egyptology – Archaeology News and Announcements

On September 16, 2024

Uncovering Stars in an Egyptian Temple: The New Sky over Esna

Free Hybrid Lecture

Wednesday, September 18, 6:00–7:00 pm ET.

Christian Leitz, Director of the Department of Egyptology, Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Studies (AINES), University of Tübingen, Germany

The pronaos of Esna is one of the last examples of ancient Egyptian temple architecture. In 2018, the University of Tübingen, in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, launched a complete restoration of the soot-covered pronaos. Six years later, the colorful astronomical ceiling and columns have been cleaned, uncovering nearly 200 ink inscriptions previously undescribed.

This lecture will give an overview of the astronomical ceiling, including the path of the sun and moon, stars used for keeping time, known and unknown Egyptian constellations, and the twelve signs of the zodiac.

Free admission. Free event parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage. Presented by the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East and the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture.

Register here for in person attendance.

Register here for online attendance.

2024 ARCE Virtual Annual Meeting

On May 8, 2024

The American Research Center in Egypt is hosting a virtual annual meeting for those who were not able to attend the meeting in Pittsburgh. The virtual meeting will be held on May 17-19, 2024, via Zoom. Attendees have the opportunity to view live presentations from leading scholars on topics related to Egyptian history, recent fieldwork, technological advances, and much more. Register today for just $125.

Virtual registrants will have access to ARCE’s live virtual tour of Journey Through Time: Exploring the Coptic Museum’s Rich Legacy with Mary Missak on May 18th at 12 PM EST.

View the *Virtual Schedule and more information will be sent to speakers and registrants soon.

For assistance and inquiries, please email AMHelp@arce.org. Fee waivers are available for student members and early career scholars in financial need.

*Schedule Subject to change

Virtual Book Discussion: Coptic Culture and Community

On April 11, 2024

The American University in Cairo (AUC) Press is hosting a virtual discussion of their new publication, Coptic Culture and Community: Daily Lives, Changing Times. Edited by Mariam F. Ayad, this volume brings together leading experts from a range of disciplines to examine aspects of the daily lived experiences of Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority from late Antiquity to the present. In doing so, it serves as a supplement and a corrective to institutional or theological narratives, which are generally rooted in studying the wielders of historical power and control.

Coptic Culture and Community reveals the humanity of the Coptic tradition, giving granular depth to how Copts have lived their lives through and because of their faith for two thousand years. The first three sections consider in turn the breadth of the daily life approach, perspectives on poverty and power in a variety of different contexts, as well as matters of identity and persecution. The final section reflects on the global Coptic diaspora, bringing themes studied for the early Coptic Church into dialog with Coptic experiences today. These broad categories help to link fundamental questions of socio-religious history with unique aspects of Coptic culture and its vibrant communities of individuals.

The virtual book talk will take place on Tuesday April 16, 2024 at 8pm Cairo Time (7pm London, 2pm NY EST) on zoom. To register for the book discussion, please follow this link. It will also be streamed live on Facebook at this link. Browse the catalog of other publications at AUC Press here.

ARCE Annual Meeting | Registration Open

On February 23, 2024

The 2024 American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) Annual Meeting is now open for registration. Every year, the ARCE gathers to explore and celebrate the latest research discoveries in Egyptology. This year, the meeting will be in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from April 19-21, 2024. It will be hold at the Omni William Penn Hotel.

One of the sessions to keep on your calendar is the Fellowship Information Session on Saturday April 20th at 12:45 PM in the Allegheny room of the Omni William Penn Hotel. View the meeting schedule.

Please visit arce.org/annual-meeting to register and learn more.

For assistance, please email AMHelp@arce.org

ARCE Monthly Update

On February 1, 2024

2024 Annual Meeting: Registration Opens this February

The American Research Center in Egypt has released their monthly update! See more below:

Each year, ARCE hosts the preeminent Egyptological conference in the world. During this annual three-day meeting, scholars and expedition leaders present their research and discuss their latest project developments. Additionally, the meeting brings together hundreds of scholars who present on Egyptian history and heritage, recent fieldwork, technological advances, and much more.

The 2024 Annual Meeting will welcome Egyptologists, members of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, archeologists, and researchers from across the globe to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania from April 19th to the 21st.

Topic Article: “Nefertiti: Egyptian Wife, Mother, Queen and Icon”

“Neferneferuaten Nefertiti was the great royal wife of King Akhenaten and, in contemporary Western culture, is perhaps ancient Egypt’s most famous queen – as the iconic bust in the Berlin Museum evinces. She and Akhenaten produced six daughters, a female royal contingent that enjoyed unusual prominence during Akhenaten’s reign. In fact, Nefertiti holds the position as the Egyptian queen with the most surviving appearances on monuments and other artistic mediums…” (Laura Taronas)

Discover the captivating story of Nefertiti, the enigmatic queen of ancient Egypt! From her undeniable beauty to her influential role alongside King Akhenaten, this historical figure is truly spellbinding.

ARCE Conservation Project Updates

The conservation program at Khonsu Temple commenced its Spring Campaign this January with the target of completing work on the raised portico on the north side of the First Court as well as the roof and staircase.

A project to connect fragments of the granite barque shrine was also initiated after Dr. David Anderson’s work of last year revealed at least 15 joins that could be made from fragmented architectural and decorative elements. In parallel, the construction of the new USAID-funded Talatat magazine has started.

This two-storey structure, occupying approximately 700 m2 in plan, is concealed by a six-metre-high reconstructed section of the mudbrick enclosure wall of Nectanebo I to the west of Khonsu. The building envelope is expected to be completed by Ramadan, with fit-out following at the end of April.

The Osireion project, substantially funded in 2023 by the World Monuments Fund, will continue through 2024 with additional funds from the same source. The focus of the project is physical conservation, site management, and the completion of excavations that revealed in 2023 the remarkable transport ramp north of the main hall that was used for moving monumental blocks down into the construction pit of the structure.

For more information on the ARCE and how to become a member, view their website here.

ARCE Antiquities Endowment Fund Grants | Deadline February 15, 2024

In Funding & Fellowships

Created with resources from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as allocated by the U.S. Congress, ARCE’s Antiquities Endowment Fund (AEF) sustains an ongoing grants program to support the conservation, preservation and documentation of Egypt’s cultural heritage and the dissemination of knowledge about that heritage.

The Antiquities Endowment Fund awards one-year and three-year grants for discrete and highly focused professional projects that serve the conservation, preservation and documentation needs of Egyptian antiquities that are more than 100 years old. Projects may involve the actual conservation or protection of sites, buildings or objects; the participation of conservators or other appropriate specialists in antiquities projects; the training of conservators and students; or the production of publications and presentations that disseminate knowledge about Egypt’s cultural heritage.

Read more about the Antiquities Endowment Fund (AEF) projects, here. To find 2024 funding opportunities and apply, follow this link.

Last Call – ARCE AM 2024 Grant for Underrepresented Students

In Funding & Fellowships

To increase opportunities and access to the ARCE Annual Meeting for students from typically underrepresented groups, ARCE will offer the 2024 ARCE Annual Meeting Grant for Underrepresented Students (ARCE Grant) to a maximum of five (5) eligible undergraduate or graduate students whose studies are related to (or who have an interest in studying) Nile Valley cultures through the disciplines of Egyptology, Nubiology, Africology, Art History, Archaeology, Anthropology, Classical, Coptic, Islamic, Middle East, and African Studies, or other related fields. Awardees will be paired with Ph.D. students or early career scholars who will act as mentors during the Annual Meeting.

Up to five grants will be awarded annually. The ARCE Grant will pay all fees related to (i) Annual Meeting registration; (ii) lodging costs and breakfast at the host hotel for each night of the Annual Meeting; and (iii) transportation costs (up to a maximum of $500) incurred in attending the Annual Meeting. Prior to the Annual Meeting, Awardees must consult with the US ARCE Office to arrange registration, lodging, and transportation. ARCE will purchase air or train tickets on behalf of, and in consultation with, awardees. Awardees will be responsible for costs in excess of $500.

Application Deadline: December 15, 2023 11:59 PM EST.

To learn more and apply, click this link.

ARCE’s New Archaeology Field Research Grant

In Funding & Fellowships

Funded through the Antiquities Endowment Fund (AEF), ARCE is accepting applications for a new grant scheme opportunity: “The Archaeological Field Research Grant” which is only open to current Research Supporting Members (RSM) of ARCE. This program aims to provide funding to conduct empirical, archaeological research and/or support student archaeological field training in Egypt at sites that date from prehistory to 100 years old. While the dissemination of results through publications and other materials is the ultimate expectation of these awards, this program supports (for up to one year) field costs such as travel, accomodation, field staff, equipment, and salary for project directors and collaborating scholars. However, indirect costs such as general operating costs incurred within the project but not directly linked to the project tasks, are not allowable.

The ARCE particularly encourages applications from junior faculty, with preference given to individuals with a graduate degree and/or demonstrated experience. Preference will also be given to proposals with the commitment to involve students of marginalized communities within the funded field work.

ARCE encourages you to submit a draft proposal to aef@arce.org before December 20, 2023. Final applications are to be submitted before 12 midnight EST on February 15th, 2024, via a submittable platform located on the Archaeological Field Research Grant’s webpage on ARCE.ORG.

After submission of either the draft proposal or the final application, ARCE reserves the right to request supplementary information or pose clarifying questions. Requesting supplementary information or posing clarifying questions to one applicant does not obligate ARCE to do so with all applicants nor does it guarantee a grant award.

For more information on the grant guidelines and how to apply, click this link.

CFP: ARCE 2024 Annual Meeting – Deadline December 15, 2023