Category: Ann - Part 18

Do the King Tut – The AGO’s ‘Tutting’ Dance Class

Tuttin' Cat Man - Do the King TutGet up from your chair, take a step back and watch this video by the AGO attentively, as you’re going to learn how to ‘tut’. Inspired by ancient Egyptian art work ‘tutting’ isn’t that far off from walking like an Egyptian, but on a different tune.

In a video posted to their website to promote the ‘King Tut:The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs‘ exhibition, the the Art Gallery of Ontario is teaching the internet crowd how to dance like an Egyptian. The instructional clip features Mark Cabuena demonstrating a basic ‘tutting’ routine that is easy – yeah, right – and fun – to watch others try – to learn.

The ‘tutting’ moves are based on a 1980s – Tutankhamen frenzy inspired – ‘King Tut’ comedy dance routine performed by Steve Martin and the The Toot Uncommons (back then quite a big hit). Now Cabuena has choreographed a special ‘tutting’ routine for you to learn which you can demonstrate at the local Christmas Fair after a moderate consumption of Gluhwein – really, ‘mulled wine’?!

The Art Gallery of Ontario’s ‘How to Tut’ Tutorial

If you after those – probably not that successful – first attempts at tutting you just can’t get enough – and keep getting better – consider joining the Art Gallery of Ontario on Sunday the 28th of February 2010, when they are hosting their ‘Tutting Day’ and go setting a world record in the category ‘Tut and 90 degree angles’.

I’d say “Kids and Egyptomaniacs, do try this at home, but remember:not all joints are made for a 90 degrees movements and isolating your arms from the rest of your body does _not_ mean dismemberment.” I am definitely looking forward to children and adults alike putting their tutting ‘home movies’ on YouTube and even better… imagine tuttin’ lolcats!

For more information on the Tutting Day and world record event, keep an eye on www.ago.net/tutting and Heritage Key. And of course, feel free to share your own tutting-practise videos with us!

Thanksgiving’s ‘Horn of Plenty’ – Thank the Greeks

Bread cornucopia for ThanksgivingThanksgiving is one of the most ‘famous’ American holidays known to us in Europe, and when it’s mentioned a turkey instantly springs to mind. The turkeys sacrificed to the stomach-gods during this ‘harvest festival’ might be native, but many of the other habits were brought over from the Continent. Take the cornucopia – the ‘horn of plenty’ – for example, a common symbol food and abundance all over the world, dating back to the 5th Century BC and for which we need to thank the Greeks.

The cornucopia is one of the typical symbols for a harvest festival. A horn shaped container, it is filled with abundance of the earth’s richest harvest. To most, it is also known as the ‘horn of plenty’. The traditional cornucopia was a curved goat’s horn filled to brim with fruits and grains.

According to Greek mythology, Amaltheia – the foster-mother of Zeus – was a goat who suckled the little Zeus in a cave in the – yeah – goat mountain. Little Zeus was playing a bit to rough with Amaltheia’s horns when one of it accidentally broke. Full of regret, and maybe also a bit hungry, Zeus returned her horn but with supernatural powers added; whoever possessed the magical horn would receive whatever they wished for.

Even in 400BCthere were already some other myths doing the rounds on Amaltheia’s horn and it’s magic; she offered it to Zeus herself, it’s her river-god brother’s horn. … . In general the cornucopia is a symbol of fertility and inexhaustible riches and – more specifically for harvest festivals and thanksgiving – food and abundance.

Today the cornucopia is still present in the state seals of New Jersey and North Carolina and in the coat of arms of Colombia, Panama, Peru and Venezuala… and on the Thanksgiving table. So when you sit down and say thanks, do take some time for the Greeks!

(While you’re at it, some other stuff we should thank the Greeks for according to Horrible Histories: sundials, catapults, bricks, sirens, soldering irons, the Olympics, yo-yo’s, boxing, flamethrowers, the pinhole camera, showers, lighthouses, central heating, thermometers, anchors, dice, … . )

Google To Digitise Iraq’s National Museum Archives

The National Museum Google will soon begin digitising artefacts and documents at Iraq’s National Museum, chief executive Eric Schmidt said on a visit to Baghdad. Some 14,000 digital images taken from the museum will be freely available online from the beginning of next year.

The NationalMuseum of Iraq – opened in 1924 with a focus on objects from the Ur excavations and home to an extraordinary collection of Babylonian, Sumerian and Assyrian artefacts as well as rare Islamic texts – suffered damage and looting caused by the Iraqi war and only reopened to visitors February this year. Some 6,000 artefacts were recovered, but at least that many – some over 10,000 years old – remain missing and are probably in private collections abroad.

The history of the beginning of -literally- civilization is made right here and is preserved here in this museum.

Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt stressed the importance of the National Museum and its collection to world culture: “The history of the beginning of -literally- civilization is made right here and is preserved here in this museum. There’s a tremendous amount of information in the Arab world that is neither understood nor broadly available to everyone else.”

Schmidt added that the project fits within Google’s mission to make information available to everyone. The 14,000 images – plus a few surprises – will be available early 2010.

The project involves digitising and electronically cataloguing artefacts at the museum, with the costs being borne jointly by Google and the US State Department.

The Virtual Museum of IraqWhen Asked if the Internet search giant was planning any other projects in Iraq, Schmidt replied: “We’ve started with this one, I’m sure we’ll add more.”

The Virtual Museum of Iraq

In the mean while, you can still enjoy ‘The Virtual Museum of Iraq’, an Italian project that showcases more than seventy of the top treasures of the Iraq National Museum in Baghdad. This ‘virtual museum’ – a multimedia exhibit – was developed by Italys Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Virtual Museum of Iraq is presented in Italian, English and Arabic and contains images, movies, maps and timelines ordered by culture in seven different halls. Ranging from the prehistoric era to the Islamic, it contains amongst others a 6,000-year-old alabaster figurine of a female from Samarra, winged human-headed bulls, a glazed brick panel from Babylon’s Ishtar Gate and a 3,000-year-old cuneiform tablet. Visit the Virtual Museum of Iraq at virtualmuseumiraq.cnr.it.

If you prefer ‘physicial’ treasures over virtual ones, you should really check out the Mesopotamian Treasures in the British Museum’s upper galleries and make sure not to miss the ‘Iraq’s AncientPast – Rediscovering Ur’s Royal Cemetery’ exhibition at the Penn Museum.

The Archaeological Landscape of the Southern Levant Mapped

West Bank and East Jerusalem Searchable MapArchaeologists from USC, UCLA and the Middle East have developed a searchable online map that details 7,000 archeological sites on the West Bank and Jerusalem – many of them never publicy disclosed. The map – an effort to identify Israeli archaeological activity since 1967, when Israel took over the West Bank and East Jerusalem – is freely accesibly online at the USC’s Digital Library.

Built over several years through hundreds of hours of research, bolstered by freedom of information requests and, when necessary, a lawsuit in Israeli courts, the Web site provides interactive satellite maps showing locations of about 7,000 archaeological sites in the region, including:

Boytner and DoddGovernment agencies could consult the database before planning roads or other public works projects.

Tourists and history buffs could research locations of specific sites, such as early Christian churches.

Researchers soon will be able to download the entire file for use in diverse ways.

For example, the overlay of ancient sites on contemporary satellite photographs allows instant comparison of settlement patterns, which in turn may provide information on ancient stream flows and other important features.

“The significance of making this data public should not be underestimated,” said team member Ran Boytner, director for international research at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA. “For the first time, both Palestinians and Israelis can dynamically consult this interactive map and view what cultural heritage will fall under the sovereign rule of each side during final peace negotiations.”

The searchable map and database of the archaeological activity on Holy Land sites in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is part of a larger effort to devise a framework for the disposition of the regions archaeological treasures in the event of a two-state peace agreement. Boytner and Dodd explain:

Lynn Swartz Dodd described the process as seeking to ‘fill a void’ in preparation for future peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

“That void was intelligent, prepared conversation and data resources that could inform negotiation over cultural heritage and archaeology. The respective authorities and archaeological communities did not endorse the research officially, they were aware of it, and they did not intervene to stop it,” Dodd said.

This map of the archaeological landscape of the southern Levant might help define the scope of a future agreement. “Weve started a database that lets you know what to negotiate for,” Dodd said. “Each of us is committed to continuing our work so that all information about Israeli archaeological activity in the West Bank and Gaza becomes publicly accessible.” In the event of any proposal for a future border, he added, “you can draw a line on a map and know exactly where each site will fall.”

You can access the West Bank and East Jerusalem Archaeology Database at the USC Library, either using the searchable map interface or by loading the KML data into Google Earth.

A Secret Voyage? Zahi Hawass at the British Museum, London in December

Dr. Zahi Hawass in KV63 photograph by Sandro VanniniHave you always wished to meet Dr. Hawass in person? Now is your chance!The world-famous archaeologist comes to London in December and Heritage World Press invites you to a special lecture by the Egyptologist – and maybe even dinner. Zahi Hawass will also introduce his two new books: Inside the Egyptian Museum and A Secret Voyage.

Reception &Lecture at the British Museum

Tuesday, 8th of December Dr. Zahi Hawass – probably the world’s most famous Egyptologist – will speak at a special lecture in the British Museum’s lecture theatre, after a reception in the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery. The lecture – where 600 of you will get the chance to hear Dr Hawass tell about his work – is organized by Heritage World Press and the British Egyptian Society to celebrate the launch of the SCA’s Secretary General’s new book.

Dr Hawass’ ‘A Secret Voyage’ chronicles his adventures as Egyptologist:the stories of his discoveries and explorations, illustrated with outstanding images by Sandro Vannini. Each of the 700 limited edition art quality books – selling for 2600each – will be signed by Sandro Vannini and Dr. Hawass, and the first copy will be gifted to – the director of the British Muesum – Neil Macgregor (unlikely in exchange for the Rosetta Stone).

Heritage World Press quotes Zahi Hawass as saying: “I have two great passions in my life:Egyptology and storytelling.”Having watched all of his videos, I can’t help but agree to that. The passion with which he brings to life the story of Zakaria Goneim (watch the video) or talks about the treasures found in the basement of the Cairo Museum (watch the video) is truly magical.

Dinner with Dr. Hawass at the Reform Club, London

If after the special lecture and reception in the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery you want more, then why don’t you join Dr. Zahi Hawass, Sandro Vannini, Baroness Liz Symons of Vernham, Philip Bassett and Mr Stephen Byrne for dinner at the Reform Club, 101 Pall Mall, London on Friday 11th of December?

New Books: Inside the Egyptian Museum with Zahi Hawass &ASecret Voyage

‘Inside the Egyptian Museum with Zahi Hawass’ (published by Heritage World Press) is the most recent official guide to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo authorised by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) in which Dr. Hawass takes you on a journey to experience the wonders of Egyptian history. Shortly put, you get to explore the Egyptian Museum in Cairo with the world-famous Egyptologist as your guide.

In this video, Nico follows professional photographer Sandro Sannini documenting the tombs in the Theban Necropolis. The end results of this adventure you can enjoy in the upcoming ‘A Secret Voyage’ and Dr. Hawass’ latest book: ‘The Lost Tombs of Thebes: ALife in Paradise. (Buy the book now!)

Weekly we showcasae some of Sandro Vannini’s most amazing high-resolution photographs from the Tombs as well the treasures of King Tut and Ancient Egypt in General. For more videos starring Zahi Hawass, go to the Heritage Key Video page.

The world’s most famous archaeologist shares his knowledge of the museum’s unrivalled collection – which extends even to the basement, as you can see in this video – and goes into detail about the beautiful statues, the magic of the mummies, the shining gold and – of course – the treasures of King Tut. Scheduled for release in December, you can pre-order ‘Inside the Egyptian Museum’ now.

‘A Secret Voyage: Love, Magic and Mysteries in the Realm of the Pharaohs’ is Dr. Zahi Hawass unique and personal story of discovery and exploration in Ancient Egypt, beautifully illustrated with specially selected photographs from the Theban Necropolis by acclaimed Egypt photographer Sandro Vannini.

The publications promises a true journey through the history of Egypt, from Love in Ancient Egypt to fragments of paintings in tombs long-closed to the public.

To impatient? Still your hunger until December with ‘The Lost Tombs of Thebes: Life in Paradise’, the most recent released book written Dr. Zahi Hawass and Sandro Vannini. As usual it comes with splendid photographs by Sandro Vannini (learn how he does it and watch the video with Dr. Hawass) that capture the past in great detail, making that the book itself can be considered a treasure of ancient Egypt.

Hieroglyphs on your iPhone: Aaou Dictionary Application

Aaou Hieroglyph DictionaryJean-Franois Dumon and Alamanga have developed ‘Aaou’, an application for iPhone and iPodTouch which allows a quick translation of hieroglyphs. The iPhone app over 10,000 words or symbols to – depending on your iPhone settings – French or English. the translation in French / English of more than 10200 words and symbols and offers the possiblity of transliteration. ‘Aaou’ also allows you access through an index, to the uni/bi/triliterals as well as to an aide memory on the common hieroglyphs. The Aaou Hieroglyph Dictionary is priced at 4.99 euro and – of course – available via the iTunes app store.

For those of you who speak French, a short video presentation of the application can be found on Dumon’s homepage. This seems like a splendid idea for a ‘basic’ translation tool that you easily carry along – be it to Egypt or to a museum. Has anybody tested it yet? Or should I purchase the app, jump on the tube to the British Museum and start – attempting at – translating the Rosetta stone? I would be out of the office for quite a while… . Guess I better stick to my ‘improve the 2MP camera’ apps (some of those listed here).

PS. If you can chose – $3.99 for a ‘conversational Klingon’ (dictionary, phrasebook and pronounciation guide) iPhone app or 4.99 Euros for the Aaou Hieroglyph Dictionary – which one would you pick? Bennu? 😉

Mummy CSI: Ancient Egyptians suffered from ‘modern day’ heart diseases too

the mummy of Esankh, male, Third Intermediate Period undergoing CT scanning.Scientists discoveredthat the ancient Egyptians suffered from – what we often consider to be modern day – heart diseases too. Hardening of the arteries has been detected in Egyptian mummies, some as old as 3,500 years, suggesting that the factors causing heart attack and stroke are not only modern ones; they afflicted ancient people, too.

“Atherosclerosis is ubiquitous among modern day humans and, despite differences in ancient and modern lifestyles, we found that it was rather common in ancient Egyptians of high socio-economic status living as much as three millennia ago,” says professor of cardiology Dr. Gregory Thomas.

The nameplate of the Pharaoh Merenptah in the Cairo Museum of Egyptian Antiquities reads that, when he died at approximately age 60, he was afflicted with atherosclerosis, arthritis, and dental decay. Intrigued that atherosclerosis may have been widespread among ancient Egyptians, Thomas and a team of U.S. and Egyptian cardiologists, joined by experts in Egyptology and preservation, selected 20 mummies on display and in the basement – yes, it’s filled with artefact, watch the video here – of the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities to go under the CT scan.

While we do not know whether atherosclerosis caused the demise of any of the mummies in the study, we can confirm that the disease was present in many.

The mummies underwent whole body scanning with special attention to the cardiovascular system. The researchers found that 9 of the 16 mummies who had identifiable arteries or hearts left in their bodies after the mummification process had calcification either clearly seen in the wall of the artery or in the path were the artery should have been. Some mummies had calcification in up to 6 different arteries.

Using skeletal analysis – a common non-invasive ‘procedure’ on mummies – the Egyptology and preservationist team was able to estimate the age at death for all the mummies and the names and occupations in the majority. Of the mummies who had died when they were older than 45, 7 of 8 had calcification and thus atherosclerosis while only 2 of 8 of those dying at an earlier age had calcification. Atherosclerosis did not spare women; vascular calcifications were observed in both male and female mummies.

The mummy 'Esankh'The most ancient Egyptian afflicted with atherosclerosis was Lady Rai, who lived to an estimated age of 30 to 40 years around 1530 BC and had been the nursemaid to Queen Ahmose Nefertiri. To put this in context, Lady Rai lived about 300 years prior to the time of Moses and 200 prior to King Tut.

In those mummies whose identities could be determined, all were of high socio economic status, generally serving in the court of the Pharaoh or as priests or priestess. While the diet of any one mummy could not be determined, eating meat in the form of cattle, ducks and geese was not uncommon during these times.

“While we do not know whether atherosclerosis caused the demise of any of the mummies in the study, we can confirm that the disease was present in many,” Thomas says. These new findings suggest that scientists may have to look beyond modern risk factors to fully understand the disease.

The researchers will detail their findings in the November 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

To learn more about health and medicine in ancient Egypt, definitely read Paula Veiga’s excellent article ‘Prosthetics, Potions and Prescriptions‘. Prefer the process of mummification over the health issues of the living? Watch Dr. Zahi Hawass explain the recipe, or start small; animal mummies in this video with Dr. Salima Ikram. And did you know the first-ever official mummy autopsy happened almost 200 years ago, but mistakes are easily made.

The Anthropology Song – A little bit Anthropologist

While most people are still able to (albeit it probably a bit incorrectly) answer what an archaeologist does, anthropologists are a species less known to the general public and media. Derived from the Greek ‘anthropos’ (human), anthropology means, ‘the social science that studies the origins and social relationships of human beings’ according to the Princeton WordNet, and is most often used to refer to ‘cultural anthropology’. But anthropology student Dai Cooper is doing her bit to make the discipline just that bit more famous… on YouTube. In just a few weeks, the ‘Anthropology Song: A little bit Anthropologist’ has become immensely popular, especially for a song about anthropology, even threatening to beat the usual YouTube hits ‘cat being cute‘ and ‘cat acting like a typical cat‘ in the charts.

With catchy lyrics like “But Im just looking for the story of our people as a whole, wanting to learn about and understand all cultures as our own ” Dai Cooper admits to romanticizing ‘anthropology’ – it’s a personal song after all – but is looking forward to a constructive discussion about the discipline, and added verses to the song.

Personally, I’ll consider this my ‘intro to anthropology’, having learned that:

  • President Obama’s mom is an anthropologist.
  • Anthropology covers monkeys too.
  • Some anthropology students can sing.

Anthropology has been catching our eye recently at Heritage Key, for a number of weird and wonderful stories: Did you know, for example, that early man had sex with Neanderthals? Ever heard about Peter McAllister’s invention of Manthropology? Or that our hatred of undervaluation of Brussels sprouts is actually an evolutionary mystery? Or, even, that we lived alongside prehistoric hobbits (no, really)?

Anyway, if you have something to add to the song – or my knowledge of anthropology! – . “The chords are super simple: Am, C, G, D. Feel free to learn it, play it, reappropriate it, share it, and add your own verses!” says Cooper. “And hey, if anyone wants to put up a video response of any anthros or students singing (or dancing to) any part of the song, (or singing any new verses), or anything else creative that you think might work, I was thinking about putting them together in a future collaborative music video project. That’d be wicked.

What went down the Roman Baths’ Great Drain?

The Roman Baths at Bath and a bit of BathParts of an ancient underground drain that takes Bath’s famous hot spring water from the Roman Baths to the River Avon are to be explored for the first time in a project to survey parts of the Great Roman Drain, a scheduled ancient monument and fundamental part of the Roman Baths complex. Parts of the drain have not been explored for hundreds of years.

Built by the Romans to prevent central Bath from flooding, the Great Drain still performs its original purpose, discharging water from the natural hot springs to – Bluestonehenge’s – River Avon.

It definitely needs to be mentioned that it is not the Roman-build part of the Great Drain that is currently causing a flooding risk, but a more recent extension beyond Bath’s old city wall. Previous surveys have uncovered some stunning archaeological finds including carved cameo gemstones and a mysterious tin mask.

Miles Barnes, the Bath & North East Somerset Council Project Manager responsible for the survey, said: This is an important and exciting project for Bath & North East Somerset Council. The Great Drain has played a crucial but largely hidden role in the life of the city for hundreds of years, and its crucial that we determine its condition so that it can continue to function as the Romans designed it.

Mr Barnes said in an interview with the Times Online that “Although the drain is pretty clear there are sections where it bends or narrows where sediment will have built up that has not been disturbed for 2,000 years, so who knows what else we will find.” So let’s hope the Romans dropped some more archaeological valuable items down the drain!

Looted Iraqi Treasures? Covered up report reads Britain must return Schoyen Incantation Bowls

Incantation BowlAn archaeological mystery may have come to an end, after an enquiry into the origin of 654 Aramaic incantation bowls from the Schyen Collection was finally made public. The report – recently placed in the House of Lords Library – states that bowls currently finding themselves in Britain were likely to have illegally been looted after the Gulf War and should be returned to Iraq.

Commissioned by the University College in London in 2005, the results of the enquiry are that the bowls were stolen from the historical site of Babylon some time after the 1991 Gulf war, and that their provenance is not Jordan, as believed by Norwegian multimillionaire collector Martin Schyen. They should therefore be returned to Iraq or handed over to police. “The bowls are subject to the Iraq United Nations sanctions order 2003,” says the report, “as cultural objects illicitly removed from Iraq after 6 August 1990 and that UCL has therefore a duty to deliver them to a constable.”

The report was finished in 2006, but its findings were suppressed under a legel settlement made between the UCL and the collector when Schyen started legal proceedings over not getting his bowls back. This settlement also led to the payment of an undisclosed compensation sum to the collector. At that time a joint press release was issued by both parties, stating that: “following a searching investigation by an eminent panel of experts, and further inquiries of its own, UCL is pleased to announce that no claims adverse to the Schyen Collections right and title have been made or intimated.”

This statement is quite different from the report which concluded that although Schyen might not have been aware that the bowls were looted when they were purchased, he was guilty of not showing enough interest into their provenance.

A second statement by the Schyen Collection repeated the claim that the bowls were exported from Jordan prior to 1988 and that they were most likely ‘surface finds’. The statement claimed the bowls were part of a private collection built up in Jordan in the 1930s, and that the collection had been granted a valid export license (questions on the validity of this license can be found on the stanford.edu website) by the Jordanian authorities in 1988.

The collection’s website for provenance of the ‘Rihani Collection’ still reads: “Rihani collection, Irbid and Amman, Jordan (before 196588) and London (1988).”

The 5th to 8th century incantation bowls – borrowed from Schyen in 1996 by an UCL Professor Mark Geller – are still in the United Kingdom. Cambridge academic Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn, one of the authors of the report, now calls for the Iraqi goverment to demand the return of the bowls and if need be even persue the repatriation of the looted artefacts in court.

The report is now also available on wikileaks: “The file is the report from an expert inquiry into the provenance of 654 Mesopotamian incantation bowls owned by antiquities collector Martin Schoyen and loaned to University College London. The inquiry was begun after allegations were made that the bowls were were looted from Iraq. The report was suppressed as part of the legal settlement in which the bowls were returned to Schoyen.“

This is not the first time the Schyen Collection – which may be the world’s largest collection of ancient manuscripts – has been questioned over the origin of its objects. Shortly after in 2001 Martin Schyen announced he wanted to sell the entire collection for 100 million USD, questions were raised about Buddhist manuscripts smuggled out of Afghanistan that Schyen eventually aquired and the Egyptian ambassador to Norway called for an inquiry into how Schyen came by his Egyptian objects.