There's been some really interesting news in the last couple of weeks from different research projects, including the use of meteorite materials to create ornamental items 5000 years ago, and a rather tragic case of child abuse in Roman-Christian Dakhleh Oasis. Sadly, there has been even more news on the subject of threats to heritage in Egypt. It reads as something of a litany of disaster when assembled in one place. Hopefully the new minister, about whom there is a piece on Al Ahram Weekly, will begin to tackle it, although with a shortage of funds it is difficult to see what steps he will be able to take. Fortunately, there is some good news as well, about the protection of certain sites and the removal of graffiti.
Fieldwork
Update on the reconstruction of the false door in the tomb of Karakhamun, South Asasif, Luxor. South Asasif Project http://bit.ly/11K1l14
Amarna period discovery, Luxor: Arqueólogos hallan los primeros relieves del gobernador perseguido por Ajenaton. IEAE http://bit.ly/19oxTPD
Excavating at Amarna South Tombs Cemetery: pondering the ethics of working with human remains. Powerhouse Museum http://bit.ly/1aeHczo
Research
Canadian researcher uncovers first evidence of child abuse in ancient Egypt at Roman Dakhleh Oasis. The Star http://bit.ly/140R6Vi
More re 2-3-yr-old child in Romano-Christian cemy in Dakhleh Oasis whose remains suggest physical abuse. Live Science http://bit.ly/12Lp11e
Report on how iron was obtained from meteorites in AE millennia before the earliest evidence of iron smelting. Nature http://bit.ly/17uRDTs
More re new research showing that AE iron bead found inside a 5000-yr-old tomb was crafted from meteorite. Discovery http://bit.ly/18zj9ic
The first ever complete leatherwork of an AE chariot will reveal the technology used to produce it. Ahram Weekly http://bit.ly/199Llqs
Some Notes on Health Problems in Ancient Egypt and Nubia: part 3. By Joyce Filer on her blog: http://bit.ly/10ExKVc
Heritage Management and Looting
Two weeks ago Ahmed Eissa became minister of state for antiquities and now faces an uphill battle. Al Ahram Weekly http://bit.ly/17yNj5D
AE artefacts deteriorate in Cairo’s central museum due to poor conditions, lack of resources. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/1aebHoX
Shenhur Temple, Qena, needs restoration after stone robbing, lime burning + groundwater and now used to dump rubbish http://bit.ly/1145NBG
Egypt's lost antiquities: After the uprising of 2010, much was stolen or neglected. Philly http://bit.ly/13eCXl7
Historic gate in Islamic Cairo was demolished, Sunday, raising questions about saving Egypt's heritage. Aswat Masriya http://bit.ly/141fvGS. If you have Facebook access here are some photos of the demolished Islamic Cairo gateway. So sad. Aswat Masriya http://on.fb.me/12MKwyL
Chinese Tourist Vandalizes Egyptian Temple, Pisses Off China. With photo. Gadling http://aol.it/14TsEoh
Adolescente chino desfigura una escultura egipcia milenaria y desata la ira de Internet. CNN http://bit.ly/13YSPqP
Egypt's antiquities face bigger problems than Chinese graffiti. CS Monitor http://bit.ly/11v9ztL
Video: Graffiti clean-up at Luxor. Reuters http://reut.rs/13fQb0T . Via @JaneAkshar
Beautiful Islamic antiquities looted or neglected over the last 2 years following the 2011 uprising. Huffington Post http://huff.to/189w4XJ
Local community's campaign to protect Dashur pyramids has resulted in police and army protection. Past Preservers http://bit.ly/11tCfmT
Demolerán el cementerio ilegal construido cerca de las pirámides de Dahshur. Ushebtis http://bit.ly/13W2ku0
In Spanish. Inauguration of plan to improve security and visitor experience at the Giza pyramids. El Confidencial http://bit.ly/12TSo1A
Protecting temples of Luxor. Lanzan un proyecto hispano-egipcio para iluminar y vigilar los templos de Luxor. Yahoo http://bit.ly/12jFuz3
Books
New Book: French, P. 2013. The Anubieion at Saqqara III: Pottery from the Archaic to the 3rd Intermediate Period. EES http://bit.ly/ZcFw7L
Book review: S. P. Vleeming, Demotic and Greek-Demotic Mummy Labels and Other Short Texts. Peeters 2011. BMCR http://bit.ly/10Zd0TD
Conferences
In the Nilo-Saharan Linguistics’ Colloquium. Medieval Sai Project http://bit.ly/17d2uQV
Curator’s Diary 25/5/13: Advocating Ancient Egypt. Manchester Museum http://bit.ly/13U9xYa
35th Annual Conference of the Theoretical Archaeology Group to be held at Bournemouth University, UK, 16-18 Dec 2013 http://bit.ly/11m6QN3
Museums and exhibitions
Cairo Museum director says objects need restoration, but money is not available to do so. North Africa Post http://bit.ly/12UIwpR
Univ Washington report: King Tut exhibit at Seattle generated more than $78 million for the local economy. PSBJ http://bit.ly/11gvAut
Museums Confront the Skeletons in Their Closets. New York Times http://bit.ly/1atdJle
UCL Museums survey to improve promotion and public engagement. You don't have to have visited any of the museums: http://bit.ly/132y26y
Free online articles and resources
New on Osirisnet: T51, the tomb of Userhat, also called Neferhabef, complete with description, images, and site plans http://bit.ly/10tI16A
Object biography #13: The upper part of a female statuette from Kahun (Acc. No. 269). Manchester Museum http://bit.ly/177Ny6K
The electronic publication of Oriental Institute Annual Reports is now complete. Oriental Institute http://bit.ly/13kRgo4
Thesis: The ideological significance of flint in Dynastic Egypt Graves-Brown, C.A. (2011). Doctoral thesis. UCL http://bit.ly/qBR9ni
New Egyptology blog: Tetisheri by Julia Thorne http://www.tetisheri.co.uk/blog.html
Journals and Magazine
The new edition of the Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections is now out (JAEI/ 5:2.). Table of Contents at http://bit.ly/jBBHdJ
Free online: Atiqot 74. Underwater Ptolemaic Coin Hoards from Megadim by Danny Syon, Catharine Lorber + Ehud Galili http://www.atiqot.org.il
Job Openings
Job: Trainee Curator in Ancient Egypt and Sudan. 6 months at British Museum and 12 months at Glasgow Museums http://bit.ly/18yTTWJ
Job: One month internship with the Online Egyptological Bibliography team in Oxford. Griffith Institute on Facebook http://on.fb.me/197XVGW . For those interested in the 1 month internship at the OEB, Oxford, but unable to access Facebook, I've copied it here http://bit.ly/13PlOka
Miscellaneous
AE words seep powerfully through the sands of time, war and massive political changes to persist today. Ahram Online http://bit.ly/150ITjt