excavations

Queen Behenu's burial chamber discovered at Saqqara

What is left of the north wall of Queen Behenu's wall, with the pyramid texts clearly visible.A French archaeological team digging at Saqqara has discovered the burial chamber of 6th Dynasty Queen Behenu, wife of either Pepi I or Pepi II. The burial chamber was revealed while the team was cleaning the sand from Behenu's pyramid in the area of el-Shawaf in South Saqqara, west of the pyramid of King Pepi I.

The burial chamber uncovered by the French mission is badly damaged, apart from two inner walls which contain engraved Pyramid Texts. Those texts were widely used in royal tombs – carved on walls as well as sarcophagi - during the 5th and 6th Dynasties (circa 2465-2150BC).

Olympic Archaeological Site

London 2012 Olympic Park

Key Dates

Archaeologists from the Museum of London were invited in April 2007 to begin excavations at the site of London's Olympic Park in preparation for the 2010 Olympic Games.

In 2007, the Olympic Delivery Authority invited the Museum of London to excavate the 500 acre site which will house the Olympic Park in the games of 2012. The archaeologists are examining sites to unearth finds dating from prehistory to the modern industrial age. Over 100 trenches have been dug at the site, with finds including prehistoric remains found near the Main Arena, as well as Roman and late Medieval findings.

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Queen Berenike's Bastet Temple Discovered in Alexandria

Ptolomeic Cat Statue discovered at Queen Berenike TempleThe remains of a temple of Queen Berenike - wife of King Ptolemy III - have been discovered by archaeologists in Alexandria, Egypt. Dr. Zahi Hawass said the remains discovered are 60 meters by 15 meters, and extend under Ismail Fahmy street.  About 600 Ptolemaic statues - amongst which are beautiful depictions of the cat goddess Bastet - were also unearthed.

Dr. Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud, Head of Antiquities of Lower Egypt, said that the mission excavating at Kom el Dikka on property of the Alexandria Security Forces included 18 skilled excavators and restorers. The large collection of Bastet statues indicates that the temple was dedicated to her.

Cypriot Archaeology Day at the ROM

An afternoon of lectures by five archaeologists, who excavate in Cyprus, will each present an illustrated lecture on the results of their latest research.

At the Royal Ontario Museum, Level 1B, Signy and Cléophée Eaton Theatre.

  • 1:10 pm - Tracking Early Colonists in Cyprus - Dr. Sarah Stewart, Trent University
  • 1:50 pm - Traditions and innovations: Cypriot Middle Bronze Age Identities - Dr. Lindy Crewe, Manchester University Museum
  • 2:30 pm - When did the Greeks first come to Cyprus? - Dr. Dimitri Nakassis, University of Toronto
  • 3:10 pm  - Coffee break
  • 3:40 pm - Cyprus, the Phoenicians and Kition - Dr. Joanna Smith, Princeton University
  • 4:20 pm - Excavations at the Hill of Agios Georgios, Nicosia - Dr. Despo Pilides, Department of Antiquities, Cyprus
Event Details
Event Dates: 
Sunday 6 December 2009 - ended
Event Start Time: 
1pm
Event Length: 
300minutes
Event Status: 
past
Event Venue: 
Royal Ontario Museum
Images
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Western Wall Heritage Center a threat to Jerusalem's Roman History?

Madaba Map JerusalemOne of Israel's leading archaeologists has publicly condemned the Israel Antiquities Authority's failure to object to a plan to construct a part of the Western Wall Heritage Center over a site where a well-preserved ancient Roman road was recently excavated. The construction area has been designated for religious purposes since Israel took control of the Western Wall in 1967. The building would include a 4,800-square meter, three-story museum and educational institute that would display the Roman road on the ground floor, but Yoram Tsafir told Haaretz.com even the most amazing architect will not be able to avoid damaging the find and visitors need to be able to see the entire road - not just a fragment - to appreciate it.

The Trojan War — Myth or Fact: Recent Excavations at Troy

At Penn Museum presented by C. Brian Rose,  Penn Museum Deputy Director and Curator, Mediterranean Section.  Following the lecture, Dr. Rose will lead attendees on a tour of the Museum's Mediterranean and Mesopotamian Galleries. A wine and cheese reception follows in the Museum's Pepper Hall.  Lecture

Event Details
Event Dates: 
Saturday 7 November 2009 - ended
Event Start Time: 
2pm
Event Length: 
120minutes
Event Status: 
past
Images
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