan.

Wednesday Weekly # 45 Summer Edition

The Wednesday Weekly is back with a summer edition, packed with links to Egyptology news, articles, blogs, events and more!


EUREKALERT

Chronic infection, smoke inhalation, or yet to be discovered causes could explain why ancient men and women had atherosclerosis
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-07/whf-cis072814.php?utm_content=buffer11752&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Study traces ecological collapse over 6,000 years of Egyptian history
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-09/uoc--ste090314.php

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

Grant success for OU study on use of meteorite iron in ancient Egypt
http://www.open.ac.uk/research/main/news/grant-success-for-ou-study-use-meteorite-iron-ancient-egypt

TULANE UNIVERSITY

Egyptologist sheds light on Tulane mummies
http://tulane.edu/news/newwave/080414_egyptologist_and_tulane_mummies.cfm

BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY

Heart Disease in Mummies
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/daily-life-and-practice/heart-disease-in-mummies/

Unraveling Mummy Mysteries at Tulane
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/unraveling-mummy-mysteries-at-tulane/

Ancient Egyptian Mummification
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/ancient-egyptian-mummification/

To See or Not to See: Technology Peers into Ancient Mummies
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/to-see-or-not-to-see-technology-peers-into-ancient-mummies/

Examining the Lives of Ancient Egyptian Women
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/examining-the-lives-of-ancient-egyptian-women/

1,500-Year-Old Christian Amulet References Eucharist
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/post-biblical-period/1500-year-old-christian-amulet-references-eucharist/

AHRAM ONLINE

Coin smuggler foiled at Cairo Airport
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/41/107807/Heritage/GrecoRoman/Coin-smuggler-foiled-at-Cairo-Airport.aspx

Mummies in Egypt began long before Age of Pharoahs
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/108406.aspx

Stolen fragments from pyramid tomb to be returned from Germany
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/108501/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Stolen-fragments-from-pyramid-tomb-to-be-returned-.aspx

UK campaigners request Egyptian help to restore ancient statue to public view
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/0/110130/Heritage/UK-campaigners-request-Egyptian-help-to-restore-an.aspx

AL-AHRAM WEEKLY

Evidence of Akhenaten
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/6888/47/Evidence--of--Akhenaten.aspx

Revisiting Tut’s discovery
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/6887/47/Revisiting-Tut%E2%80%99s-discovery-.aspx

Developments in Qantara
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/7057/47/Developments-in-Qantara.aspx

Tutankhamun in Tokyo
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/7130/47/Tutankhamun-in-Tokyo.aspx

BATTLE CREEK ENQUIRER

Egypt makes slow gains against antiquities thefts
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/usatoday/article/13397909

BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY

By Kathleen Tuck:

The Mummy’s Face: Solving an Ancient Mystery
http://news.boisestate.edu/update/2014/08/13/mummys-face-solving-ancient-mystery/

ART DAILY

Ashmolean's summer exhibition displays objects from ancient Egypt’s Amarna Period
http://artdaily.com/news/71901/Ashmolean-s-summer-exhibition-displays-objects-from-ancient-Egypt--146-s-Amarna-Period#.U-dZeuN_uSo

THE ANCIENT WORLD ONLINE

IMPACT Radiological Mummy Database
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2012/05/impact-radiological-mummy-database.html

Online Abnormal Hieratic Reading Book
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2013/05/online-abnormal-hieratic-reading-book.html

The Ancient Egyptian Necropolis of Assiut
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2014/08/the-ancient-egyptian-necropolis-of.html

Répertoire bibliographique des figurines funéraires (shabtis / oushebtis)
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2012/01/repertoire-bibliographique-des.html

t3.wy Foundation for Historical Research in Egyptology: "Excavating in Archives"
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2011/11/dighouses-in-egypt-online.html

The Global Egyptian Museum
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2010/06/global-egyptian-museum.html

News from the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2014/09/news-from-ucla-encyclopedia-of.html

Travellers’Graffiti from Egypt and the Sudan
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2014/09/travellersgraffiti-from-egypt-and-sudan.html

HAIR AND DEATH IN ANCIENT EGYPT

by María Rosa Valdesogo:

Why Became the Ancient Egyptian Goddess Neith a Protective of the Dead?
http://hairanddeathinancientegypt.com/2014/07/31/why-became-the-ancient-egyptian-goddess-neith-a-protective-of-the-dead/

The Ancient Egyptian Goddess Serket, a Dead Protector.
http://hairanddeathinancientegypt.com/2014/08/07/the-ancient-egyptian-goddess-serket-a-dead-protector/

The Ancient Egyptian Goddess Serket. The Water Scorpion that Helped the Dead Breathe.
http://hairanddeathinancientegypt.com/2014/08/14/the-ancient-egyptian-goddess-serket-helped-the-dead-breathe/

Hair was essential in Aztec Mourning like in Ancient Egypt.
http://hairanddeathinancientegypt.com/2014/08/21/hair-was-essential-in-aztec-mourning-like-in-ancient-egypt/

The Dead: An Observer in the Egyptian Art.
http://hairanddeathinancientegypt.com/2014/09/04/the-dead-an-observer-in-the-egyptian-art/

IN THE ARTIFACT LAB

New post by Molly Gleeson:

Is there an archaeobotanist in the house?
http://www.penn.museum/sites/artifactlab/2014/08/02/is-there-an-archaeobotanist-in-the-house/

A different sort of unwrapping…
http://www.penn.museum/sites/artifactlab/2014/08/13/a-different-sort-of-unwrapping/

by guest blogger Jessica Schwartz:

Working In the Artifact Lab
http://www.penn.museum/sites/artifactlab/2014/08/06/working-in-the-artifact-lab/

Conserving Egyptian Collections, day 1
http://www.penn.museum/sites/artifactlab/2014/09/02/conserving-egyptian-collections-day-1/

Conserving Egyptian Collections, day 2
http://www.penn.museum/sites/artifactlab/2014/09/05/conserving-egyptian-collections-day-2/

EGYPTIANS

New posts by Timothy Reid:

The Mummy of Herakleides
http://tim-theegyptians.blogspot.nl/2014/08/the-mummy-of-herakleides.html

Five Minutes in the Mummy Chambers
http://tim-theegyptians.blogspot.nl/2014/08/five-minutes-in-mummy-chamber.html

The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt
http://tim-theegyptians.blogspot.nl/2014/08/the-encyclopedia-of-ancient-egypt.html

The Masterpieces of the Pergamon and Bode Museum
http://tim-theegyptians.blogspot.nl/2014/08/the-masterpieces-of-pergamon-and-bode.html

The Tutankhamun Deception
http://tim-theegyptians.blogspot.nl/2014/08/the-tutankhamun-deception.html

Women in Ancient Egypt
http://tim-theegyptians.blogspot.nl/2014/09/women-in-ancient-egypt.html

THE BRITISH MUSEUM BLOG

By Anna Hodgkinson, Research Fellow, British Museum:

Colourful glass adornments from Egypt: an 18th-dynasty enigma
http://blog.britishmuseum.org/2014/07/31/colourful-glass-adornments-from-egypt-an-18th-dynasty-enigma/

By Julie Anderson, Assistant Keeper (curator), British Museum:

Death, the great equaliser: Christianity on the Middle Nile
http://blog.britishmuseum.org/2014/08/08/death-the-great-equaliser-christianity-on-the-middle-nile/

ANCIENT EGYPT AND A MAPLE LEAF

New post by Thomas H. Greiner:

100 Years and Counting: My 3 Favourite Objects at the Royal Ontario Museum
http://thomasgreiner.com/2014/08/05/100-years-and-counting-my-3-favourite-objects-at-the-royal-ontario-museum/

BEYOND BONES

Conservation student Kate Brugioni blows the lid off the restoration process for ancient Egyptian artifacts
http://blog.hmns.org/2014/07/hall-of-ancient-egypt-kate-brugioni-restoration-ancient-artifacts/

Off With Its Head! The “De-restoration” of the MCCM Coffin Lid
http://blog.hmns.org/2014/08/off-with-its-head-the-de-restoration-of-the-mccm-coffin-lid/

MEDICINE AND MAGIC IN ANCIENT EGYPT

By Sofia Lodi:

Medicinal Uses of Celery in Ancient Egypt
http://nefertotsie.blogspot.nl/2014/08/medicinal-uses-of-celery-in-ancient.html

Migraine in ancient Egypt
http://nefertotsie.blogspot.nl/2014/08/migraine-in-ancient-egypt.html

ANCIENT EGYPT ALIVE!

by Laura Ranieri:

Day 5 – Cairo: Private Pyramids to Ramadan Insanity
http://www.ancientegyptalive.com/2014/08/05/day-5-cairo-private-pyramids-to-ramadan-insanity/

Days 6-8 – Overnight In The White Desert
http://www.ancientegyptalive.com/2014/08/06/days-6-8-overnight-in-the-white-desert/

Day 9 – Alone in Luxor and Touring with the Qiftis
http://www.ancientegyptalive.com/2014/08/07/day-9-alone-in-luxor-and-touring-with-the-qiftis/

Deir el Bahri in the Blistering Heat: Our private audience with Hatshepsut
http://www.ancientegyptalive.com/2014/08/12/deir-el-bahri-in-the-blistering-heat-our-private-audience-with-hatshepsut/

Medinet Habu — Pharaonic Egypt’s Last Great Stand
http://www.ancientegyptalive.com/2014/08/14/medinet-habu-pharaonic-egypts-last-great-stand/

Ghostly Encounter at the Old Winter Palace
http://www.ancientegyptalive.com/2014/08/15/ghostly-encounter-at-the-old-winter-palace/

Day 12- The Delight of Denderah Temple: A Ptolemaic Masterpiece
http://www.ancientegyptalive.com/2014/08/22/day-12-the-delight-of-denderah-temple-a-ptolemaic-masterpiece/

LIVESCIENCE

By Stephanie Pappas:

Origins of Hierarchy: How Egyptian Pharaohs Rose to Power
http://www.livescience.com/47284-how-stone-age-despots-evolved.html

By Owen Jarus:

'Evil Eye' Box and Other Ancient Treasures Found in Nile River Cemetery
http://www.livescience.com/47306-nile-river-cemetery-discovered.html

NATURE

Mummifying-balm recipe is older than the pharaohs
http://www.nature.com/news/mummifying-balm-recipe-is-older-than-the-pharaohs-1.15717

POPULAR ARCHAEOLOGY

Egyptian mummification started much earlier than previously thought, say researchers
http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/06052014/article/egyptian-mummification-started-much-earlier-than-previously-thought-say-researchers

The Mummy Doctors
http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/fall-09012014/article/the-mummy-doctors

Merenptah Rising
http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/fall-09012014/article/merenptah-rising

Study shows how ecology transformed through 6,000 years of Egyptian history
http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/fall-09012014/article/study-shows-how-ecology-transformed-through-6-000-years-of-egyptian-history

EGYPT AT THE MANCHESTER MUSEUM

Object biography # 16: A pyramid temple column reused by Ramesses II (Acc. no. 1780)
http://egyptmanchester.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/object-biography-16-a-pyramid-temple-column-reused-by-ramesses-ii-acc-no-1780/

Unravelling the John Rylands papyrus collection
http://egyptmanchester.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/unravelling-the-john-rylands-papyrus-collection/

Edinburgh workshop 16/10/14: Egyptian Gold – Ancient Context, Modern Analysis
http://egyptmanchester.wordpress.com/2014/09/09/edinburgh-workshop-161014-egyptian-gold-ancient-context-modern-analysis/

LUXOR TIMES

A year later, Khufu's cartouche samples to be returned to Egypt
http://luxortimesmagazine.blogspot.nl/2014/08/a-year-later-khufus-cartouche-samples.html

HERITAGEDAILY

The Mummy's Face: Solving An Ancient Mystery
http://www.heritagedaily.com/2014/08/the-mummys-face-solving-an-ancient-mystery/104487

DAILY NEWS EGYPT

Cartouche scandal : Germany returns illegally obtained archaeological samples from Cheops Pyramid
http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/08/19/cartouche-scandal-germany-returns-illegally-obtained-archaeological-samples-cheops-pyramid/

THE EGYPTIAN HISTORY PODCAST

Episode 33: Revivals and Regencies

Amenemhat I (Part II) and Senuseret I (Part I).
http://egyptianhistory.libsyn.com/episode-33-revivals-and-regencies

Episode 34: Night of the Long Knives

Senuseret I (Part II) and the Flight of Sinuhe
http://egyptianhistory.libsyn.com/episode-34-night-of-the-long-knives

PAST HORIZONS

Uncovering Berenike: An Ancient Port On The Red Sea Coast
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/08/2014/uncovering-berenike-an-ancient-port-on-the-red-sea-coast

Tracing Changes In Nile Valley Ecology Over 6000 Years
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/09/2014/tracing-changes-in-nile-valley-ecology-over-6000-years

THE NEW YORK TIMES

By Scott Reyburn:

The Lure of Antiquities
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/18/arts/international/the-lure-of-antiquities.html?_r=2

ANCIENT ORIGINS

The Forgotten Stones of Aswan Quarry, Egypt
http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-africa-opinion-guest-authors/forgotten-stones-aswan-quarry-egypt-001984

EGYPT CENTRE, SWANSEA

The Eye of an Artist
http://egyptcentre.blogspot.nl/2014/08/the-eye-of-artist.html

Pottery Stool from Amarna W345
http://egyptcentre.blogspot.nl/2014/09/pottery-stool-from-amarna-w345.html

DESERET NEWS

Hamblin & Peterson: Alexander the Great wasn't content to be merely human
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865609382/Alexander-the-Great-wasnt-content-to-be-merely-human.html

OUPBLOG

Radiology and Egyptology: insights from ancient lives at the British Museum
http://blog.oup.com/2014/08/radiology-egyptology-ancient-lives-british-museum/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+oupblog+%28OUPblog%29

THE GLEN DASH FOUNDATION BLOG

What this Cliff Face May Reveal about the Building of the Pyramids and the Origin of the Sphinx
http://glendash.com/blog/2014/08/18/what-this-cliff-face-may-reveal-about-the-building-of-the-pyramids-and-the-origin-of-the-sphinx/

SOUTH ASASIF CONSERVATION BLOG

Blog Post 8: Reconstructing Karakhamun
http://southasasif.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/blog-post-8-reconstructing-karakhamun/

PENN MUSEUM BLOG

LiDAR Scans and Sacred Lakes: A Report from the 2014 Summer Season at Abydos- Part 1
http://www.penn.museum/blog/research/lidar-scans-and-sacred-lakes-a-report-from-the-2014-summer-season-at-abydos-part-1/

GARSTANG MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY

The Making Of Our Beni Hasan Mural
http://garstangmuseum.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/the-making-of-our-beni-hasan-mural/

Object Biography: Meet 'Felix' One Of Our Mummified Cats
http://garstangmuseum.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/object-biography-meet-felix-one-of-our-mummified-cats/

The Texts Of The Coffin Of Userhat (E.512)
http://garstangmuseum.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/the-texts-of-the-coffin-of-userhat-e-512/

AL-TAHRIR NEWS NETWORK

New discovery in Horhotep tomb highlights pragmatic funerary complexes
http://www.tnnegypt.com/egyptology/new-discovery-horhotep-tomb-highlights-pragmatic-funerary-complexes/

THE ART NEWSPAPER

When Egypt was a land of three faiths and one god
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/When-Egypt-was-a-land-of-three-faiths-and-one-god/33430

THE HERALD NEWS

MFA's 'Gold and the Gods' opens window to ancient Nubia
http://www.heraldnews.com/article/20140825/ENTERTAINMENT/140828337/2052/ENTERTAINMENT/?Start=1

SCIENCE & SCHOLARSHIP IN POLAND

Polish archaeologists in on the Red Sea port
http://www.naukawpolsce.pap.pl/en/news/news,401643,polish-archaeologists-in-on-the-red-sea-port.html

BBC NEWS

Ancient Last Supper charm found in John Rylands Library
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-29028009

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

Conserving by copying: the urgency of Egyptology (youtube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78yHqP1lazA&feature=youtu.be

THE TELEGRAPH

What happened to the missing mummies of Egypt's lost queens?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11072792/What-happened-to-the-missing-mummies-of-Egypts-lost-queens.html

MUSEUMS AND HERITAGE

Egyptians Brought Back To Life At The Atkinson
http://www.museumsandheritage.com/advisor/news/item/3602

AERA

By Ana Tavares:

Fast forward by a thousand years…
http://www.aeraweb.org/blog/fast-forward-by-a-thousand-years/

By Freya Sadarangani and Dan Jones:

Home and Away
http://www.aeraweb.org/blog/home-and-away/

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ANIMAL BIO BANK

Manchester Museum’s Animal Mummies in Micro
http://ancientegyptbiobank.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/manchester-museums-animal-mummies-in-micro/

ACROSSBORDERS

Discussing ceramics from Sai Island and other Nubian sites
http://acrossborders.oeaw.ac.at/discussing-ceramics-from-sai-island-and-other-nubian-sites/

Some impressions from the 13th International Conference for Nubian Studies
http://acrossborders.oeaw.ac.at/some-impressions-from-the-13th-international-conference-for-nubian-studies/

THE CAIRO POST

Renovation of Sakkara step pyramid to be completed in 2015: Antiquities Minister
http://thecairopost.com/news/123741/travel-antiquities/renovation-of-sakkara-step-pyramid-to-be-completed-in-2015-antiquities-minister

3,000-year-old coffin lid found during house clearance in UK
http://thecairopost.com/news/123760/travel-antiquities/3000-year-old-coffin-lid-found-during-a-house-clearance-in-cambridge

76 Egyptian antiquities for auction at Christie’s
http://thecairopost.com/news/124065/travel-antiquities/76-egyptian-antiquities-for-auction-at-christies

Ancient Egyptian wall relief of Amun-Ra discovered in Sudan
http://thecairopost.com/news/124183/travel-antiquities/ancient-egyptian-wall-relief-of-amun-ra-discovered-in-sudan

Tutankhamen treasures, other items transferred to Grand Egyptian Museum
http://thecairopost.com/news/124275/travel-antiquities/tutankhamen-treasures-other-items-transferred-to-grand-egyptian-museum

Pharaonic New Year celebrated in Minya
http://thecairopost.com/news/124535/travel-antiquities/pharaonic-new-year-celebrated-in-minya