Sun, sand, mosquitoes and the dead: digging the middle cemetery at Abydos, Egypt

Public Lecture | Updated 1 decade ago

A landscape of an expansive Saharan desert
Abydos Middle Cemetery Project
Image opyright Abydos Middle Cemetery Project

Presented by Heather Tunmore
Honorary Associate Western Australian Museum, Department of Archaeology and Anthropology; Epigrapher, Abydos Middle Cemetery Project, University of Michigan
6.00pm, Wednesday 28 August 2013
State Library Theatre, State Library of Western Australia (entrance via Francis St)

The Middle Cemetery at Abydos contains many burials ranging from the hastily interred to elite burials in elaborate tomb chambers. This site has been plundered, surveyed and excavated over time by a range of archaeologists searching variously for treasure, artefacts and information.

As a result of this archaeological activity material from the site is either missing or scattered throughout the world. An immediate example in the Secrets of the Afterlife exhibition includes several model Opening of the Mouth Tools from the tomb of Idi (Idy) at Abydos. These items were excavated and removed from the site - along with numerous other artefacts - by Henry Salt, the British Consul-General in Egypt. They were later sold to the British Museum in 1835 after his death. As was normal practice at that time, no adequate records were made of their excavation that would assist modern research and interpretation of the site.

Join Heather Tunmore as she reports on the challenges faced in the 2013 season while working on this site, and outlines the use of modern scientific methods in excavation, interpretation and conservation of finds.

Cost: Free event
Bookings: Essential using the link below or calling 1300 134 081