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March 2010

Heritage Key News - March 2010
What's hot on Heritage Key for March? Our latest Ancient World in London video, King Tut becomes even more interactive and the latest books added.
CNN iDesk and BBC News covered Heritage Key! Read the story and watch the video here.

VIDEO: EXPLORING BRITAIN'S FIRST ROMAN CITY

VIDEO: Colchester"It's like Ben Hur, it's a place where the Romans raced chariots competitively round a long circuit." Howard Brooks speaks about Colchester's Roman Circus, Britain's only chariot-racing track and the biggest outside Rome. Click here to watch the video.

Part of the The Ancient World in London video series, sponsored by Addison Lee with event partners The Independent, Thames & Hudson and Holiday Mate.

 
INTERACT WITH HISTORY AT KING TUT VIRTUAL
 
Take the challenge: decode King Tut's wall paintings to earn a fantastic wearable Anubis mask. Gather clues in the archaeological dig sites in our virtual online 3D area to decipher Tut's paintings. Start your quest in the Valley of the Kings.

WIN A HOLIDAY TO DALYAN, TURKEY

 
Congratulations to last month's contest winners: Loki Popinjay, Carlyn Beccia and David Merrigan!

 

Sponsor & Event Partners

Heritage Key presents 'The Ancient World in London', sponsored by Addison Lee.
Event partners are The Independent, Thames & Hudson and Holiday Mate.

Social Media

Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube (we'll follow you back).
To receive daily updates, delivered straight into your inbox, join 'The Ancient World in London' mail list (you can always change your mind). 
 
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February 2010

Heritage Key News - February 2010
Learn all about Heritage Key's 'The Ancient World in London' web series, or get hot (historical) tips for Valentine's day.

Join the action as people from all over London and around the world make their own discoveries of the Ancient World in London. Participate in challenges, competitions, quizzes, quests and discussions online, in the streets of London, and immersed in our breathtaking 3D virtual areas. You can also follow our video series, in which our intrepid explorers set out to discover how the ancient world has made London what it is today.

The Ancient World in London project will finish in April 2010 with a live, web and virtual simulcast event... and the promise of a Grand Prize.

Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube (we'll follow you back). To receive daily updates in your inbox, subscribe here. (you can always change your mind).

Highlights from the Ancient World in London

Video Series Episode 1: London Stone

Our first video shows how we hand-picked our adventurers online. What better place to take our intrepid trio, then, than the London Stone - a seemingly uninspiring lump of limestone whose history has been entwined in the city since Roman times. Watch the video.

Photo Contest: Spotted in London

We start off with our 'The Ancient World in London: Spotted' photo contest. Join the competition by taking photos of ancient sights that are in and around London. You don't need to have the full 'pro gear' - photos can be taken by any camera, even your iPhone. Submit your photo.

Blog challenge: London Invaders

Thames & Hudson has up for grabs five books from its latest catalogue for whoever can best answer our first bloggers' challenge question: 'Which invaders have had the biggest impact on London?' Join it!
 
If glory and boasting rights aren't enough to tempt you to get typing, here are just some of the great new releases from Thames & Hudson that you could call your own if you claim the top honour in this innovative online contest. (And if you don’t win, you can always follow our links to buy them online.)

Have an Ancient World inspired Valentine's Day

In need for some 'background information' on the history of Love and Romance, to spice up your Valentine's Day (or impress your date with your knowledge)?
 
On Heritage Key's (historical) Valentine's menu:
 
Starter: Racy Poems from the Amarna Era by Owen Jarus
 
Main course: The History of Love, or how romance and relationships were err... acted upon in ancient societies, a must read by new HK writer Nick Gilbert.

Dessert:

 Lyn serves you Weddings, Sex, and Contraception.
The 10 Best Uses for a Stone Circle

Tea and Coffee? Book your romantic dinner at Stonehenge Virtual.
We advise staying overnight, to watch the virtual sunrise.

Create Your Avatar to Start Exploring

There are plenty of excellent reasons to log into Virtual King Tut and start exploring the ancient world. It's simple! Once you download the program, you can access it anytime you like.
 
To register and go virtual doesn't cost you a thing. Customize your avatars, or have a quick sneak preview to Stonehenge Virtual.
 
Have you been to Stonehenge Virtual before? Let us know how you like our new and totally improved welcome area and NPC's!

Earn points towards the Grand Prize (you'll need to reach 1066)

How can you earn Ancient World in London points? There are plenty of things you can do to top up your points. You can take part in one of our many competitions, quizzes and events. We'll even reward you with points for helping us complete our directory. If you see a heritage site, museum, expert, artefact or great personality that made up part of London's - ancient - history that we've missed, let us know! When we add it to the directory, we'll reward you with 20 shiny points.

Sponsor & Event Partners

Heritage Key presents 'The Ancient World in London', sponsored by Addison Lee.
Event partners are The Independent and Thames & Hudson.

Social Media

Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube (we'll follow you back). To receive daily updates via email, just tell us your email address (you can always change your mind). 
 
 
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January 2010

Heritage Key Weekly Newsletter - January 05th 2010
Announcing the special content series 'Ancient World in London', sponsored by Addison Lee, and focussing on the most recent discoveries at Saqqara.

THE ANCIENT WORLD IN LONDON

jon himoffHeritage Key is off to a busy start in 2010 and we are pleased to announce our exciting new web event and content series the Ancient World in London, sponsored by Addison Lee, starting at the end of January 2010. During 3 months online we will inspire people to set out for adventures and make their own great historical discoveries either live in London or online.

Ancient LondonFirst populated by battling tribes
Pytheas, a Greek voyager explored it
Boudica burned it to the ground
The Romans walled it
The Vikings seiged it often
The Duke of Normandy conquered it
almost a millenium later Disreali called it a "modern Babylon"

Soon you can explore London's ancient history online and live in a special web event and content series. Let us know which ancient locations, personalities and artefacts you want to see featured, by replying to this email or in the comments!


Lord and Lady Carnarvon about
KING TUT'S TOMB

"In most Egyptian tombs you've either got the wall paintings or the coffin" Lady Carnarvon says, stressing the uniqueness of Tutankhamun's tomb, the greatest discovery in history. (watch the video)
 
If you like the video, do consider buying Lady Carnarvon's books on the discovery of KV62 by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon:

Carnarvon & Carter

 


Sandro Vannini's Photography:
CEREMONIAL CHARIOT

 
There were six Ceremonial Chariots discovered in the Tomb of King Tutankhamun (KV62), all dismantled in order to be able to take them down through the narrow corridors.
 
Sandro Vannini  took photographs of the State Chariot - the most beautifully decorated of the six found in the chamber. (see the slideshow)
 
 

FOCUS ON SAQQARA

Two large tombs have been discovered at the ancient Egyptian necropolis of Saqqara - one of which is the largest ever found at the site. The 26th Dynasty tombs, likely robbed during the Roman era, are nonetheless filled with important artefacts including coffins, skeletons, pottery and mummified eagles. (read more)
Opening one of the Sarcophagi discovered at Gisr el-Muder, Saqqara Nothing keeps Dr Zahi Hawass awake at night quite like the prospect of being the first person to lay eyes on a millennia-dead Egyptian mummy. “I could not sleep with thinking about it all the time,” he reveals at the start of Heritage Key’s latest fantastic video by Nico Piazza, documenting the opening of an intact tomb at Saqqara. (watch the video)
 
More on the Saqqara Necropolis:
 

 


If you've taken your camera with you on a heritage trip, visited a museum filled with ancient artefacts or spotted a famous archaeologist, we'd be honoured if you'd add them to our Heritage Key Flickr Pools.

 

 
Melanie Beuken and Paula Veiga will be covering the CRE XI (Current Research in Egyptology) Conference that's taking place in Leiden, the Netherlands,  for Heritage Key. We're looking forward to their updates on the ongoing research and new finds!

 

Heritage Key on the (Social) Web

 

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SURVEY RESULTS
on Replicas

What value do replicas hold? How to put them to good use? Can they replace the real artefacts? And what about fakes?  Read the results of the survey on Heritage Key

News:

Minoan frescoes at Tell el-Dab'a reveal that Cretian artists went where the work is.

 
A dying ancient culture, strange visitors from a far away land and a changing climate that helped bring them together. Whether you believe Dr. Patricia Sutherland’s research or not, you have to acknowledge one thing – she tells an incredible story! 
 
 
 
What Happened at Pyla-Kokkinokremos? Dimitri Nakassis Discusses the Cypriot Mystery
 

Book, Film & Game Reviews

 
 
 

New releases:

 
 

10 Best Ancient World Exhibitions Coming up in 2010 (according to Malcolm)
Did your fav make the list? Find out here!

Upcoming and ongoing exhibitions worth travelling for:

Who makes HK?

Visit us at
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December 2009

Heritage Key Weekly Newsletter - December 8th 2009
This week: Ancient Civilisations, Christmas, Soldier's Letters, ... and much more.
Heritage Key logo
Explore the Ancient World Directory
King Tut VirtualStonehenge
Terracotta WarriorsPyramids
ArchaeologyTutankhamun
 
 
Visit Heritage Key to unlock the marvels of the ancient world, as your next great adventure starts online. Join the action and try-out our incredible 3D-online virtual experience. Your journey discovering the treasures of King Tut Virtual is just a few clicks away.

ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS

The First 10 Cities of the World

What makes a city? Certainly an abundance of people (and maybe a few skyscrapers too.) But when trying to find signs of urbanization in the ancient world, archaeologists like to look at more than just population size. Factors like whether or not a social hierarchy existed,  if there was a political system in place, and if the denizens specialized in different professions, are just some of the indicators used. Even the development of art and monuments can serve as benchmarks.

We've picked out 10 of the earliest cities in the world — each one being among the first to urbanize. But which of these is the oldest city in the world? The answer is not so straight-forward.

King Tut Virtual King Tut Virtual - Taking Photographs

Learn how to document your visit to the virtual Valley of the Kings; capture the virtual you in King Tut's tomb or frame the beautiful scenery in the Nile area. The best shots earn $100 (real of course).

Dr. Zahi Hawass comes to London on December 8th
Tonight:
Dr. Zahi Hawass in London

The famous Egyptologist visits London and Heritage World Press invites everyone to a special lecture. Dr. Hawass will introduce his two new books: 'Inside the Egyptian Museum' and 'A Secret Voyage.' Of course Heritage Key will attend: Do say 'Hi' when spotting Sean, Jon or Ann.
 


Video:
Inside the basement of the Egyptian Museum

Dr. Zahi Hawass tells us about how a recent 're-discovery' of the storage boxes of the Kom Abu Billu excavation by Sabah Abed el Razek  revealed his first - archaeological - love: a statue of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love, known as Hathor to the ancient Egyptians.

DISCOVER FABULOUS IMAGES

Sandro Vannini's Photos: The Crypt's Side Chamber of Seti I's Tomb

Several intense excavations in KV17 during the 1950s and 1960s caused structural damage in the tomb which led to the closure of the tomb to the general public, and protective conservation measures being put in place. While we may not be able to go down and explore one of the finest examples of Ancient Egyptian art, Sandro has taken his lens down into the tomb and emerged with several beautiful images. Watch the slideshow.

Satellite Image: The Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza at the Giza Plateau, Egypt, are one of the most famous sights in the world. It's probably photographed from every possible angle from the ground, but how often do you see it from above? Amazing satellite imagery at a high resolution, allowing you to see the pyramids as if you were in the space shuttle (or an alien space craft).

 

FROM ROMAN TABLETS TO ARMY BLOGS

Grunts From the Front

Roman soldiers at Vindolanda sent short, to-the-point messages, but modern soldiers can send long personal accounts about their experiences of conflict.


We want to see your best high resolution photos taken in King Tut Virtual, and will reward the most sublime shots with non-virtual cash. We are offering 100$ for the most fabulous high resolution shots taken in King Tut Virtual. Participate.
Paula Veiga presents her case, and tells us why she does not believe that Nefertiti's bust is a fake.
 
Does thousand-year-old Egyptian propaganda fool us too? The King and I(deology).
 

 

GO VISIT

ON HERITAGE KEY:

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Discuss on Heritage Key

EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS

Your event listed? Let us know what, how, who and where via email (info@heritage-key.com) or on Twitter (@heritagekey).

 

HERITAGE KEY ON THE (SOCIAL) WEB

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Latest News

 
 
 
 

Watch
Heritage Key
Videos

 

HK Selected Book

The Lost Tombs of Thebes - Life in Paradise

by Zahi Hawass and
Sandro Vannini

 

Keep an Eye Out for...

Ruthless Romans
 
Horrible Histories - Ruthless Romans game
 

Meet the Expert

 
Dr. Shaw studied archaeology at the University of Liverpool, and then stayed on in Liverpool to study for an MA and PhD in Egyptology, only taking a year off to go explore China. Since fall 2009 he has been teaching Egyptology at the American University in Cairo. Living in Egypt, he particularly enjoys being able to visit the pyramids or Egyptian Museum whenever he wants, without the pesky nuisance of plane travel getting in the way. Since moving to Egypt he has travelled extensively, and likes to describe the often fun/strange/rather scary things he encounters in order to inspire others to travel beyond the touristic areas of Luxor and Giza. His favourite pharaoh is Amenhotep II, and his favourite animal is the penguin.

LEARN ALL ABOUT DESERT WHALES

 

Who makes HK?

Visit us at
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Popular on Heritage Key this week:

 
 
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Heritage Key Weekly Newsletter - December 1st 2009
Archaeology is recognised as a vital science on the world stage today. But it hasn't always been so - its origins stretch back just 250 years. Who were archaeology's Founding Fathers? (And Much More)
Heritage Key logo
Explore the Ancient World Directory
King Tut VirtualStonehenge
Terracotta WarriorsPyramids
ArchaeologyTutankhamun
 
HERITAGE KEY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 1st 2009
If you can't read this email, click here. - Unsubscribe? Click the link at the end of this newsletters.
 
 
Visit Heritage Key to unlock the wonders of the ancient world. Everyone wants to visit an amazing historical site and make the most out of it. Join the action and try-out our incredible 3D-online virtual experience. Your exploration of King Tut Virtual is just a few clicks away (and it gets even better if you take the tour).

THE WORLDS FIRST ARCHAEOLOGISTS

 Malcolm Jack... and their role in defining history

Archaeology is recognised as a vital science on the world stage today. But it hasn't always been so - its origins stretch back just 250 years. Who were archaeology's Founding Fathers?
 
King Tut VirtualVisit the Valley of the Kings during the Carter-era and relive the discovery of KV62 - Tut's Tomb? Just drop Meral an email at meral@heritage-key.com to book your personal tour. We meet in the Valley of the Kings. Follow these easy instructions or Go Virtual now to explore at your own pace.


King Tut's Treasures Explained:
ANIMAL ICONOGRAPHY

The three ritual beds of Tutankhamun are a very serious proposition, guarded by some of the ancient world's fiercest chaperones.
 
King Tut's Anubis Shrine, fashioned in the seventh year of Akhenaten's reign, was something to be carried processionally during the final movements of the king's mummy.
 


Satellite Image:
EXPLORE LUXOR

Luxor, Egypt is one of the most culturally rich parts of the world and is often described as the "World's Greatest Open Air Museum" for all the various tombs, temples and monuments in the area. 
 
The vastness of the spread of these necropolis makes satellite imagery favourable for looking at the site of Luxor. Explore more Satellite Images.
 

Single Mummies, Multiple Mummies and More Mummies

Listening to Pete Brown talk, you learn that controversies in museums aren’t just about who owns what. The way in which treasures are presented is becoming an increasing source of conflict; both among museum staff and members of the public. An interview with Pete Brown, Head of Learning and Interpretation at Manchester University Museum, UK.

 
One of the most popular stories around the discovery of King Tutankhamun is that of the Curse of King Tut. The story was popularised after the death of the discovery's funder Lord Carnarvon, who was believed to have succumbed to a mosquito or cobra bite, just 6 weeks after the tomb was opened. Here's a video guide to avoiding the Curse of the Pharaoh!
 
Virtual Mummies, Dead Mummies and Alive Mummies:
 

 


If you've taken your camera with you on a heritage trip, visited a museum filled with ancient artefacts or spotted a famous archaeologist, we'd be honoured if you'd add them to our Heritage Key Flickr Pools.

 

Museum Review by Helen Atkinson: The Ashmolean's New Block is Bright and Welcoming
 
"And I can think of no better use of our time and our resources, to make the images and ideas of your civilisation - from the very beginning of time - available to a billion people worldwide." Google Chief Eric Schmidt on digitising the Iraq National Museum archives

 

Heritage Key on the (Social) Web

 

Contribute

New
at Heritage Key

In Britain:
 
Dr. Hawass visits London! He will give a special lecture at the British Museum on December 8th. Find out more.
 

 

 
Britain Loves Wikipedia:
Wikimedia seeks underexposed museums for lasting relationship

Outside Britain:

 
 
 
 

Book, Film & Game Reviews

 
 
 

New releases:

 
 

Upcoming Books:

 

Upcoming exhibitions worth travelling for:

Who makes HK?

Visit us at
x
 

Popular on Heritage Key this week:

 
 
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