• Ann

    New Clues to Welsh Origins of Stonehenge Bluestones

    The source of Stonehenge’s bluestones a distinctive set of stones that form the inner circle and inner horseshoe of Stonehenge has long been a subject of fascination and considerable controversy. In the early 1920s, one type of bluestone, the so-called spotted dolerite, was convincingly traced to the Mynydd Preseli area, in north Pembrokeshire. However, the sources of the other bluestones – chiefly rhyolites (a type of rock) and the rare sandstones remained, unknown. Now geologists at Amgueddfa Cymru, the National Museum Wales, have further identified the sources of one of the rhyolite types. The find also provides the opportunity for…

  • Ann

    Missing statue of Pharaoh Akhenaten returned to Cairo Museum

    Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities Affairs, Dr Zahi Hawass, announced today that the missing limestone statue of King Akhenaten, the likely father of Tutankhamun, has been returned to the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. To date, four objects from the preliminary list of missing artefacts have been found; the Heart Scarab of Yuya, a shabti of Yuya, the statue of the goddess Menkaret carrying Tutankhamun, and now the statue of Akhenaten as an offering bearer. Statue of Akhenaten returned The statue of pharaoh Akhenaten is one of the unique statues from the Amarna Period on display at the Egyptian Museum. It is seven…

  • Ann

    King Tut treasures missing after Cairo Museum break-in

    An inventory check at the Cairo Museum, Egypt – two weeks after the protests at the capital lead to a break-in at the national museum – shows that not all of ancient Egyptian treasures are accounted for. Amongst the missing antiquities – ranging from little shabtis to larger stone statues – are objects that were discovered in King Tuts tomb. Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egypts Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs, announced today that the staff of the database department at the Egyptian Museum, Cairo have given him their report on the inventory of objects at the museum following the January…

  • egypt

    Howard Carter

    9 May 1874 – 2 Mar 1939 Archaelogist and Discoverer of Tutankhamun Key Dates Howard Carter was born on 9 May 1874. He discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun on 5 November 1922. He died on 2 March 1939. Relationship People Associated Tutankhamun, George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, Giovanni Battista Belzoni, Theodore Davis, Almina Wombwell Howard Carter (9 May 1874 – 2 March 1939) was an English archaeologist and Egyptologist. He is noted as a primary discoverer of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922 (subsequently designated KV62) – by far the best preserved and most intact pharaonic tomb ever found…

  • Ann

    Egyptian Museum Cairo: Royal mummies unharmed & King Tut’s treasures to be restored

    During a short inspection tour of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s newly appointed Minister of Antiquities, has announced that the restoration of seventy objects, damaged during the failed looting attempt on January 28, has begun and will be completed within five days. The restoration project includes the statue of Tutankhamun standing on the back of a panther and a New Kingdom wooden sarcophagus, both damaged by the criminals. “One showcase in the Ahkenatengalleries was smashed; it contained a standing statue of the king carrying an offering tray. While the showcase is badly damaged, the statue sustained very…

  • jon-himoff

    Some Egypt Tour Operators Offering Full Refunds

    UK travel company Bales Worldwide which runs specialist Egyptian package holiday operator Ancient World Tours says it is following industry practice andis offering full refunds for a limited timeas the situation in Egypt changes. The British Foreign & CommonwealthOffice (FCO) is advising to avoid any non-essential travel to Egypt as well as urging people to leave the country via commercial transport. Check the latest FCO advisory here. British Airways is also offering refunds and exchanges: “Even if your flight is operating, the following options are available to you if you are due to travel to or from Cairo and purchased…

  • egypt

    Four baboons adoring the rising sun

    Key Dates  This item dates from the 19th Dynasty of the New Kingdom, circa 1279-1213 BC. Key People  This statue was made during the reign of Ramesses II. Key People: Ramesses II Ramesses II, whose name is inscribed on the pectoral of each of the baboons, took a special liking to this massive statue; Four baboons adoring the sun was placed at the base of one of the obelisks of the temple of Luxor, with the baboons literally facing the sun.  It was thought that the baboons honoured the sun so as to guide it throughout its course each day.…

  • prad

    Dr Zahi Hawass Appointed to Egypt President Mubarak’s New Cabinet as Minister for Antiquities

    Dr Zahi Hawass, has been promoted in the shake up of Egyptian President’s Hosni Mubarak’s new cabinet according to a report from AP. Formerly the Vice Minister for Culture, and the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), Dr Hawass will now take the role as Minister of a newly created department – the State Ministry for Antiquities. Literary critic Dr Gaber Asfour has been named the new Minister of Culture, replacing the long-serving Farouk Hosni. The cabinet shake up comes in the wake of political turmoil across Egypt, which saw a lack of police protection for key…

  • prad

    Egypt Protests Sees Cairo Museum Looted as Artefacts and Mummies Are Damaged

    As the protests in Egypt gained momentum over the weekend, reports came out that the ruling National Democratic Party headquarters were ablaze, a building which is next door to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, where looters damaged several priceless artefacts and mummies, including contents of King Tutankhamun’s Tomb. When a curfew was declared at 6pm in Cairo, all but three police officers abandoned their posts at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, the heart of the capital where protesters are focussing their anger against President Hosni Mubarak. Like many famous Egyptian attractions such as the Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian…

  • Ann

    Egypt issues official repatriation request for famous Berlin bust of Queen Nefertiti

    The Supreme Council of Antiquities announced today that Secretary General Dr. Zahi Hawass has sent an official request for the famous bust of Queen Nefertiti to be returned to Egypt. This request was approved by the Prime Minister of Egypt, Dr. Ahmed Nazif, and Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosny, after four years of research by a legal committee composed of legal personnel and Egyptologists. Update: Response from the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which states the letter was _not_ signed by Egypt’s Prime Minister, and thus is not official, in the comments. The request letter was send to Dr. Hermann Parzinger,…