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In the Footsteps of Petrie: a Study Day at Glasgow’s Burrell Collection

The Burrell Collection (Glasgow)I will soon be visiting Scotland for a exciting archaeological event. No, it won’t involve traipsing around soggy fields looking for cup and ring marked stones. Instead, I will be finding out about one of Egyptology’s most respected figures, William Flinders Petrie.

In the Footsteps of Petrie is a study day dedicated to the life of Petrie, founder, along with Amelia Edwards, of the Petrie Museum. The event will be held at the exquisite Burrell Collection in Glasgow, and will explore Petries life of excavation and collecting.

A lineup of Egyptologists from across Britain’s museums will offer lectures, a film projection and a roundtable discussion – see the full schedule below.

Click To Watch Video
Stephen Quirke on Amelia Edwards and The Petrie Museum
Heritage Key enters the Petrie Museum in London to talk to the curator Dr Stephen Quirke, who explains the importance of one of the co-founders of the Egypt Exploration Society – Amelia Edwards.

CLICK TO WATCH

I am looking forward to all the lectures; I know Prof. Quirke is going to talk about his personal experience with the Petrie archives and artifacts at the museum, maybe some news about the museum new venue and some details about the contents of Petrie’s letters and journals (read Heritage Key’s interview with Prof. Quirke here). Quirke recently spoke at the launch of the exhibition Framing the Archaeologist: Portraits and Excavation, which looked at photographs to examine Petrie’s work in Egypt.

Dr. Manley is going to tell us about the National Museum Scotland’s collection. The museums are undergoing massive redevelopment as part of the Royal Museum Project, with some Egyptian antiquities being sent out on loan, and others remaining in storage until the opening of the refurbished museum in 2011.

I still haven’t met Dr. Eccles but I am sure it will also be very fascinating and interesting to know about the Glasgow Museums’ J. May Buchanan Collection (displayed at The Burrell). A very beautiful collection, my favourite being the bronze figure of a mongoose (Herpestes Ichneumon).

Schedule of Talks

  • 10.30: Dr Stephen Quirke In the Footsteps of Petrie
  • 11.30: Coffee Break
  • 12:00 Dr Bill Manley Bricks at 12: Petrie and the NMS Museums
  • 13:00: Lunch (not provided)
  • 14.30: Simon Eccles – Generosity and tragedy: Professor Flinders Petrie and Glasgow Museums’ J. May Buchanan Collection”
  • 15.30: Returning the Petrie Collection a film by Louis Buckley introduced by Dr Stephen Quirke
  • 16.00: Closing panel roundtable with all of the speakers

Mummy Frenzy with Joyce Filer – Forensic Aspects of Ancient Egypt… and King Tut!

Mummy Forensics - DIY KitGreat news for anybody* who missed out on the previous ‘Mummy CSI’ study days with Joyce Filer, as there is another one coming up. A bonus – on top of the normal forensic aspects of ancient Egypt schedule – is an entire day dedicated to the remains of King Tut and the results of the recently published Tutankhamun DNAstudy.

The findings from the King Tut study have been widely covered and debated since they were published (some interesting responses on the lineage results on Kate Phizackerley’s and Dylan Bickerstaffe’s blogs, and discussion of Tut’s foot on Em Hotep!) but if you want it all explained in real time, with the chance to ask questions – and without Dr Hawass staring – you must attend Joyce Filer’s ‘Tut-Ankh-Amun’ Study Day on May 29th. “All?” you say? In the space of six hours (with a break for afternoon refreshments) you’ll find out which medical conditions King Tutankhamun suffered from, what tests were used in the research and which of his family members have been identified. Of course, there’s room to debate the latter, as well as King Tut’s possible causes of death.

Too much Tut? You can also learn about the latest advances in ‘mummy forensics’ in general and test your own ‘operation’ skills if you attend ‘Forensic Aspects of Ancient Egypt’ on the 19th of June. Hot items on the mummy-menu include:how to identify the age at death and gender of a mummy or skeleton, the fascinating practice of facial reconstructions, and identifying diseases in Egyptian mummies, amongst details of other scientific techniques.

If you want to be well prepared (or at least as prepared as I am) for those two study days, try to track down the complete JAMAarticle and read up on King Tut’s medical history. And just to make sure, do check whether or not you’ll faint upon seeing a ‘live’ mummy. They aren’t all as cute as the Hammer ones. 😉

* Especially for me. I swear on my mummy – may he cut the power (again) if I don’t attend – we’ll be present.

Forensic Aspects of Ancient Egypt with Joyce Filer

Star in 'Mummy CSI' at Joyce Filer's study day 'Forensic Aspects of Ancient Egypt' at the University of LondonThe 21st century has seen incredible advances in our knowledge and use of forensic sciences – to investigate crimes and to find out about people from ancient times. How can we apply this information to the people of ancient Egypt? Find out – and test your own skills in a hands-on practical session – at ‘Forensic Aspects of Ancient Egypt‘ presented by Joyce Filer.

The study day – being repeated due to popular demand – will take place on Saturday the 20th of February and will add to your knowledge about the difference between male and female mummies (not as easyas you might think!), determining a mummy or skeleton’s age at death, discovering their medical history (heart problems, anybody?) and how facial reconstructions are done. All that and an info about a broad range of other scientific ‘mummy CSI’ techniques, as well as afternoon refreshments for only 30!

Joyce Filer – formerly Curator of Human & Animal Remains at the British Museum and one of the leading experts on mummies – has undertaken cemetery excavations (in Egypt, Sudan and Britain) and participated in many CT-scanning projects and forensic examinations (the body from KV55, possibly King Tut‘s brother). She wrote ‘The Mystery of the Egyptian Mummy‘ about Hornedjitef as well as other publications on ancient Egypt.

‘Forensic Aspects of Ancient Egypt’ presented by Joyce Filer will take place on Saturday the 20th of February from 11am to 5pm at the University of London, Garden Halls, Cartwright Gardens, London WC1. For booking (which is obliged, and done preferably before February 4th) information see this .pdf flyer.

As the effects of a temporarily malfunctioning immune system forced me to pass on the first edition of ‘Forensic Aspects of Ancient Egypt’, I’m really looking forward to getting a second chance at attending. Who else is attending?Great! Then please, do say ‘Hi!’ to the girl staring suspicious at the mummy whilst mumbling:”I hope this one does not decide to come to life today.” 😉